Argentina in comparison to Europe and USA is poor or about the same?

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eyeonthescreen

According to the CIA World Fact Book [See source], AR is the richest country in S. America...Chile is number two. This assessment is based on GNP per capita as well as a distribution index that measures how well the wealth is distributed.

Just this past Sunday, I returned from a week's stay in Buenos Aires. I stayed in both the five-star Sofitel and the Sheraton hotels...for executive rooms, I was charged about $150 per night (breakfast included)...compare that with the $600-800 per night for comparable rooms in NYC.

Rib eye or tenderloin steak dinners cost about $10 each. Their wonderful roast lamb is just as cheap. A taxi ride around town cost on the order of $2...a 45 minute taxi ride to the international airport cost $20. Leather goods (purses, jackets) were about 1/2 what they would cost in the States. At 3 pesos per dollar, the dollar can buy a lot in Buenos Aires.

Having been to Paris a number of times, I can attest to the observation that Buenos Aires is the Paris of S. America. In fact, I will go one further...it is better than Paris. The people are nicer, the things to do and go to are more interesting, the dollar goes further, and, very important, the public restrooms are way cleaner in Buenos Aires.

As far as Americans are concerned, Buenos Aires is S. American's best kept secret. If you have a chance, go there...you'll like it. We, my wife and I, are planning to return...soon.

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My husband is in Argentina right now. It is "Cheap" for Americans, but the people who live there suffer. There arenot enough jobs and they do not make enough excpt to just survive. a 96 toyota would cost 50k. There are beautiful sights and it is a beautiful country, but very poor compared to the USA, and yuears ago it was much richer. Very sad what leadership can do to a country

Patricio L

Comparatively Argentina is a cheap country for people coming from all around the world (U.S, Canada, European Countrys, Japan, Australia, New Zeland, etc).
Though 1 U.S. Dollar equals 3 pesos, the prices in pesos aren't the same as the U.S. (or european) prices for most things. For example, a Big Mac is about 5 pesos, the average taxi ride is about 10 pesos, a coffee is about 3,5 pesos, a ticket for the movies is 12 pesos, a T-Shirt (good brands) is about 45 or 50 pesos, a jean is 100-150 pesos, etc.
Imports (for example: electronics, parfums, etc) are far more expensive than in the US.
I don't know about hotel fares in Buenos Aires (because I live here, and I never needed to find an hotel for anyone).

barbaragatti1987

I'm from Argentina and here for the tourist it is very cheap.
4 pesos = 1 Euro
3.5 pesos = 1 Dollar

and the people said that Argentina is the Paris of South America

Buenos Aires and Rosario are very beautiful

Peacen

You can do alot for your money in Argentina

Example
Shoes that are $200 in the USA..............are
$85 in Argentina

Mary

Yup, it is really cheap for many travelers.

BAGOFSWAGS

It's not as cheap as it used to be. In 2002 and 2003 things were half the price they are now. There is a lot of inflation and the peso strengthened since it hit a low of almost 4:1 against the dollar in April 2002.

It is mostly cheaper than the US and Europe. The best restaurants are getting expensive. Cabana Las Lilas in Puerto Madero is more expensive now than it was in 2000 or 2001 before devaluation. It is full of only tourists now. It wasn't back then.

It was never richer than the US, by the way. It was 6th in GDP per capita in the 1920's and 1930's when the US was 2nd or 3rd. Juan Domingo Peron helped to end that. It will never be rich again, as a result.

tinkbostwick

poor compared

lovetotravel

It depends where you are. There are definitely very rich and very poor people but overall it would seem more lower class than Europe and the U.S. In the capital you are either very wealthy or very poor. Middle class in Buenos Aires is not common. But overall in Argentina more than half the population lives in poverty. So to answer your question yes you can afford more in Argentina if you are from the US or Europe. Have fun if you are traveling there...it is the best place in the world!

lucrecia

It`s a different economic situation. For foreigners (europeans and americans) it`s cheap to be here as a tourist, see exchange rates above.
For the locals, it`s true that around 50% of the population is under the line of poverty. The others are not doing too bad. As far as I am concerned, I cannot complain.

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