Settling in Buenos Aires for the long haul can be challenging, especially considering the country’s daunting bureaucracy and history of economic instability. Yet despite these challenges, it’s advantageous to have a permanent status and, when you get to know your neighbors intimately, you will find that their camaraderie will make it easier for you to settle into the unpredictable whims of day-to-day life.Prices for buying or renting a home are favorable compared with those in the developed world. Whether you ultimately choose an apartment or a house (which will be discussed in the ‘Type of Accommodation’ section), you must first decide where you will live. Take into consideration the charm of the neighborhood, but also the practicality of its location and its amenities — for example, whether you prefer a lot of shopping options close by, if you’re looking for something quiet and removed from the heavy-traffic zones if you want a place that’s well connected to the center and has a high density of taxis, and so on. Of course, interesting and attractive housing can be found throughout the city, but the barrios discussed in this guide, from Recoleta, Palermo and Belgrano to the suburbs in ‘Zona Norte’, tend to be the most comfortable and popular for expatriates and their families.
Skip to content
Top Tips
01 | While knowing Spanish is not a necessity to living in Buenos Aires, many porteños will be more willing to help you out if you know some basic p |
02 | Having an open mind and realizing that laws, contracts, rules, & pretty much everything else is flexible and liquid will save you a lot of headach |
03 | There is a shortage of coins in the country, and you need them to use the public buses, so keep your change and pay with note where possible. |
04 | Electronics, such as computers and cell phones, are up to 400% more than expensive in Argentina so bring your electronics with you. |
05 | Property prices are always inflated and it is a buyer’s/renter’s market here, so make sure you negotiate hard when finding somewhere to live. |
Useful links
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buenosairesinte…
The Buenos Aires International Newcomers Group helps newcomers settle in Buenos Aires, and organizes a variety of social activities. - http://www.apartmentsba.com
Website advertising a number of rental listings for the Buenos Aires area - http://www.BuenosAiresHerald.com
Argentina’s only english-language daily newspaper, provides news from Argentina and Buenos Aires. - http://baexpats.org/
An online community for expatriates living in Buenos Aires. - http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/
A blog that describes expat life in Buenos Aires.
Interesting fact
Spread over an area of 78.5 square miles, Buenos Aires is the biggest and the most populated metropolitan city in the country with a population of more than 13 million people. |