Urban Ex-Pats Flock to Buenos Aires

Posted on Apr 24, 2006

From the N.Y. Times

Americans tango and socialize at a Buenos Aires gallery.

Big numbers of younger expatriates from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are finding a cosmopolitan haven--at one-fourth the cost of U.S. living--in Argentina.

Washington Post:
Expatriate Games
Travelers Are Heading to Buenos Aires for the Culture—and Staying for the $250 Rent

By Allen Salkin
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, April 23, 2006; P01

Meghan Curry starts her day with a walk to the river. The former real estate agent from Denver, who is 26, holds hands with her fiance, Patricio de Vasconcellos, 31, a wavy-haired Argentine with dark eyes, as they gaze over the coffee-colored waters of the Rio de la Plata. Around midday, when de Vasconcellos heads to work at the wine shop where the two met a year ago, Curry settles into her two-bedroom apartment to work on her travel memoir and a collection of poetry. Then she might nap or head downtown for café con leche with friends at one of the city’s thousands of outdoor cafes. Later, much later, it’s time for a slow dinner on Buenos Aires time, where many restaurants don’t open until 10 p.m.

“This,” said Curry, “I could never do if I had to earn more than $6,000 a year.”

Her apartment rents for $250 a month. An espresso costs about 65 cents. A restaurant dinner—appetizers, thick steaks and wine—costs about $25 for two. Stylish leather handbags from designer boutiques go for $20. Tickets for first-run American movies are about $3.50.

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Correction: As Allen Salkin, Truthdig commentor and author of the original Washington Post story, so kindly pointed out—Truthdig did not give proper credit where credit was due: Salkin reported the “Expatriate Games” story for the Washington Post.

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