Working and Living in Argentina

About 87% of the population live in cities. Around 16 million people currently live in the metropolitan area of ​​Buenos Aires alone. Around three million each live in the provinces of Cordoba and Santa Fe. The rest of the country is rather sparsely populated.

The only official language is Spanish, although Argentine Spanish differs in terms of pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary from the variants common in Spain and in other Latin American countries. A number of more or less widespread minority languages ​​such as Quechua and Guaraní are spoken by the Indian population. The descendants of German-speaking and English-speaking immigrants sometimes still maintain the language of their ancestors. German is partly spoken in the greater Buenos Aires area and, for example, in some parts of the provinces of Córdoba and Villa General Belgrano.

A varied nature and around 300,000 German-speaking residents attract more Germans to Argentina year after year. Metropolises like Buenos Aires have a very special flair that some find irresistible. Others are more drawn to the country. However, outside of Buenos Aires you have to cut back on the selection of consumer goods.

Labor market – vacancies, jobs

According to countryvv, the unemployment rate has risen sharply in recent months. In June 2020 it was 13.1%. The greatest potential lies in agriculture, as Argentina supplies half the world with food. The largest range of other jobs can be found in the greater Buenos Aires area. There are still some job opportunities for well-trained European specialists. If you have to work in Argentina, you should speak Spanish well.

The wages are on average a lot lower than in Western Europe. Employees are obliged to pay 11% of their wages to a pension fund. You are also required to take out public or private health insurance. This gives them the right to free basic medical care.

Cost of living

In Argentina you can live more cheaply than in Germany, for example, if you do without expensive imported products. Driving a car is currently a little cheaper.

You would need around € 1,473.82 (ARS 153,347.70) in Buenos Aires to have the same standard of living as € 3,700.00 in Berlin (assuming you rent in both cities).

• Consumer prices in Buenos Aires are 53.78% lower than in Berlin (excluding rent)
• Consumer prices including rent in Buenos Aires are 60.17% lower than in Berlin
• Rental prices in Buenos Aires are 74.70% lower than in Berlin
• Restaurant prices in Buenos Aires are 49.87% lower than in Berlin
• Food prices in Buenos Aires are 56.92% lower than in Berlin
• The local purchasing power in Buenos Aires is 59.14% lower than in Berlin

Average cost of living in Buenos Aires (from 08/2019 – 07/2020)

Other average prices in Buenos Aires (from 08/2019 – 07/2020)

Real estate acquisition and investments

Land and houses are acquired by means of a notarized purchase contract (boleto de compraventa). After the conclusion of the contract, a deposit of around 25% of the purchase price is made. The main contract, the escritura, is then concluded in front of the notary within 30 to 60 days. The entry in the land register takes place after the escritura.

When purchasing real estate, it should be noted that there may be a right of first refusal. There are restrictions on the acquisition of agricultural land from certain sizes.

The following additional costs apply as a percentage of the purchase price:

• Notary approx. 2%
• Registration in the land register approx. 1%
• Brokerage fee buyer approx. 3% – 6%

Average rental prices / purchase and salaries of Buenos Aires (from 08/2019 – 07/2020)

Taxes and expenses

The real estate tax (Impuesto immobiliario) has the cadastral value as the assessment basis; the tax rate is 0.1% to 1.3%. Wealth tax (Impuesto sobre el patrimonio neto) for tax residents 0.5% to 1.5%, for tax non-residents 1.5% of the assessment base.

Income tax is payable if income is generated from the property. The income tax rate is between 7% and 45%. The VAT is 21%.