Perhaps one of the best kept secrets in the entire Western Hemisphere, if not the world, the big and beautiful South American nation of Argentina has become an amazing option for digital nomads and expats in the know, looking to set up shop in one of the most gorgeous and intriguing nations on the planet.
Home to one of one the world’s most artistically influential cities, Buenos Aires, Argentina also plays host to the well-renowned wine fields of Mendoza, the awe-inspiring raw beauty of Patagonia, and a large portion of one the planet’s most beautiful natural waterworks in Iguazu Falls – to only name but a few of the many riches, both man-made and natural, that moving to Argentina would be sure to bestow on all your senses!
And yet, quite surprisingly, moving to Argentina is often not discussed nearly enough as a potential option for expats looking for a new locale to call their home – although in truth, this may partially have to do with the nation’s turbulent history over the last century or so.
Although once regarded as one of the richest nations in the world, Argentina has unfortunately seen its start spectacularly fall over the course of the 20th and 21st centuries, due in part to massive economic collapse, as well as political corruption. However, despite the nation’s many domestic issues that continue to plague it to this very day, there still remains enormous opportunity in moving to Argentina, as well as making this highly underrated place one of the best in the world to live in, for the discerning expat or digital nomad.
Having recently spent quite some time in Argentina myself, I found myself enthralled by a nation of wonders and contradictions, a place of beauty and wonder, if one is willing to scratch beneath the hard surface of a nation still trying to get out from under it’s difficulties. Although moving to Argentina might not promise the easiest option for potential expats, it certainly would seem that for those of the right mindset, this South American nation might just prove the adage that sometimes the best things in life are worth fighting for.
So is moving to Argentina for you? Below are my personal top 10 pros and cons to moving to Argentina, so you too can discover if this land on at the end of the world might just be for you!
PROS: One of the World’s Easiest Nations to Immigrate To
Hosting one of the most foreigner friendly immigration laws on the planet, Argentina’s national constitution actual stipulates that the ‘right to migration is essential and inalienable for the person and the Argentinian Republic guarantees it on the basis of the principles of equality and universality’ (Article 4, Law No. 25.871).” In theory, this also makes moving to Argentina one of the easiest options available to expats of almost any nation, and any economic situation, as one could effectively stay in the country indefinitely, without having to obtain paper (legal) residency, and not deal with immigration police hounding them for overstays and visa expiration.
Although legal residency is easily obtained for those thinking of investing in the property market, or also for pensioners that can prove they are making around $1500 USD monthly, due to Argentina’s often convoluted and bureaucratic government placing mounds of red tape over most business and immigration proceedings, many expats have instead decided to simply overstay their tourist visas ad infintum.
That is right – Argentina remains the only country in the world where I can honestly say that one could in practice stay as long as they wish in the country, overstay their tourist visa, and a few days before deciding to leave the country, could go to the immigration office in either of Buenos Aires’ two airports, pay a fine (roughly 100USD at the time of writing, whether you overstay 1 day or 1000 days), and then be cleared of their overstay – thus allowing them to re-enter Argentina at a later time, with no ban, no hassle, and no problems.
Although this may change in the future, this freedom of movement for all those wishing to ‘reside on Argentine soil’ is codified into the nation’s constitution, and thus seems like a very safe bet for this lax immigration requirement to continue to provide opportunity to foreigners who deeply desire a place to settle down, and call their new home.
PROS: One of the Most Affordable Places to Live, Period
Although the economy of this once wealthy South American country has been sunk in the mud for many years, this could actual present quite an economic opportunity for potential expats thinking of moving to Argentina, who also plan on making money in foreign currencies. For those bringing in cash in any currency not called the Argentine Peso, life could be extremely affordable in this beautiful Latin nation, as the local currency has been extremely inflated for many years, and as such your money will go very far on almost everything.
Just for comparison sake, Michelin quality meals in some of the most amazing restaurants in all of the Americas, including some of the best steaks and wine on earth, may only set you back $40 USD per person (when anywhere else this price may very well be 3-4 times as much). Meanwhile, grocery shopping bills and normal day to day conveniences become incredibly affordable – meaning that by nature of geographic arbitrage, expats can expect to live amazingly well for even $1000-$1200 USD a month.
PROS: A Rich & Romantic Culture
Even though affordability and ease of immigration may be intriguing for any expat looking for a new destination to settle down in, the truth is that if one is serious about moving to Argentina, they will certainly find many more cultural and romantic reasons that will help them to maybe just fall head over heels in love with their new home.
Known as the birth-place of tango, the steamy, sensual streets of Buenos Aires deeply calls out towards creative types and artists of all stripes, while for those looking for a more peaceful, quaint lifestyle, one could find great pleasure looking out at the gorgeous Andes mountain range while sipping malbec in the wine-fields of Mendoza.
Meanwhile, for the lovers of football, the land of Maradona and Messi certainly possesses the most passionate (even mad!) fan base of their national sport, and everywhere in the country you go you will find a life-long supporter of Boca Juniors or River Plate – the two biggest teams in the nation, both based in Buenos Aires. Even the distinct paniolo culture, of the Argentine cowboys who raise some of the best cattle on the planet, can inspire the heart of even the most avid city slicker, granting a vision into the nation’s past, as it strives to build towards a brighter future.
PROS: Unbelievable & Diverse Natural Beauty
As the eighth biggest country on Earth by size, as well as the second largest in South America after Brazil, Argentina holds a massive diversity of natural beauty, ensuring expats of all shapes and sizes could definitely find an environment that would suit them best. Moving to Argentina means falling in love with tropical jungles, and frozen tundras, enjoying small high-desert cities, and oceanic wonders.
Places like Salta are sure to stir emotions with its setting as a small colonial town set into the backdrop of dusty, desert canyons, while towns like Ushuaia, often referred to as the southernmost city on the planet, are sure to usher you into disbelief, as you hike around the ethereal beauty of the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for a beach holiday, the town of Mar de Plata on Argentina’s east coast definitely could satisfy (as well as a quick easy ferry trip to nearby Uruguay), and one could never forget Argentina’s incredibly lush northern jungle, jutting out into a view of one of the world’s great natural wonders – the mighty Iguazu Falls.
PROS: Unforgettable & Fascinating Architecture
For those more concerned with city life, moving to Argentina will be sure to have you covered there as well – after all, Buenos Aires isn’t known as the Paris of South America for nothing! Truly one of the world’s great cities, the cosmopolitan capital of the country feels like a fusion between New York City, Paris, and Budapest – mixed together with a Latin/Italian vibe that makes it all its own – as well as grants BA a charming, gorgeous mix of architectural delights that easily make it the most beautifully constructed city in the Americas, full stop.
But Buenos Aires is not the only architectural setting worth seeing, for the huge collegiate town of Cordoba, as well as the old colonial charms of Salta also have plenty of sights that are sure to inspire the creative spark in any digital nomad or expat looking to base themselves in a nation that is surely South American, but very much at its core maintains a passionate European soul.
CONS: Extremely High Tax Rates on Just About Everything
However, not everything is as sunny as Argentina’s flag would have you believe, as the aforementioned economic struggles of the nation have already spoken about in brief detail. Due in part to multiple massive market collapses in the early 2000’s, Argentina’s government has taken many steps to try and stem the bleeding and hyperinflation still plaguing the nation to this very day – and this has often taken the form of insanely high taxes.
On both imports and exports, percentages can rise to almost 35% on many goods, and these high tax rates can also apply to the salaries of expats willing to legally immigrate here as well. High government taxation also affects travel to, within, and from Argentina as well – with flights often priced many hundreds of dollars more than would be in airports very close by, such as those found in Montevideo, Uruguay or Sao Paulo, Brazil.
If one is hoping moving to Argentina may provide a cheaper option then their current home, it is critical to realize that though many local goods can be far more affordable, high taxation on foreign produced goods and many services can and will add up, so planning accordingly is key.
CONS: Banking Issues for Expats & Locals Galore
Unfortunately, the money issues don’t stop there, as due to the rampant hyperinflation that Argentina’s have suffered through for many years, there are now virtually two different money systems in use in the country – one that can cause great confusion for the uninitiated, if one is planning on moving to Argentina.
One example of this can be the insanely high governmental fees that will be charged to your bank if you ever use an ATM machine in the country (fees that your bank will not pay back), which in theory meant that if you tried to withdraw 100 USD from your checking account, you may very well end up being charged 75-100 USD in addition – thus netting you a 200 USD loss, even if you only took out 100 USD equivalent in Argentine Pesos.
So how do people get their money out in Argentina? Luckily there are a few work around’s – instead of using ATM’s, expats moving to Argentina will often use Western Union and send money to themselves, or even bring in cold, hard cash, and exchange it on the street in one of the many cambios, whom will give you nearly double or triple the value on your money then the ‘official’ governmental market rate.
This special rate is known as the ‘blue dollar’, and is widely accepted to be the true value of the currency. Unfortunately, this two-tiered cash system seems to not be going away anytime soon, and one will have to be willing to re-learn the simple things one often takes for granted about the ease of financial transactions, if moving to Argentina ends up in the cards for you and yours.
CONS: Arrogance & Attitude
There is a common joke amongst Argentine’s that ‘they kill themselves by climbing to the top of their ego and jumping off.’ Although this may be a bit of an exaggeration, it is very true that of the many nations I have been to, the Argentine people certainly are some of the proudest, and haughtiest I’ve ever encountered.
Although this can translate to great passion and fun at times, if you plan on moving to Argentina, especially Buenos Aires, you must prepare yourself for a bit of a culture shock – for the warm, friendly, welcoming Latin vibe you might be expecting is not very present here.
Unlike the very friendly and hospitable populaces known in other countries in the region, such as Colombia, Chile, or Brazil, there is a bit more of an attitude, arrogance, and dare I say even xenophobia that I felt in Argentina, which was altogether unexpected. Although this is often far more pronounced by porteño culture in the big city of Buenos Aires, it should be noted that if one is not super introverted, and is looking to make local friends, Argentina may not be the easiest destination to do so.
CONS: High Difficulty for Non-Spanish Speakers
In addition to the coldness of the local populace, more akin to the ‘Seattle Freeze’ then anything remotely resembling Latin warmth, the overall isolation could become unbearable for someone moving to Argentina, if their Spanish speaking ability isn’t already at a high-intermediate level or beyond. Although I am very much a believer in the adage that learning the local language of your new nation is of utmost importance, there is always some comfort if one has the ability to try and slowly immerse ones self into the new cultural lingo.
However, even as someone with a higher level of Spanish understanding, I found Argentina to be at times very inaccessible to those without a large comprehension to the local dialect, which is very different than Spanish in other regions in Latin America as a whole. Add in the fact that expat groups and the overall makeup of expats down in this South American megalith almost operate entirely in Spanish, with English rarely spoken, if not actively discouraged, then those looking at moving to Argentina must seriously take stock of their español ability, and gauge if they have the patience to adapt to a whole new way of speech and thought, with no training wheels in sight.
CONS: Location, Location, Location
Lastly, despite the many good things going for Argentina, the most obvious issue that is sure to cause headaches for the internationally minded expat may very well be the fact that this South American nation is pretty far from almost anywhere and everywhere else. Flights to and from the United States and Europe are easily 13+ hour slogs, as well as extremely expensive (due to taxes), thus making it almost essential to first take a ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo, then fly out of Uruguay to other destinations on the continent, and beyond.
That isn’t to say that the steep level of prices and distance alone would make regional travel completely too much a hassle to even consider. After all, costs to travel across the country itself on regional airlines like Aerolineas Argentinas are not unaffordable, albeit incomparable to prices on flights within Europe or Southeast Asia. Ultimately if one plans on moving to Argentina, one will definitely need to get used to living quite isolated from most other places on the planet – they don’t call the country the ‘end of the world’ for nothing!
Destination: Argentina, The Land of The Rising Sun
Despite the many hardships, quirks, and overall high level of difficulty that moving to Argentina may on the outset seem to present to any prospective investors, expats, and digital nomads alike, the sheer beauty, culture, affordability, and overall intrigue of this South American titan still maintains a massive draw for many looking at a unconventional base of operations, or for a brand new home, in a charming locale.
Although Argentina may continue to struggle domestically for the foreseeable future, for the savvy, intelligent expat, looking for the adventure of a lifetime, moving to Argentina may just provide the right kind of opportunity to the right kind of person, hoping to make it big here in the true land of the rising sun.
If you’re interested in reading more about Argentina, or about where I believe the best places in Latin America for an expat to move to right now are, feel free to read my in-depth article on the topic right here!