Thinking of visiting or perhaps immigrating to your favorite South American country? If so, you might wonder about the best place to live in Argentina.
Argentina is one of the safest countries in South America. It also has amazing landscapes and a peaceful environment, so it is no wonder that it is South America’s most-visited travel destination. Argentina is also considered a country of immigration, having a welcoming social and economic environment that drew over two million immigrants to its shores.
So if you are worried about where to stay in Argentina, you shouldn’t be. This article will guide you to the best places and cities you should visit and even live in.
Best Place To Live in Argentina – Best for Expats
Buenos Aires is Argentina’s largest and busiest city, making it the best place for expats because it offers numerous museums, festivals, activities, and workplaces. Even if you stay here for two to three months, you cannot discover everything.
You should know that there is a huge expat community living in Buenos Aires with people from all over the world, so if you are traveling to Buenos Aires, you will have a good time talking to them. You will be comfortable with the expat community and anywhere in Buenos Aires because the city’s people are very generous and helpful.
Best Place To Live in Argentina – Best for Solo Travelers/Women/First Timers
Mendoza, Argentina, is the perfect city for solo travelers, especially for women. The city provides a secure environment and some of the best solo activities you can enjoy during your trip.
These activities range from attending night concerts to trying delicious local street food. Mendoza is the wine city of Argentina. You can find a wine bottle at every shop, and the central part of the city offers free-flowing wine.
So, if you are traveling solo for the first time to Argentina, Mendoza is one of the best places to visit in Argentina and should be at the top of your list.
Best Place To Live in Argentina – Best for Outdoor Enthusiasts
If you love outdoor activities, you should visit the San Carlos de Bariloche and the village of El Chalten in Argentina. The former has one of the country’s largest ski resorts, allowing you to ski on the famous Cerro Catedral mountain, famous for its steep slope.
Besides skiing, you can also go hiking, rafting, horseback riding, and kayaking. While these activities are exhausting, once you have experienced them, you will not be able to forget the fun you had.
El Chalten is a village in Los Glaciares National Park. It is the gateway to the peaks of Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy, which is why it is known as Argentina’s national trekking capital.
In addition to trekking, you can go rafting in the de las Vueltas River Canyon, hike to Laguna Torre, or go horseback riding.
Best Place To Live in Argentina – Best for Families
Salta is one of the most beautiful cities in Argentina. It is filled with family-friendly activities.
The city provides you and your children to experience numerous activities like visiting the Museum of High Mountain Archeology. The museum has the preserved 500-year-old bodies of three mummies, which will educate and fascinate the kids.
Along with several other family-friendly activities, you can hike to Garganta del Diablo, where you will find a beautiful waterfall after a short hike.
Best Place To Live in Argentina – Best for Couples
When planning your trip as a couple, you can think of many places worldwide, but none can beat Cordoba, Argentina.
The city offers many activities like hiking, boating, and horseback riding. Moreover, its atmosphere and nightlife are amazing.
For couples, Cordoba is a romantic city with narrow, cozy streets. It is the perfect setting for strolling hand in hand while enjoying a cup of coffee. During the day, you can visit the city’s beautiful lakes with lush green grass, sit, click cute pictures, and relax.
Couples can also enjoy an entertaining nightlife that includes dancing, drinking, and live music at different spots in the city.
Best Place To Live in Argentina – Best To Live on a Budget
Travel to San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, for an inexpensive trip. San Miguel de Tucuman offers reasonably priced hotels and hostels. You can book a hotel for two people for around 17,000 Argentine pesos (49 US dollars).
You can find cheap food, fun activities, accessible transportation, and reasonably priced hotels. During winter, you can try the famous Argentine stew – Locro. It is a stew made with corn, beans, meat, and vegetables and is a popular dish in Argentina, especially during the winter months. Locro will cost around 60 to 80 ARS ($0.17 to $0.23).
To summarize, San Miguel de Tucuman offers a variety of delicious and affordable food options, allowing visitors to experience traditional Argentine cuisine without looking at their bank balance.
Where NOT To Stay in Argentina:
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is a fun place to visit, but living there might not be as exciting. It’s a small town with busy streets, mainly catering to tourists. The famous Iguazu Falls are stunning, but the experience can be less enjoyable with crowds because it’s a major tourist attraction.
Puerto Iguazu is great for a short visit if you like busy places and enjoy the tourist scene. But if you prefer a quieter, less touristy place for a longer stay, you might want to look elsewhere. Keep in mind that Puerto Iguazu is more geared towards short-term enjoyment than long-term living.
El Calafate
Another place in Argentina that tourists do not recommend is El Calafate. It is a small town, just like Puerto Iguazu, which has little to offer you, and the places it offers are crowded.
These are two towns that the tourists do not recommend staying in, but if you plan your trip thoroughly, then you might avoid facing these challenges and can have a good experience.
Is Argentina a Good Place To Live?
Argentina is the country that you should look forward to living in as it has exceptional views of the mountain tops, exciting activities, and mouthwatering local food.
People living in Argentina live their best lives, with a life expectancy at birth of 76 years and a world happiness index (i.e., a measure of the satisfaction level in living in and feeling happy in a country) of 6.02. The world average is 5.54, which means that Argentina surpasses the global average in terms of happiness, making it a country where people tend to lead fulfilling and content lives.
Due to the high level of satisfaction among people living in Argentina, most expats move there to live permanently. Over 60,000 expats live in the country, most in Buenos Aires.
Is It Safe To Live in Argentina?
Argentina is considered one of the safest places in the world. Some cities within this country have an extremely low crime rate, and not only is it safe from criminals but also from natural disasters.
Natural disasters are rare in Argentina, and only the western part of the country is at higher risk of volcanic eruptions and landslides.
Political discussions in Argentina include social issues like poverty, inequality, and human rights. Women also play a prominent role in Argentine politics, with several women serving in high-level government positions, including Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Important Considerations When Finding a Place in Argentina
Argentina is a large country with numerous cities, and you must plan accordingly for each one. In this section, you will learn what to consider when traveling to Argentina.
Location
When choosing a place to stay in Argentina, consider the location carefully. Different cities and regions offer different attractions and experiences, so choosing a location that aligns with your traveling plan is important.
Buenos Aires is a great choice to explore Argentina’s vibrant culture and history. However, if you are looking for outdoor adventures and natural wonders, regions like Patagonia or Cordoba may be more appropriate.
And if you want to experience busy streets with fewer activities, you should visit Calafate and Puerto Iguazu. Puerto Iguazu, however, offers you the world-famous Iguazu Falls, which are huge and mind-blowing.
Safety
Like any country, Argentina has unique safety considerations that travelers should know. Although Argentina is usually safe for tourists, it’s essential to be careful and take steps to prevent small crimes like pickpocketing.
Some important safety considerations include being aware of scams and pickpocketing techniques, avoiding isolated areas at night, keeping your valuables out of sight, or, better still, keeping them in your lodgings when you take a stroll.
Pickpocketing usually occurs in metros or other public transport, so be alert when you use one.
Amenities
It is important to plan when choosing a place to stay in Argentina; you should know the amenities important to you in your daily routine. These include access to public transportation – whether it is easily accessible from every corner of the country- proximity to restaurants and shops and access to activities like swimming pools and fitness centers.
Consider whether the place you’re staying gives you the comfort and privacy you want. By paying attention to these things, you can find a good place to stay in Argentina that fits what you’re looking for and makes your trip better.
So, make sure you plan your trip to a country after doing extensive research on it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Best Place To Live in Argentina
What Is the Safest City To Live in Argentina?
If you are worried about safety in Argentina, you shouldn’t be. Nearly every city in Argentina is safe and filled with tourists. However, Buenos Aires is considered the safest. Some of the safest cities to live in are Cordoba and Salta.
Where Do Most Expats Live in Argentina?
Expats live in different parts of Argentina, mainly depending on where they are employed. However, most expats live in Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Salta.
What Is the Nicest City in Argentina?
Wherever you land in Argentina, you will enjoy it to its fullest, but Buenos Aires is the most popular among tourists. Bueno Aires is Argentina’s largest and busiest city, so we highly recommend you visit this city once in your lifetime.
Is Argentina Friendly to Foreigners?
Argentina is one of the most visited countries by tourists. It is not only because of the different activities and remarkable scenery but also because of the hospitable locals, reasonable living costs, and delicious food.
Conclusion – Best Place To Live in Argentina
If you’re planning to stay in Argentina, either as a tourist, a digital nomad, or an expat, the best place for you depends on your circumstances: your status, your reason/s for staying, your budget, and your interests. The places described above can be used as a guide or a starting point for choosing the best place for you in Argentina.
If your circumstances permit, you can even try staying in different neighborhoods or provinces of Argentina– if you wish, near beaches, mountains, lakes, or vineyards. Just make sure you do your research and keep your street smarts on wherever you decide to lay your head at night.
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Founder of Spark Nomad, Radical FIRE, Copywriter
Expertise: Personal finance and travel content. I’m a full-time traveler, and I’ve been to 49 countries and 5 continents.
Education: Bachelor of Economics at Radboud University, Master in Finance at Radboud University, Minor in Economics at Chapman University.
Over 200 articles, essays, and short stories published across the web.
Marjolein Dilven is a journalist and founder of Spark Nomad, a travel platform, and Radical FIRE, a personal finance platform. Marjolein has a finance and economics background with a master’s in Finance. She has quit her job to travel the world, documenting her travels on Spark Nomad to help people plan their travels. Marjolein Dilven has written for publications like MSN, Associated Press, CNBC, Town News syndicate, and more.