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Buenos Aires
#111 of 124
South America

Buenos Aires

Argentina

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Buenos Aires compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Buenos Aires is 71% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Buenos Aires compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$32,197
-$240K (-88%) vs San Francisco
Based on 196 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$19,157
-$153K (-89%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 41%

Community Insights

New

Buenos Aires is currently in a state of rapid transition. While it remains one of the most culturally electric and livable cities in Latin America for remote workers, the financial "cheat code" of living like a king for pennies is effectively over. The recent economic shifts have caused prices to rise towards Western European levels, squeezing out budget nomads.

For a software engineer, the infrastructure is solid: the internet is fast, coffee shops are abundant, and the time zone is perfect for North American teams. However, the mental overhead of navigating Argentina's economy (even as an expat) and the need for constant street-smarts regarding safety are real taxes on your energy. It is no longer a budget destination, but rather a lifestyle destination for those who can afford it.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment among recent transplants has shifted from "it's impossibly cheap" to "it's getting expensive but I still love the vibe." Many long-term nomads are considering leaving due to the rising costs in USD, while newer arrivals are more focused on the safety precautions and culinary scene. There is a strong consensus that you must bring all your tech gear with you, as buying it locally is a nightmare. Overall, residents love the city's soul but are wary of its economic volatility.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Comfortable Weather

Top 6%

#8

of 124 cities

87/100 weather score

Current value

Cost of Living

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

34/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#45

of 124 cities

8 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Buenos Aires compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,370 / m²
76% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Buenos Aires to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
61% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Buenos Aires

Mercado Libre logo
Mercado Libre
Globant logo
Globant
Accenture logo
Accenture

The Good

  • Time zone alignment with the US (EST/GMT-3) makes remote collaboration seamless compared to Europe or Asia.
  • Vibrant tech scene with active meetups like GDG Buenos Aires, PyCon Argentina, and numerous co-working spaces in Palermo.
  • Cultural richness featuring world-class steakhouses (parrillas), late-night dining, and a passionate football culture that feels more European than Latin American.
  • Walkable neighborhoods like Palermo Soho, Recoleta, and Belgrano offer a high quality of life with abundant parks and cafes.
  • High-speed fiber internet (Movistar, Personal) is widely available in main districts, generally reliable for video calls.
  • LGBTQ+ friendly and socially progressive atmosphere compared to many other LATAM tech hubs.

The Bad

  • Rapidly rising costs in USD terms; the 'Blue Dollar' gap has significantly narrowed, meaning the famous 'geo-arbitrage' benefit is disappearing.
  • Economic instability remains a constant stressor; even with foreign income, you face changing rules, inflation, and currency exchange complexities.
  • Petty crime is rampant, particularly phone snatching by 'motochorros' (motorcycle thieves); you cannot use your phone carelessly in public.
  • Import restrictions make buying electronics (laptops, monitors) extremely expensive and difficult; you must bring your own gear.
  • Summer power outages are a known issue in the hottest months (Dec-Feb), sometimes requiring a backup location with a generator.
  • Noise pollution in the city center is high, with late-night street noise and frequent protests disrupting focus.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Senior remote engineers earning strong US/EU salaries ($80k+) who value lifestyle, culture, and nightlife over pure savings. If you love big-city energy, late nights, and want to be in a time zone that keeps you synced with your team without waking up at 3 AM, this is for you.

Skip it if...

Junior developers looking for local employment (salaries are extremely low by global standards) or budget-conscious digital nomads hoping to save 80% of their income. Also, those who get anxious about safety or need a quiet, predictable environment will likely find the chaos of BA draining.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather8.7/100% vs San Francisco
Safety37-6%
Pollution52+5%
Events8-84%
8.7/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
21°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
15°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,525h/yr-536h/yr(-18%)
Hottest Month High
28°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
9°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
94/yr+46/yr(+94%)

Community & Quality

Buenos Aires community pulse

Buenos Aires has 8 Luma events listed.

84% fewer events than San Francisco.

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#73

of 124 cities

51.6/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#79

of 124 cities

≈9.9 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Safety Index

Bottom 14%

#108

of 124 cities

37/100

Current value

Net Income

Bottom 13%

#109

of 124 cities

$19,157/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 11%

#111

of 124 cities

Tax Rate

Bottom 11%

#112

of 124 cities

41%

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
9.9 years
5.2 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
61/yr+61/yr(+30250%)
Cloud Cover
38%(vs 34% in San Francisco)