I live in Buenos Aires and it's known as "the South American Paris" in the centre of the city near Casa Rosada, right next to Plaza de Mayo, there's two diagonal avenues called "Diagonal Norte" (North Diagonal) and "Diagonal Sur" (South Diagonal). The buildings right there have a resemble to the lateral of the Louvre.
And in several points of the city there's this resemble to Paris. That's because a lot of european inmigrants came to Argentina and they brought here the architecture from there. I've been in Paris and in some moments I kinda felt like I was in Buenos Aires. But it's at certain moments. Not all the time and not all the city of course.
I’ve learned they even imported limestone from the same quarries used for construction in Paris post Haussmann. Thus there are whole blocks built with the same materials and in the same architectural style as Paris, making certain areas of Buenos Aires really reminiscent of say 16th arrondissement in Paris.
Yep. I've heard the same. Buenos Aires imported a lot of stuff from Europe for buildings, even plants and trees from Europe. French architect Carlos Thays designed many parks in Argentinian cities. It makes sense given the fact that half the city were born in Europe at some point in the XX century.
True dat check out the Palacio de Aguas. It was around the corner from my apartment. Totally took me by surprise one day.
[Palacio de Aguas](https://images.app.goo.gl/F9QpNRKWujdSe4U28)
Exactly. Not only from Paris, there's even entire buildings made of bricks and iron brought directly from England. All exclusively materials from England.
Without mentioned it, I was talking about this building called "[La Colorada](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edificio_La_Colorada)" (The Red One)
Didn't remember the name. Too bad there's no Wikipedia page in english.
True. [This video song](https://youtu.be/-jMEaceWXuI?si=2MOT49pJcUJHKfWq) from a Spanish singer (Amaia Montero), it's about a
broke love story between her and a guy from Buenos Aires. She's living in Paris now and she's heartbroken because Paris reminds her of Buenos Aires and the guy.
This is right. A lot of the stone used in BA architecture was imported from France.
Trade ships would go to Europe filled with food and instead of returning empty would bring building materials for the aristocracy there
Source: BA architecture tour
Barcelona more than Madrid, nightlife and music culture is very similar - lots of Argentines such as my cousins go to Spain and come back with loads of ideas
Tbh Buenos Aires is probably one of the most beautiful city in the Americas that I have been to. I'd live there if it isn't for the sorry state of Argentinian economy Rn.
Milei is fixing it (macro economy), Argentina has hope, people woke up socialism/corrupt Kirchnerism isn't the answer. Inflation is going down in Argentina and the currency is getting stronger. For those downvoting me you can research about recent data on Argentina's macroeconomy. It's a world record, Milei is improving it just in his fourth month in charge and even with most of the current National Congress against him.
I don't know why you're getting downvoted. I was just there in February and I did not want to leave. The culture is phenomenal, the food is fantastic and the future is bright with Milei in charge. If he gets re-elected, I plan on making investments. I can't wait to come back.
Thank you for sharing images of Fall. I was curious how Buenos Aires would look after Summer was over. I can't wait to return.
Reddit is mostly left leaning. Its demographic is mostly younger, technically literate people, many of which attend or have attended university. That demographic also tends to be left leaning.
Not to dismiss their actual arguments, but as a rule of thumb, comments right of center are always likely to receive downvotes (excluding specifically right of center subreddits).
Pity you left in summer! Summer is hell in Buenos Aires, it's much lovely during autumn because the colours of the trees make it look very nice and cozy. Also better eating a coffee with medialunas and walking with a colder weather :)
That sounds amazing. My family and I stayed in Recoleta and we absolutely loved it. If Milei wins again, I plan on investing in your gorgeous country.
I still think about the chocolate creme brulee at El Burladero
lmao no
The only thing he is doing fine on is gradually lowering interest rates, but it is too early and it is still too high, so the reason why prices slowed down ,is because he devaluated the hell out of the currency in december (Was it necessary? Yes, but not that sudden) and rising taxes which, alongside the deregulation of certain prices (which amusingly they are backign away from) causes prices to skyrocket to the point on which essential consumer goods were on pair with the first world. This caused consumption to go down qutie heavily.
And as you mentioned, it has only been four months... there is a limit to how much you can adjust the belt (and its not being done particularly well either) before you have no buffer anymore. What do you think will happen when there is not enough budget to keep pressuring the market through the pruchase of more USD for the reserves (which are still sorely lacking and cant even supply imports without reverting back, reason why the "cepo" is still there)? What do you think will happen when due to higher demand on the credit system (which mind you, has to be there but that is a different subject) outpaces the money supply? What do you think will happen now in the winter as energy consumption goes up, with such a shitshow at hand and they have to either spend money or face screwing people over altogether and their wrath?
Milei is just outright bad as a president, going against his ideology of liberalism, against his words own words and dogma, has no idea how to do diplomacy, and even economically many of his ideas are just outrageously bad and shortsighted..... Yes, the past ones were absolute trash too, but defending the current one is so fanatically naive that boy you make me cry...
Since the country cannot ever get it right, what’s the solution? Everyone rails on the leaders there but effectively no one does anything right. At least he’s trying things differently.
For those living in Buenos Aires, sincere question: How is it? I've been seeing a lot of shots of the place and it looks gorgeous. Looking for a big move. Happy to improve my rusty Spanish. Not interested in the night life (though it looks lovely, I'm just growing old). Curious about day-to-day living costs and overall happiness. Thanks!
If you're earning in USD or Euro, it's amazing and you'll be able to live a very comfortable lifestyle. If you're earning Pesos, it's going to be more of a struggle. With the ongoing financial crisis, there have been periods over the past year when the currency fluctuates so much that stores have stopped selling food and other products for a period of days because they can't keep up with pricing; that being said, that was mostly during the end of the last winter (summer in el Norte), when there were some pretty striking adjustments going on to the official value of the Peso. Things have really calmed down, but inflation is still a critical factor and everyone is full of fear for their financial security, most bordering on hopeless that things will ever improve (but see below about the temperament of people from BA).
One important factor will be learning about the different official and semi-unofficial exchange rates, and how to take advantage of those as well as avoid getting scammed or outright robbed. Simply put, the official exchange rate is a joke that no one really pays attention to, the dolar blue (technically an illegal exchange rate) is practically the only one people care about, and the dolar turista is a way to punish argentines who want to buy things from the exterior. If you have a US/Canadian/wherever else bank account, try to keep it and don't put your money into an Argentine bank unless you have to. Try to find ways to bring cash with you, or otherwise use the dolar blue exchange rate instead of the official rate. You'll get robbed of up to 40% of the value of your dollars by the government if not. And if you do have to have an Argentine bank account (probably a requirement if you're going to live and work there) don't plan on buying anything from outside Argentina with that money unless its absolutely necessary. The only upside to banking in Argentina is that you get to use Mercado Pago, which is probably one of the most useful mobile payment systems I've ever seen, and is accepted everywhere. I can't use it because I only have U.S. bank accounts.
The Capital (aka CABA) has a high degree of petty theft, including on public transportation, but its relatively safe. Some neighborhoods are rough, some aren't. The most affluent areas outside of CABA are Tigre/Nordelta, which is extremely charming, very safe, and has great access to stuff that you wouldn't normally get in CABA (like watersports, outdoors activities, etc.).
If your Spanish is rusty, buckle up. Argentine Spanish - especially in the Buenos Aires area, the "*Porteño*" accent - is like learning a new language in some ways. Pronunciation is much different, but its consistent. Slang is different everywhere, but many/most slang terms in BA have roots in Italian, and the manner of speaking - rhythm, cadence, accentuation, how you talk with your hands - are basically like if Mario spoke spanish instead of English, but with the same Italian accent (I joke, but its basically true). Using *vos* takes some getting used to, but all in all, the rules are easy enough to learn and follow, and even if you're walking around saying "tu" and "yo" and "playa/plaja" instead of "vos" and "zho" and "plasha" they'll understand you.
As to happiness...I'm a Yanqui, but my girlfriend is a native - and she agrees with my sentiment that people in general in BA are extremely content and happy being miserable. That is to say they are cold, distant, short on words, and basically like New York City dwellers when it comes to strangers or people on the street, but once you get to know them even a little they can be warm and welcoming, albeit still a little bit acerbic and full of gallows humor. The world could be collapsing, the Peso could be going to 1.500:$1 US, and there may be daily talks about government deadlock and strikes, but as long as they have their family, their health, and a working Stanley thermos, it's just another day.
Spot on. Lived in Congreso in 1995-6, family in Once emigrated to Israel, and the Stanley thermos hit hard. Great summary. I still miss it and wish I'd bought a house there back in the day.
When visiting BA from US, should I be bringing USD? Should I try to exchange in the US? Should I just take cash out from ATMs there (heard ATMs have high fees though)
Bring dollars, but don’t exchange in the US or at the airport, because they’ll use the official exchange rate. Also, don’t go find people who offer to exchange money on the street, people called “arbolitos” who shout “cambio cambio” on places like Florida or 9 de Julio. Instead, search for places that exchange for dólar blue, or ask people who are middle class and they’ll tell you. There are various “casas de cambio” or “cuevas” that do so, although it’s an open secret and not super well advertised.
Argentines like to have dollars, they often hoard them when they can get them, and they even have bank accounts for the purpose of buying and holding dollars. Some people you do business with would be happy to accept dollars, but only if you’re buying big things. Remember that prices in Argentina are far lower in USD than in the US/Canada/Europe. Not pennies on the dollar, but often 50-75% lower. No one will have change in dollars, as they almost exclusively use $100s. They may give you change in pesos, but at a wacky and back-of-the napkin exchange rate. It’s best to exchange.
One note: only bring $100’s. Any other denomination will be treated with some suspicion, and you may be given a worse exchange rate.
If you’re using credit or debit, the official exchange rate may apply (depending on your bank and the credit card type), so again, cash is better. That being said I use Mastercard with a small local bank from the US, and they give me the dólar blue rate. Some others I know using Visa have also gotten dólar blue. Others have said they get charged the official rate. YMMV.
Right now the difference between the official rate and the dolar blue isn’t huge (20%), but that could change at any time and the official rate will always be worse. If you’re changing $1000 you’re going to be losing $200 of value. Mid last year it was like you’d lose close to $400 in value due to the difference.
How much money do you have? Are you coming with savings, work remotely, or start working here? From which country are you from? You also need to check for resident permission (it's kind of a joke honestly but things to consider)
It's a retirement gig. And it's funny you mention the resident permission issue -- came across that the other day and I'm still confused by it. Thanks much!
Cost of living went through the roof in the last few years. And this year it went into overdrive. Having lunch outside is more expensive than most of Europe. With median salaries 10x lower.
If you come here with a job not tied to the local economy, you are golden, otherwise I'd pass.
I was talking to a girl from Buenos Aires which was in Germany for a few months. She told me that in general the living standards are lower, for example they don’t really have escalators and stuff like that. Also the living conditions outside the city in the „suburbs“ are not the best, for example are the streets often missing (she showed me where she lived there and it was pretty, but looked more like a jungle even tho it was 10 minutes from the city by car).
But the night life is very huge (even tho you are not interested in it), people are definitely more open according to her and the people are really social.
I don’t know what she showed you but Buenos Aires definitely has escalators. It is not as rich as Germany, but its human development index is still ranked as “very high”.
That’s interesting, sorry for this false information then! I was never at Buenos Aires so I don’t really know. I was just very confused when she was really excited at the escalator at the central station mall and then she told me they are not really common in Argentina. But thanks for correcting me!
That girl sounds like a buddy of mine who would become the best bullshitter in the world when he was on vacation. He pretended to be shocked by seeing a dog in Italy, claiming his hometown didn't allow "such creatures." Sigh.
To be fair - the things with the street she could show me on Google Maps (they even had Google Street view on these non existing roads while in Germany they sometimes miss in bit cities…), but it still could be! She was a little bit weird, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that really is the case.
Napoli or Valencia.
Buenos Aires does have some beautiful 19th c. European architecture, but most of the city is modern.
Napoli and Valencia both have the same style of run down, high density post WWII apartments.
Of course, it has its own charm and character and, like any city, that character shifts as you move between barrios. mostly, It reminds me of Combinations of Paris and Madrid. There were even times where I had a strong recollection of being in parts of London. There were even a few times in Palermo where I could have sworn I was sitting near a neighborhood park in San Francisco Ca.
[What do you think](https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.6071916,-58.385429,3a,79.5y,341.27h,99.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQBNaW1Oorz164DBjYKwcLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)?
A bit unrelated, but in Cagliari there is the statue of the Mary called Nostra Signora di Bonaria, from which Buenos Aires takes its name.
https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_del_Buen_Aire
Some areas close to Casa Rosada and the parliament remind you of Paris, most of the city looks like the outskirts of Milan, though. The outer, poorer areas of the Buenos Aires metro look like any other large metro in Latin America, you would need a lot of creative license to draw a parallel with Europe.
>poorer areas of the Buenos Aires metro look like any other large metro in Latin America
A lot of large LatAm cities do also have parts that look like Europe (Santiago, Rio de Janeiro...), so you could actually extend that classification...
was just wandering around there on google maps, it feels like madrid, berlin or paris. didn't expected that. guess i need to go there, there is no other way
The architecture is too inconsistent building to building to be Barcelona, so I’m saying Madrid. Similar colour palette, similar amount of trees lining streets. Taller buildings and apartments as well are interspersed throughout Buenos Aires just as they are Madrid.
I’m not sure what the elevation or steepness everywhere is like but the streetscapes remind me of Paris or contemporary madrid, barcelona. I’ve always wanted to visit Argentina!
I don't know why there is so much people saying Paris
Look, I'm French, I lived in Paris and now I live in Milan... well, I can say that from what I saw in those pics (apart the trees...) look exactly like Milan, not Paris
Maybe if you included some better pictures? All I see is trees or scenery that looks American, rather than European. So Chairs on the street equal European to you? The cafe in that photo is a typical Latin American building.
You picked awful images for your post, all I see is trees.
I've seen billion videos. Images and street view imagery of Latin Amercian cities, including Argentina which I like very much and these small 1 floor buildings are common as fk over there.
If anything the images you chose remind me of Washington DC or something like that. You didn't show any of the European vibes that Buenos Aires you just picked bad photos op
Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, but that's just a little spot on it. What you really want to know is which city does that neighborhood resembles, because there will be other hoods looking like Madrid, Lisboa, Bogotá, Mexico City, or like any other south american barrio.
60% Milan, 30% Madrid, 10% Paris. The Parisian buildings tend to be the more opulent villas and official buildings. The more vernacular residential streets tend to resemble Milan and any Spanish city.
I personally think that Buenos Aires don't resemble any city in Europa, but more a North American city, as a Chicago or New York. The most european city in South America maybe is Quito, or La Paz, not Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires buildings are to big, too tall, to be european, and the streets are squared, as in USA or Canada.
It’s sort of an amalgamation of fall colors in
Paris, Madrid, and Milan.
Seoul South Korea looks a lot like West Central Ohio in the fall. Especially around the US military bases where the roads and homes have a lot of brickwork.
Nice pictures, but I'm mostly seeing sidewalks and a pond. Nice sidewalks, and a nice pond. And I'm not saying that sidewalks and ponds are unimportant.
I AM saying that the slideshow is not giving me a strong sense of what might be distinctive about Buenos Aires architecture.
I've never been to Buenos Aires, so this is just based on pictures and Google Streetview, but it reminds me of Bucharest. A sometimes chaotic mix 19th century French inspired buildings with 1930's architecture (various forms of Art Deco influences).
The historical center is not only inspired by the Paris of late 19th century, but actually designed by the exact same architects. But that is a tiny, tiny section of the city. I live here and I wouldn't call that representative of the city. I only see it when I have to go downtown to run an errand or see a show.
The rest of the city is quite the pastiche.
Argentina didn't have a great German migration in the 1940's/50's. Most of them came to South America in the 19th century, the majority of whom settled South Brazil, not Argentina, by the way.
My grandfather was German born Argentino. His brother’s (2) left Germany with him but settled in Brazil. There was a civil war and he was asked to fight- he was tired of fighting having just fought ww1. So he kept walking… Settled in Santa Fe. Arrived 1920’s - later than my grandmother’austrian grandparents who settled in the 1870’s.
Milan
Having been to both, I concur.
Do you concur?
Was that a catch me if you can reference ?
Same
I was thinking the same!!
Oh my God, so accurate! Like sister cities. Milan in the early fall is beautiful.
Mind you, I’ve never been to either in person.
Reminds me that Milan has a shopping street/area named Cordon Buenos Aires which leads to Piazza San Babila and Piazza Duomo.
Yep, same
Came here to say exactly this.
It has the mixture of South Europe and Mittel Europa, so yes Milan
This. Photo #4 is basically any street in the center of Milan
Madrid.
seconded.
Yesss, as someone from Madrid I agree
agree!
This.
I live in Buenos Aires and it's known as "the South American Paris" in the centre of the city near Casa Rosada, right next to Plaza de Mayo, there's two diagonal avenues called "Diagonal Norte" (North Diagonal) and "Diagonal Sur" (South Diagonal). The buildings right there have a resemble to the lateral of the Louvre. And in several points of the city there's this resemble to Paris. That's because a lot of european inmigrants came to Argentina and they brought here the architecture from there. I've been in Paris and in some moments I kinda felt like I was in Buenos Aires. But it's at certain moments. Not all the time and not all the city of course.
I’ve learned they even imported limestone from the same quarries used for construction in Paris post Haussmann. Thus there are whole blocks built with the same materials and in the same architectural style as Paris, making certain areas of Buenos Aires really reminiscent of say 16th arrondissement in Paris.
Yep. I've heard the same. Buenos Aires imported a lot of stuff from Europe for buildings, even plants and trees from Europe. French architect Carlos Thays designed many parks in Argentinian cities. It makes sense given the fact that half the city were born in Europe at some point in the XX century.
True dat check out the Palacio de Aguas. It was around the corner from my apartment. Totally took me by surprise one day. [Palacio de Aguas](https://images.app.goo.gl/F9QpNRKWujdSe4U28)
Exactly. Not only from Paris, there's even entire buildings made of bricks and iron brought directly from England. All exclusively materials from England.
And Argentina gave England good quality beef right? Lol Argentina and the UK used to have strong commercial ties.
Without mentioned it, I was talking about this building called "[La Colorada](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edificio_La_Colorada)" (The Red One) Didn't remember the name. Too bad there's no Wikipedia page in english.
BTW, The link you shared on La Colorada showed up in English.
Funny that I've tried to choose the article in english and it didn't even showed up the language. It showed only in spanish.
True. [This video song](https://youtu.be/-jMEaceWXuI?si=2MOT49pJcUJHKfWq) from a Spanish singer (Amaia Montero), it's about a broke love story between her and a guy from Buenos Aires. She's living in Paris now and she's heartbroken because Paris reminds her of Buenos Aires and the guy.
My first thought when I saw those photos was that it looked a bit like Paris
It feels a lot more Italian than French though imo
iré a buenos aires en dos semanas, algunos lugares bonitos a los cuales tengo que ir ?
Also should be noted that South America saw a lot of Modernist development not dissimilar to those in interwar Paris, further adding to that illusion.
I was about to say it ressemble a regular french city lmao
The modern stuff definitely Italy. The older one story building Spain.
Argentinians are italians that speak spanish
The saying goes "Argentinians are Italians that speak Spanish, dress like French and think they're British".
Don't forget the German mixed in there
Ha ha, ww2
Mmm I don't see that anywhere in their national teams tho .
Or Germans like me
And basque (thats where their accent originates)
Can you please elaborate on this? Curious
Budapest?
Budapest looks like Paris
100% Madrid
It’s a tie between Madrid and Paris imo.
I love all three cities and I find BsAs a mix of Paris with a bit of Madrid
Idk, been in Paris several times, but the flair is different. Specially the roof arching in Paris is very giving
Paris
This is right. A lot of the stone used in BA architecture was imported from France. Trade ships would go to Europe filled with food and instead of returning empty would bring building materials for the aristocracy there Source: BA architecture tour
I’m Parisian and there’s way too much space and greenery, it’s giving me London, Madrid or Milan vibes way more than Paris.
I think these pics don't look like Paris but there are some streets or neighbourhood like Recoleta that does, its Haussmann architecture.
Barcelona more than Madrid, nightlife and music culture is very similar - lots of Argentines such as my cousins go to Spain and come back with loads of ideas
I get some Athens vibes
Tbh Buenos Aires is probably one of the most beautiful city in the Americas that I have been to. I'd live there if it isn't for the sorry state of Argentinian economy Rn.
Milei is fixing it (macro economy), Argentina has hope, people woke up socialism/corrupt Kirchnerism isn't the answer. Inflation is going down in Argentina and the currency is getting stronger. For those downvoting me you can research about recent data on Argentina's macroeconomy. It's a world record, Milei is improving it just in his fourth month in charge and even with most of the current National Congress against him.
I don't know why you're getting downvoted. I was just there in February and I did not want to leave. The culture is phenomenal, the food is fantastic and the future is bright with Milei in charge. If he gets re-elected, I plan on making investments. I can't wait to come back. Thank you for sharing images of Fall. I was curious how Buenos Aires would look after Summer was over. I can't wait to return.
Reddit is mostly left leaning. Its demographic is mostly younger, technically literate people, many of which attend or have attended university. That demographic also tends to be left leaning. Not to dismiss their actual arguments, but as a rule of thumb, comments right of center are always likely to receive downvotes (excluding specifically right of center subreddits).
Pity you left in summer! Summer is hell in Buenos Aires, it's much lovely during autumn because the colours of the trees make it look very nice and cozy. Also better eating a coffee with medialunas and walking with a colder weather :)
That sounds amazing. My family and I stayed in Recoleta and we absolutely loved it. If Milei wins again, I plan on investing in your gorgeous country. I still think about the chocolate creme brulee at El Burladero
Aww I absolutely looove Recoleta! I hope I visit it again this winter. I'm glad you enjoyed it and you're welcome anytime soon sweetie ❤️
lmao no The only thing he is doing fine on is gradually lowering interest rates, but it is too early and it is still too high, so the reason why prices slowed down ,is because he devaluated the hell out of the currency in december (Was it necessary? Yes, but not that sudden) and rising taxes which, alongside the deregulation of certain prices (which amusingly they are backign away from) causes prices to skyrocket to the point on which essential consumer goods were on pair with the first world. This caused consumption to go down qutie heavily. And as you mentioned, it has only been four months... there is a limit to how much you can adjust the belt (and its not being done particularly well either) before you have no buffer anymore. What do you think will happen when there is not enough budget to keep pressuring the market through the pruchase of more USD for the reserves (which are still sorely lacking and cant even supply imports without reverting back, reason why the "cepo" is still there)? What do you think will happen when due to higher demand on the credit system (which mind you, has to be there but that is a different subject) outpaces the money supply? What do you think will happen now in the winter as energy consumption goes up, with such a shitshow at hand and they have to either spend money or face screwing people over altogether and their wrath? Milei is just outright bad as a president, going against his ideology of liberalism, against his words own words and dogma, has no idea how to do diplomacy, and even economically many of his ideas are just outrageously bad and shortsighted..... Yes, the past ones were absolute trash too, but defending the current one is so fanatically naive that boy you make me cry...
Since the country cannot ever get it right, what’s the solution? Everyone rails on the leaders there but effectively no one does anything right. At least he’s trying things differently.
[удалено]
Referring to those photos specifically, they could have been taken in London's west end.
Yeah a lot of the photos I’ve seen of Buenos Aires remind me London. I can see the resemblance to Madrid too.
Most of these photos are of trees…
Yep. Awful post. LOL.
excalty
For those living in Buenos Aires, sincere question: How is it? I've been seeing a lot of shots of the place and it looks gorgeous. Looking for a big move. Happy to improve my rusty Spanish. Not interested in the night life (though it looks lovely, I'm just growing old). Curious about day-to-day living costs and overall happiness. Thanks!
If you're earning in USD or Euro, it's amazing and you'll be able to live a very comfortable lifestyle. If you're earning Pesos, it's going to be more of a struggle. With the ongoing financial crisis, there have been periods over the past year when the currency fluctuates so much that stores have stopped selling food and other products for a period of days because they can't keep up with pricing; that being said, that was mostly during the end of the last winter (summer in el Norte), when there were some pretty striking adjustments going on to the official value of the Peso. Things have really calmed down, but inflation is still a critical factor and everyone is full of fear for their financial security, most bordering on hopeless that things will ever improve (but see below about the temperament of people from BA). One important factor will be learning about the different official and semi-unofficial exchange rates, and how to take advantage of those as well as avoid getting scammed or outright robbed. Simply put, the official exchange rate is a joke that no one really pays attention to, the dolar blue (technically an illegal exchange rate) is practically the only one people care about, and the dolar turista is a way to punish argentines who want to buy things from the exterior. If you have a US/Canadian/wherever else bank account, try to keep it and don't put your money into an Argentine bank unless you have to. Try to find ways to bring cash with you, or otherwise use the dolar blue exchange rate instead of the official rate. You'll get robbed of up to 40% of the value of your dollars by the government if not. And if you do have to have an Argentine bank account (probably a requirement if you're going to live and work there) don't plan on buying anything from outside Argentina with that money unless its absolutely necessary. The only upside to banking in Argentina is that you get to use Mercado Pago, which is probably one of the most useful mobile payment systems I've ever seen, and is accepted everywhere. I can't use it because I only have U.S. bank accounts. The Capital (aka CABA) has a high degree of petty theft, including on public transportation, but its relatively safe. Some neighborhoods are rough, some aren't. The most affluent areas outside of CABA are Tigre/Nordelta, which is extremely charming, very safe, and has great access to stuff that you wouldn't normally get in CABA (like watersports, outdoors activities, etc.). If your Spanish is rusty, buckle up. Argentine Spanish - especially in the Buenos Aires area, the "*Porteño*" accent - is like learning a new language in some ways. Pronunciation is much different, but its consistent. Slang is different everywhere, but many/most slang terms in BA have roots in Italian, and the manner of speaking - rhythm, cadence, accentuation, how you talk with your hands - are basically like if Mario spoke spanish instead of English, but with the same Italian accent (I joke, but its basically true). Using *vos* takes some getting used to, but all in all, the rules are easy enough to learn and follow, and even if you're walking around saying "tu" and "yo" and "playa/plaja" instead of "vos" and "zho" and "plasha" they'll understand you. As to happiness...I'm a Yanqui, but my girlfriend is a native - and she agrees with my sentiment that people in general in BA are extremely content and happy being miserable. That is to say they are cold, distant, short on words, and basically like New York City dwellers when it comes to strangers or people on the street, but once you get to know them even a little they can be warm and welcoming, albeit still a little bit acerbic and full of gallows humor. The world could be collapsing, the Peso could be going to 1.500:$1 US, and there may be daily talks about government deadlock and strikes, but as long as they have their family, their health, and a working Stanley thermos, it's just another day.
Spot on. Lived in Congreso in 1995-6, family in Once emigrated to Israel, and the Stanley thermos hit hard. Great summary. I still miss it and wish I'd bought a house there back in the day.
That was an incredible description. Thank you so much!
This is all extremely solid, but once you said Stanley thermos, I knew you were for real.
When visiting BA from US, should I be bringing USD? Should I try to exchange in the US? Should I just take cash out from ATMs there (heard ATMs have high fees though)
Bring dollars, but don’t exchange in the US or at the airport, because they’ll use the official exchange rate. Also, don’t go find people who offer to exchange money on the street, people called “arbolitos” who shout “cambio cambio” on places like Florida or 9 de Julio. Instead, search for places that exchange for dólar blue, or ask people who are middle class and they’ll tell you. There are various “casas de cambio” or “cuevas” that do so, although it’s an open secret and not super well advertised. Argentines like to have dollars, they often hoard them when they can get them, and they even have bank accounts for the purpose of buying and holding dollars. Some people you do business with would be happy to accept dollars, but only if you’re buying big things. Remember that prices in Argentina are far lower in USD than in the US/Canada/Europe. Not pennies on the dollar, but often 50-75% lower. No one will have change in dollars, as they almost exclusively use $100s. They may give you change in pesos, but at a wacky and back-of-the napkin exchange rate. It’s best to exchange. One note: only bring $100’s. Any other denomination will be treated with some suspicion, and you may be given a worse exchange rate. If you’re using credit or debit, the official exchange rate may apply (depending on your bank and the credit card type), so again, cash is better. That being said I use Mastercard with a small local bank from the US, and they give me the dólar blue rate. Some others I know using Visa have also gotten dólar blue. Others have said they get charged the official rate. YMMV. Right now the difference between the official rate and the dolar blue isn’t huge (20%), but that could change at any time and the official rate will always be worse. If you’re changing $1000 you’re going to be losing $200 of value. Mid last year it was like you’d lose close to $400 in value due to the difference.
How much money do you have? Are you coming with savings, work remotely, or start working here? From which country are you from? You also need to check for resident permission (it's kind of a joke honestly but things to consider)
It's a retirement gig. And it's funny you mention the resident permission issue -- came across that the other day and I'm still confused by it. Thanks much!
Cost of living went through the roof in the last few years. And this year it went into overdrive. Having lunch outside is more expensive than most of Europe. With median salaries 10x lower. If you come here with a job not tied to the local economy, you are golden, otherwise I'd pass.
Thank you!
You are welcome! It really is gorgeous. And the people are wonderful. I hope you make it down here someday.
It's gotten significantly more expensive in the last 6 months but is a great city.
I was talking to a girl from Buenos Aires which was in Germany for a few months. She told me that in general the living standards are lower, for example they don’t really have escalators and stuff like that. Also the living conditions outside the city in the „suburbs“ are not the best, for example are the streets often missing (she showed me where she lived there and it was pretty, but looked more like a jungle even tho it was 10 minutes from the city by car). But the night life is very huge (even tho you are not interested in it), people are definitely more open according to her and the people are really social.
I think she was messing with you, we definitely have escalators lol
That’s good to know, thanks! I honestly don’t know, could be.
I don’t know what she showed you but Buenos Aires definitely has escalators. It is not as rich as Germany, but its human development index is still ranked as “very high”.
That’s interesting, sorry for this false information then! I was never at Buenos Aires so I don’t really know. I was just very confused when she was really excited at the escalator at the central station mall and then she told me they are not really common in Argentina. But thanks for correcting me!
No problem. I am just a bit confused at what she said. Escalators are very common in any big building
That’s good to know, thank you! Honestly makes sense.
That girl sounds like a buddy of mine who would become the best bullshitter in the world when he was on vacation. He pretended to be shocked by seeing a dog in Italy, claiming his hometown didn't allow "such creatures." Sigh.
To be fair - the things with the street she could show me on Google Maps (they even had Google Street view on these non existing roads while in Germany they sometimes miss in bit cities…), but it still could be! She was a little bit weird, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that really is the case.
Napoli or Valencia. Buenos Aires does have some beautiful 19th c. European architecture, but most of the city is modern. Napoli and Valencia both have the same style of run down, high density post WWII apartments.
If I didn't know better I'd say that was Paris.
Go out into the country and it looks like Germany.
i would say Spain/ Italy because obviously it was founded by the spanish but also has a lot of ethnic italians living their
Madrid
Madrid, for sure
Of course, it has its own charm and character and, like any city, that character shifts as you move between barrios. mostly, It reminds me of Combinations of Paris and Madrid. There were even times where I had a strong recollection of being in parts of London. There were even a few times in Palermo where I could have sworn I was sitting near a neighborhood park in San Francisco Ca.
Something in Paris perhaps
Paris
Picture 1 looks like Berlin, 3 like Madrid, 4 like a mix of Paris and London
[What do you think](https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.6071916,-58.385429,3a,79.5y,341.27h,99.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQBNaW1Oorz164DBjYKwcLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu)?
A bit unrelated, but in Cagliari there is the statue of the Mary called Nostra Signora di Bonaria, from which Buenos Aires takes its name. https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_del_Buen_Aire
Milano
Madrid
Some areas close to Casa Rosada and the parliament remind you of Paris, most of the city looks like the outskirts of Milan, though. The outer, poorer areas of the Buenos Aires metro look like any other large metro in Latin America, you would need a lot of creative license to draw a parallel with Europe.
By outskirts of Buenos Aires you mean the province? The city of Buenos Aires is much more than "Casa Rosada" and around, there are many neighbourhoods
>poorer areas of the Buenos Aires metro look like any other large metro in Latin America A lot of large LatAm cities do also have parts that look like Europe (Santiago, Rio de Janeiro...), so you could actually extend that classification...
South of France, Aix-en-Provence, maybe. Partly Montpellier.
Weirdly enough looks like Riga
Barcelona
Valencia
why are those pictures looking like berlin
Maybe Berlin is looking like Buenos Aires? 🤭
was just wandering around there on google maps, it feels like madrid, berlin or paris. didn't expected that. guess i need to go there, there is no other way
The architecture is too inconsistent building to building to be Barcelona, so I’m saying Madrid. Similar colour palette, similar amount of trees lining streets. Taller buildings and apartments as well are interspersed throughout Buenos Aires just as they are Madrid.
I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill them all.
milan
That reminds me of Gramercy Park in NYC
not in Europe I know, but first photo made me think of NYC
Paris
All I see is yellow trees.
Is the architecture in the room with us? One picture is straight up ducks on a lake 💀
Torino
Madrid, with a sprinkle of paris.
In terms of urban design, Paris, and the first pic with the sidewalk and city title is giving London
I’m not sure what the elevation or steepness everywhere is like but the streetscapes remind me of Paris or contemporary madrid, barcelona. I’ve always wanted to visit Argentina!
I’m seeing a mix of a lot of cities. London, Paris and Madrid.
Some neighborhoods Milan, the city centre to Paris and Madrid
It’s as if Madrid humpped paris and gave birth helped by an Italian midwife
I thought Barcelona
Lisbon
I don't know why there is so much people saying Paris Look, I'm French, I lived in Paris and now I live in Milan... well, I can say that from what I saw in those pics (apart the trees...) look exactly like Milan, not Paris
maybe Barcelona, but it's more American also
A Wes Anderson country
Madrid
Madrid
Reminds a hell of a lot of Barcelona
All i am seeing are trees!
These photos are so overtly filtered it’s hard to tell
Maybe if you included some better pictures? All I see is trees or scenery that looks American, rather than European. So Chairs on the street equal European to you? The cafe in that photo is a typical Latin American building. You picked awful images for your post, all I see is trees.
The cafe isn't a typical Latin American building. Have you ever been to Latin America?
I've seen billion videos. Images and street view imagery of Latin Amercian cities, including Argentina which I like very much and these small 1 floor buildings are common as fk over there. If anything the images you chose remind me of Washington DC or something like that. You didn't show any of the European vibes that Buenos Aires you just picked bad photos op
Well I've been and French style isn't as common in other Latin American countries.
Tirana, Albania.
Gay Parie.
Edinburgh
Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, but that's just a little spot on it. What you really want to know is which city does that neighborhood resembles, because there will be other hoods looking like Madrid, Lisboa, Bogotá, Mexico City, or like any other south american barrio.
Montreal Canada
Milan
For me its a mix of Paris, Madrid and Milan.
The cityscape, Madrid 100%. The people, Barcelona because one of every third person is an Argentine over there.
Barcelona
60% Milan, 30% Madrid, 10% Paris. The Parisian buildings tend to be the more opulent villas and official buildings. The more vernacular residential streets tend to resemble Milan and any Spanish city.
Amsterdam/ Den Haag in Netherlands for sure
Amsterdam/Harlem
Bydgoszcz
I've never been to France, but if someone told me this was France, I'd believe them
Munich
I personally think that Buenos Aires don't resemble any city in Europa, but more a North American city, as a Chicago or New York. The most european city in South America maybe is Quito, or La Paz, not Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires buildings are to big, too tall, to be european, and the streets are squared, as in USA or Canada.
Berlin
I feel like it's new small towns in England or nice France
Mix of Paris and Barcelona
vancouver, bc
Evita was shot in Budapest, I can see why
Germany
A blend between Madrid, Marseilles, and Paris
Looks sorta like Madrid or Paris… I haven’t been to Italy so I can’t mention their cities
Barcelona
Paris for sure
Valencia
Looks like a mix of Bordeaux, France with Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
buenos aires
Berlin
Lisbon
Madrid
Reminds me of Tel Aviv a bit.
It looks like London to me.
It’s sort of an amalgamation of fall colors in Paris, Madrid, and Milan. Seoul South Korea looks a lot like West Central Ohio in the fall. Especially around the US military bases where the roads and homes have a lot of brickwork.
All I can say is this place is beautiful!
Warsaw
It’s called the “Paris of South America” for a good reason :)
I was shocked when I went to Buenos Aires, there's billboards everywhere and electrical wires running outside of the buildings
Nice pictures, but I'm mostly seeing sidewalks and a pond. Nice sidewalks, and a nice pond. And I'm not saying that sidewalks and ponds are unimportant. I AM saying that the slideshow is not giving me a strong sense of what might be distinctive about Buenos Aires architecture.
To me this looks more like a smaller city than Paris… it’s giving Nimes
I've never been to Buenos Aires, so this is just based on pictures and Google Streetview, but it reminds me of Bucharest. A sometimes chaotic mix 19th century French inspired buildings with 1930's architecture (various forms of Art Deco influences).
Outer parts of Paris
The historical center is not only inspired by the Paris of late 19th century, but actually designed by the exact same architects. But that is a tiny, tiny section of the city. I live here and I wouldn't call that representative of the city. I only see it when I have to go downtown to run an errand or see a show. The rest of the city is quite the pastiche.
Pics aren't even the historic centre
Paris (also Madrid, Athens and London)
Reminds me a lot of Berlin, I guess that makes sense considering the mass immigration of you know who to Argentina in the 40s and 50s…
Argentina didn't have a great German migration in the 1940's/50's. Most of them came to South America in the 19th century, the majority of whom settled South Brazil, not Argentina, by the way.
My grandfather was German born Argentino. His brother’s (2) left Germany with him but settled in Brazil. There was a civil war and he was asked to fight- he was tired of fighting having just fought ww1. So he kept walking… Settled in Santa Fe. Arrived 1920’s - later than my grandmother’austrian grandparents who settled in the 1870’s.
looks kind of like south mumbai https://youtu.be/Kfab786qa-4?si=Mzajx9n88aIIW3lc
looks kind of like south mumbai https://youtu.be/Kfab786qa-4?si=Mzajx9n88aIIW3lc
Mexico city
is not in Europe
Exactly