It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the world economy isn’t doing so hot, but some countries are faring better than others.
Sadly, Argentina is in pretty bad shape. With their inflation at an all time high, the country’s currency is virtually worthless beyond its borders. In fact, if you visit Barcelona, Spain, you’ll find that they sell Argentine Pesos as souvenirs, once again proving that the inflation in Argentina has reached critical levels.
The Value of the USD in Argentine Pesos Over the Years
- On December 31st, 2012, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was: 4.90
- On December 31st, 2013, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was: 6.51
- On July 29th, 2014, the cost of one US dollar in Argentine pesos was: 8.19
- On December 24th, 2015, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was: 12.97
- On June 19th, 2016, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was: 13.89
- On June 13th, 2017, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was 15.90
- On September 26, 2017, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was 17.90
- On May 13, 2019, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos was 45.52
- On September 26, 2019, the cost of one US Dollar in Argentine pesos is 57.17
- As of October 5, 2022, the cost of one US dollar in Argentine pesos is 148.50.
The dollar blue as of October 5, 2022 is $285. If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s the price of the US dollar in the unofficial Argentine market. Most foreigners prefer using the dollar blue in their transactions because its price is higher than that of the official dollar.
Do you want to know why this is good news if you’re a tourist or an expat? Well, think about it. If you spend $10,000 Argentine pesos on a fancy meal for two, you’ll really be spending $67.31 USD. So, while an Argentine might balk when they look at their bill, a tourist with USD won’t bat an eyelash.
If you’re an expat or a potential expat, you’ll find that the cost of living is cheaper. Take my light bill, for instance. I was charged 3,600 Argentine pesos this month. AHHH!!! I know. But in reality, it’s about $24 USD. I remember my monthly light bill in New York being over $100 USD.
So, if you plan to live here and you have USD, you’ll be okay. If you’ve been relying strictly on a freelance salary paid for by Argentines, you might find yourself struggling financially.
It all depends on the kind of job you have. I recommend getting a job in information technology (IT) as these positions pay a lot (for Argentine standards, not US standards). You can even make over $100,000 Argentine pesos as a Quality Assurance Rep. That’s about 671 USD a month, which is PATHETIC, but semi-decent if you want to survive in Argentina long-term.
Now, during my ten-year stay in this country, I’ve been posting prices of a select number of grocery items on my blog to monitor the rising cost of items. So, here’s my short pricing comparison list for 2022.
In 2013, a 330-gram Trix Cereal box was 26.75 Argentine Pesos.
In 2022, a 230-gram (THAT'S 100 grams less than the 2013 image) Trix Cereal box costs 652.49 Argentine pesos ($4.38 USD)
In 2013, a 500-gram box of Quaker Oatmeal cost 12.99 Argentine pesos.
In 2013, a 1-liter bottle of Heineken was worth 21.85 Argentine pesos.
In 2022, a 1-liter bottle of Heineken is 422.99 Argentine pesos ($2.84 USD)
In 2013, a 475-gram package of Hellmann's Mayonnaise cost 10.59 Argentine pesos.
In 2013, a 150g bag of Doritos cost 20.19 Argentine pesos.
In 2022, a 1.5-liter bottle of Pepsi is 174.95 Argentine pesos ($1.17 USD)
And last but not least!
In 2013, a baby stroller cost anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 Argentinian pesos, depending on the quality. (Sorry! I couldn't find the photo I took from 2013)
