Job Discussion Forums

AdiBoo · Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Quito, Ecuador

I got offered - from a friend of a friend - a recently refurnished flat in Almagro, B.A. The flat is going for AR$1000, has a living room and a bedroom. It is fully furnished: ("it has bed, cook, table, microwaves, television set, telephone, etc") and the price includes all utilities, taxes, basic phone service and a weekly housekeeping. I'm 5 blocks from the subway, 15 min. from downtown.

I'm not really interested in living out of a hostel for a month, nor am I interested in buying a bed and cookware for a year... so if the deal is decent, I'll take it.

On the other hand, if I'm not going to be able to make enough money to cover the rent, I'm pretty much forced to turn this thing down. And I don't want to be a fool; like I said, this is a friend of a friend and if she's taking advantage of my naivete, I have no way of knowing.

Any suggestions? Thanks again for the help, I appreciate it.

Stevie-G · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Rosario, Argentina

I live in Rosario, which is ALOT cheaper then BA (kinda like comparing NYC to Newark). I have a friend (here in Rosario) who pays 750 AR a month for an unfurnished apartment plus utilities and he is a NATIVE!

I do not know that particular area of BA but if it's safe I would take it.

I purchased my apartment in Rosario,so it made it easier in regards to alot of the hassels. Foreigners have a real hard time renting in Argentina. People want references and a guarantia (sp?). They are alos notorious for overcharging people from the USA!

I assume you are in the states and still haven't seen the apartment/area. I would take it on a month to month basis. If it a real bad area stay 3 or 4 weeks till you find something better.

Suerte!

Steve

sheena maclean · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:41 pm Post subject:

I would say thats about right for a fully equipped all mod cons flat in a good part of BA, which Almagro is. But of course on a teachers wage it's still too expensive... But thats another story..
chau

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

it's a decent price. and locals would end up paying much the same if they rented it unfurnished after paying for internet, cable, utilities etc. it's not just foreigners who pay high rents here. 'local' rents appear so cheap because they exclude all expenses and bills. and they're unfurnished.

ElNota · Joined: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Buenos Aires

It kind of depends on what you are getting but I think that is somewhere around what the market is right now. Its a more moderately priced neighborhood, so that makes me think its on the high side, but if you are getting a 2 bedroom, 75 m2 apartment, its probably about what an Argentine would pay.

I am paying 750 pesos for a 55 m2 loft in San Telmo, which is also furnished, and I think I'm paying about what an Argentine would pay. However I was pretty lucky in finding this one in that my landlord was looking for a foreigner to rent his place because he trusts them more.

As far as if you will be able to live on that, I haven't been teaching here for a while but I was getting paid less than 20 pesos an hour, so thats 12.5 hours a week of teaching just to cover your rent. I think thats on the high side if you plan to teach here. In fact, I know some foreigners who are surviving on their income here and they are paying more like 650 pesos for rent and working their asses off.

Also, Almagro is not that close (nor far) from downtown, but it sounds like someone painted you a rosy picture... you're not really close to anything of interest, so you'll be taking a lot of buses and trains. If thats not a problem... go for it. I like Almagro actually.

P.S. My apartment MAY be available October 1st, so PM me if you are interested.