Argentine Economy

I had a café con leche with two medialunas for $40 pesos yesterday at Once Station, the exchange rate was 37 pesos to the dollar or something like that so I guess that equates to $0.50 for a cup of coffee if you attribute half the cost to the medialunas. I see similar deals for two medialunas and a café con leche $70 everywhere which I guess equates to $1 for a cup of coffee. I did not check at Starbucks, Starbucks is selling a brand not just a coffee, probably prices will be much higher at tourist spots.

[QUOTE=Gandolf50;450179]Large normal coffee 70$.

Yuppie coffees as high a 335$.

Regular coffee with a ham and cheese on toast 145$.

Prices as of today, hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Gandolf50;450179]Large normal coffee 70$.

Yuppie coffees as high a 335$.

Regular coffee with a ham and cheese on toast 145$.

Prices as of today, hope this helps.[/QUOTE]Thanks, that does help.

Bs As prices converted to USD:

Coffee: $1.82.

Yuppie coffee: $8.71 (yikes! Glad I am not a yuppie).

Reg coffee with ham/cheese/toast: $3.51.

For comparison, down the road, in the US (at Dunkin Donuts (their coffee sucks)):

Coffee: $1.89.

Yuppie coffee: $4.19.

Reg coffee with ham/cheese/toast: $5.89.

1 hour with a 6/7: $250.

I am guessing that Starbucks is only popular with foreigners and the wealthy.

The Argie Peso is starting to remind me of the Italian Lira, circa early 1980s. The key tipping point is when things get really cheap.

The price of pussy is not directly attached to the exchange rate, as the pussy is not used up like for example gasoline you can keep selling the same pussy over and over so the cost of pussy is imaginary and based entirely on the woman's immediate perceived needs for money or luxury items. The locals also have some limits of what they can pay for pussy, so it is not surprising that the cost pf pussy remains at a certain peso rate despite decrease in the value of the peso. Of course high end girls charging USD prices are just pulling a number out of a hat also. Just counter a USD price with a peso price reflecting an exchange rate of a year ago these chicas are often not math wizards they may go with a much lower peso price. Of course some will pull out their phone and do a calculation. But ultimately the price of pussy is largely imaginary so it won't always tack real prices.

[QUOTE=Slipknot;450176]FYI -.

Of the three Independent girls I have seen recently, two have kept their price the same as 8 months ago and one increased her rates by about 15%, three months ago (she is high end). I did not question it, but would suspect it is due to the peso drop. And this was before the additional drop last week. I have also seen a few changes in restaurant prices, but to be honest, I don't pay that much attention to what each item costs.

Not sure if that helps you or not. Cheers![/QUOTE].

Can you guys confirm that price listing?

[URL]https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/buenos-aires[/URL]

[QUOTE=MataHari;450184]Can you guys confirm that price listing?

[URL]https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/buenos-aires[/URL][/QUOTE]Good reference. Thanks for posting.

Argentina is saber-rattling over the Malvinas, again. This must mean that things on the domestic front are getting really bad. Any of you local's have opinions of the current state of affairs?

[QUOTE=WildWalleye;460839]Argentina is saber-rattling over the Malvinas, again. This must mean that things on the domestic front are getting really bad. Any of you local's have opinions of the current state of affairs?[/QUOTE]You talking to me?

You are correct. Now that the World Cup is over some other distraction must come into play.

Although I do not live in Buenos Aires, I have been vacationing there since the $USD was at par with the peso. I spent all of January in BsAs and was appalled at what I saw. The downtown area is in shambles. Calle Reconquista ,which had many great restaurants and bars is almost completely vacant. Mattresses line the streets and doorways for the homeless.

Other areas have become equally as blighted. Very little seems to have recovered from the pandemic.

My prediction is that Argentina is no more than five years away from becoming the next Venezuela. Attitudes have very much changed. The formerly pleasant middle classes are now walking around in a foul mood. Petty crime is abundant. I witnessed purses and cellphones get snatched multiple times.

Before this decade is over, the residents of Recoleta and Palermo will be making asadas with their golden retrievers.

You can still have a good time for now, but be careful!

[QUOTE=Seismo;460842]

Before this decade is over, the residents of Recoleta and Palermo will be making asadas with their golden retrievers.

You can still have a good time for now, but be careful![/QUOTE]The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-x2yEmUFXA[/URL]

Seems like now would be a very favorable time to be wielding greenbacks in Argentina: [URL]https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/03/11/i-doubled-my-money-in-argentina-with-a-black-market-exchange-rate.html[/URL].

Any of you old timer, expats want to share some info on the current environment on the streets of Bs As?

[QUOTE=WildWalleye;460924]Any of you old timer, expats want to share some info on the current environment on the streets of Bs As?[/QUOTE]1 dollar = 1.000 or 1.500 ARS.

Have a nice dinner for 2, less than USD 50.

Don't go tourist, otherwise, could cost USD 200, may be more...

December it's a great time to go and have a great 2 to 3 week vacation.

Cheers to Argentina for taking a big first step to recovery!

[QUOTE=WildWalleye;460935]Cheers to Argentina for taking a big first step to recovery![/QUOTE]I heard the plan is to switch to the US dollar for Argentina's legal currency. That would get rid of the worthless Argentine peso and help stop the outrageous inflation.

[QUOTE=WildWalleye;460935]Cheers to Argentina for taking a big first step to recovery![/QUOTE]How do you combat 50+ years of govt thievery, double digit inflation, unionists who have brainwashed the general public and an entire country of entitled fools who don't want to work very hard or very often.

Switching to Dollarization might not help as the $USD is in decline globally. I don't see how it helped Ecuador any.

Any ideas?