Cost of Living in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires remains one of the most compelling cities in Latin America for digital nomads seeking a blend of European-style architecture, world-class culture, and accommodation costs that still undercut most Western capitals -- though the city is no longer the ultra-budget destination it was during the 2019-2022 currency crisis. Under President Milei's sweeping economic reforms, Argentina has been steadily unifying its exchange rates and dismantling the infamous "cepo" (currency controls), which means the gap between the official and "blue dollar" rates has largely closed by early 2026. Inflation has dropped from triple digits to a projected 18% annually for 2026, and rental markets have stabilized somewhat in USD terms. The practical result for foreigners paying in dollars: Buenos Aires accommodation is roughly 65% cheaper than New York and 45% cheaper than London for comparable apartments, but it is meaningfully more expensive than it was two or three years ago.

Buenos Aires is one of the great food cities of the world, shaped by waves of Italian and Spanish immigration, an obsessive culture of grilled beef, and a cafe tradition that rivals Paris. The city eats late -- lunch rarely starts before 1 PM and dinner before 9 PM is almost unheard of. An inexpensive sit-down meal at a neighborhood restaurant runs around $10-15 USD, while a mid-range dinner for two with drinks lands in the $50-70 range.

Grocery shopping in Buenos Aires has become more expensive for foreigners than during the blue dollar years, but remains affordable by North American and European standards. The major supermarket chains are Carrefour, Coto, Jumbo, and Día, with Día being the discount option and Jumbo the most premium. Coto and Carrefour frequently run aggressive promotions tied to specific bank cards -- discounts of 20-30% are common on certain days. A basic weekly shop for one person runs approximately $30-50 USD, or $120-200 per month.

Buenos Aires boasts one of the most comprehensive public transport systems in South America, and for digital nomads it is both remarkably cheap and surprisingly easy to master. The backbone is the SUBE card (Sistema Único de Boleto Electrónico), a rechargeable contactless card that works across the Subte (metro), colectivos (city buses), trains, and some ferries. Cash is not accepted on any public transport -- a SUBE card is mandatory. Cards cost about $0.65 and are sold at Subte stations and virtually any kiosco. A critical tip: register your SUBE card through the app, because registered cards pay a lower fare (around $0.95 vs $1.50 for unregistered). The system also offers progressive discounts after 20, 30, and 40 trips per month.

Buenos Aires has invested heavily in internet infrastructure, and as of early 2026 the city offers solid connectivity for remote work. The main residential providers are Telecentro (widely regarded as most reliable, offering 300 Mbps), Fibertel/Flow, Iplan (fiber-to-the-home specialist popular with tech workers), Claro, and Movistar. In central neighborhoods like Palermo, Recoleta, and Belgrano, fiber-optic plans offering 300-500 Mbps are increasingly standard. A 300 Mbps residential plan costs approximately $15-25/month -- remarkably cheap by global standards. Most furnished apartments come with internet already installed.

Buenos Aires offers healthcare that is genuinely world-class at prices that remain remarkably affordable for anyone earning in USD. Argentina's constitution guarantees free public healthcare to everyone including foreigners, though the public system can involve long wait times. Most digital nomads gravitate toward private care, where a general practitioner visit costs roughly $20-30 out of pocket and specialist visits run $30-55. Many Argentine doctors trained abroad, and finding English-speaking physicians at private facilities is straightforward.

Buenos Aires is generally safe for foreigners exercising standard big-city awareness. The US State Department rates Argentina as Level 1 ("Exercise Normal Precautions"), its lowest risk category. That said, petty crime is very real. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and motorbike grab-and-run theft of phones are common in tourist-heavy areas like San Telmo, La Boca, and Retiro. The safest neighborhoods for nomads are Palermo, Recoleta, Belgrano, and Núñez. La Boca should only be visited during daylight and strictly within the Caminito tourist zone -- wandering even a few blocks off the main strip puts you in dangerous territory. Keep your phone in a front pocket or zipped bag, never use it while walking near the curb, and be wary of the classic "stain on your jacket" distraction scam.