Expat Life in Mendoza Argentina (2023)
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- čas přidán 28. 11. 2023
- Join me on a short walk around my local park to talk about life in Mendoza as an expat. We'll cover most topics related to life here! Please leave a comment if you want to know more about this city!
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Mendoza is a treasure of a place, I refuse to leave!
Best city in Argentina, in my opinion.
interested in going, thanks for the video
That park where you start the video is right behind my high school. Graduated in 1986.
That's cool! Does it look the same there?
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Hi! I'm from Mendoza. Be welcome to our city. It is interesting to know a point of view about Mendoza, coming from a foreigner. I'm glad you like the place and decided to stay a bit longer. Saludos!
Thanks for the welcome! Your city has been a very happy place for me these past 5 weeks! Who knows, maybe I'll extend my stay again?
Hi Jimbo, if you made your way down to Bariloche for an extended stay that would be super cool! Very minimal expat content for that area, at least that I’ve found.
It's on the list! Right now I'm far in the north of Argentina though, so it won't be too soon! I'll be heading to Jujuy next, and then am considering Corrientes after that.
@@jimbo_pickens thank you! Happy to have found your channel, I’m looking forward to your travels!
The park looks so clean and well maintained! 😊
All over Argentina I've noticed very nice parks!
Great city. Great people. Since you mention Bariloche - one idea is to go to Bariloche and then across to Chile via border crossing nearby. You go by a town between Bariloche on the road to Entre Lagos, Puyehue, Los Lagos, Chile that reminded me a lot of South Lake Tahoe. Border crossing was fast. Nice drive thru countryside of Chile and north to Santigo and the nearby beautiful costal city of Valparaiso. Argentina was 7 pesos per usd legal vs 13-15 for blue back in 2015. Crazy current numbers.
I think the town thats like South Lake Tahoe is Villa La Angostura
Hi ! Thank you! Is there much tango for those who like to dance. Thanks!🎉🎉
Haha! I'm the worst person to ask that question!! I only dance when forced to do so.
Very good video. Packed with useful info.
The cost of living is even cheaper for accommodation I believe.
Did you buy the meat? Any idea of the price of asado?
Accommodations can be very cheap, especially if you rent for 3+ months. Beef is quite cheap in both parrillas and supermarkets as well. The only things in Argentina that seem expensive are airplane tickets and good electronics. But, with the inflation, things have gotten a lot more expensive even since I posted this video.
Moving from SEA to ARG early next year. Probably BA first but very curious about Mendoza seems like a chill 2nd tier city that has most conveniences. Surprised you said its more affordable than Indo/Phil/Thailand but for groceries maybe you were buying imported western comfort foods/items while ARG many of those are local? More Mendoza vids please, most content is around BA so its a nice change :)
By SEA do you mean Seattle or SE Asia?! The reason groceries are so cheap here is because we get the blue dollar rate when using a credit card at the supermarket. So, the prices are similar to SE Asia for local people, but those with foreign currency get a better exchange rate, so it cuts that cost in half or more. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and often I can fill both of my grocery bags for less than 20 USD. Rent here can be cheap or expensive. If you look locally and sign a lease you will save a LOT. I prefer the convenience of the Airbnb though, so I pay 2X or more than what I could be paying if I signed a 3 month lease. Overall, my monthly expenses seem similar or a bit cheaper than Thailand when moving around there like I am here. I also lived in Thailand, and when you rent a condo for one year, it can be incredibly cheap, especially in the provincial cities.
@@jimbo_pickens South East Asia, figured you were familiar with the acronym since you lived there & wouldn't confuse it for Seattle since you're from MI. Ha
Interesting, doing some rough comparisons from where im at right now it seems its similar even with blue rate though maybe my experience will differ when land there. Though im looking forward to being able to buy nice steaks for price of a typical noodle dish around this region.
Plan on staying longer & maybe using ARG as a base to travel around the region.
$ wise similar situation to you, ARG hopefully with be a lateral move cost of living wise but definitely want to explore a different lifestyle.
@holeefuk8505 I think, for me, the biggest change in lifestyle is the lack of chaos on the street, MUCH cleaner air and water, and far less noise pollution. Though, I lived in Shanghai, Hanoi, and HCMC which are all dense populations. Whereabouts are you in SEA?
@@jimbo_pickens Sounds like nice change of pace i may be looking for. Lived in in the suburbs of big cities most of my life, Not sure how i would like downtown BA long term but open to Mendoza being a better fit. Similar weather to Northern California at a fraction of the cost. Im in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia right now & even after years this humidity is always brutal. Is Mendoza you're first stop in ARG? most folks seem to hit BA first.
@holeefuk8505 Cool! I've been to KL a few times, and also love the Perhentians! If a pleasant, less humid climate is something you are looking for, Mendoza is a good fit. It can get a bit hot in the summer, but overall it's pleasant. And yeah, it has a similar climate to parts of the Pacific Northwest. I lived in Bend Oregon and Tucson Arizona, and it feels like a mix of both places to me.
which neighborhoods can you recommend for living and working. nothing fancy more residental.
I like the Godoy Cruz area south of Mendoza quite a bit, and the area north of Centro is quiet and peaceful. The first area I stayed was the quinta seccion, and that was also quite nice. Basically, I would stay near the tram, and not more than a few KM from Mendoza Centro. The further east you go, the less developed, and more rural/farm the area becomes.
Hi. Is it better to pay for buses and acomodation etc in US dollars relying on they use blue rate or chage USD for pesos in blue rate and pay with pesos? Thx mate
For buses you can always charge in person at the bus terminal, or using the plataforma 10 app you also get the blue rate on buses. Don't use other apps for buses in Argentina as they will charge the official rate. I learned that the hard way with Busbud.
For accommodations it's generally easier to change and use pesos in cash. There's an app called alquiler Argentina that is like Airbnb, but allows you to use the blue rate if you do a bank transfer to pay for accommodations. If you have other questions, feel free to message me again!
@@jimbo_pickens Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Happy to be of assistance!
Gday Jimbo, Does anyone know areas where panning/prospecting for gold happens?
There's some panning opportunities near my home in the US, and around there I'm used to seeing mining supply stores and signs for panning areas and areas it's off-limits, but I haven't noticed any of this infrastructure while traveling Argentina. There's definitely some interesting metal hiding in those mountains near Purmamarca though! Sorry though, that's all I can tell you from my travels.
I don't yet pan for gold myself, but I've long been intrigued by the activity!
@@jimbo_pickens No worries Mate, thanks for the reply.
How's the internet speed, sufficient for doing digital nomad work/zoom meetings? Also, safety impressions?
The fixed internet is just fine in the bigger cities, 300/300mbs with low latency is easy to find in Airbnb's. Mobile internet is not good, but works for video calls and streaming just fine. When I was in Tucumán, the power of the whole city went out and all the 4G went with it for almost 24 hours. The only time Ive felt that disconnected was in Kyrgyzstan, and that is a far less developed country. Unfortunately, the infrastructure in this country is old and not being replaced, so if you rely heavily on electricity and the internet, I can't recommend it as highly as many other countries. I've had multiple issues with electricity, internet, and water during my time traveling here, even in Buenos Aires.
@@jimbo_pickens Thanks! I watched a hiking video you did yesterday, great terrain. I am a therapist and fitness trainer outside New Orleans considering trying to relocate and go digital once I have finished scaling up my practice. The short citizenship path of Argentina makes it very appealing. The lack of humidity would be a dream. Keep up the great work !
I spent a few weeks during the summer in Thibodaux for a few years when I was a young teen! My dad worked for Shell. Cajun country was fun! Ate lot of shrimp :)
I don't know if you've seen, but Starlink is a thing here now, so you can have good internet regardless of grid issues...if you have backup power.
I spent a few weeks during the summer in Thibodaux for a few years when I was a young teen! My dad worked for Shell. Cajun country was fun! Ate lot of shrimp :)
I don't know if you've seen, but Starlink is a thing here now, so you can have good internet regardless of grid issues...if you have backup power.
Sorry! I realized I didn't answer your safety question. I generally feel safe here. Keep in mind, I have traveled to Brazil, have spent more than a year wandering Mexico including a long bicycle tour, and have traveled quite extensively in other off the tourist trail places, so I'm comfortable in places most might not be. I speak the language well, I don't go out often after dark, and don't appear rich, so I doubt I'm a target for most. But, the poverty rate is high and increasing, the inflation is really starting to hit people in a way that is unsustainable, and it can at times feel like a pressure cooker with the pressure building. I'm leaving soon and am happy for my time here, but would suggest considering Mexico before Argentina. Residency and citizenship are overrated. Mobility is better these days.
Hey Jimbo, I am in Paraguay now, after last year spent in Viet Nam. How much cost a simple dish plate in a basic restaurant in Mendoza please ? I am thinking to move there next month.
Food at restaurants isn't Vietnam level cheap, but you can get a filling meal and drink for not much. Empanadas are about 50 US cents a piece, and three or four are enough for a meal. Parillas are more expensive and vary a lot in proce, but aren't usually very expensive. I much preferred the food in Vietnam though. Here, the food is a bit more bland.
@@jimbo_pickens Thank you for your answer. I preferred food in Viet Nam too... Paraguay and Argentina are similar about food according to what you are telling me.
Do they have good vegetables dishes ?
Honestly, I cook 90% of my own food here, so I'm not so sure about that, but I have not had great luck trying Asian food here. Though, once you've lived in China and Thailand, you're forever ruined on Asian food elsewhere
Hi Jimbo - thanks for the vid. What about residency? If you wanted to stay in Argentina for a year or two, how would you go about this visa-wise? Would you just border jump?
I'm a digital nomad type, so residency isn't something I look for, but I know that Argentina overall has incredibly lax immigration laws. As an example, the overstay fine is something like 15,000 pesos (~20usd) no matter how long you overstay! And it's not illegal to overstay, you just become 'irregular'. So, you can do a border run, extend your visa for 90 days, or just pay 20 bucks on your way out. I know how I would handle this...
@@jimbo_pickens thanks a lot! And is it easy to rent outside of Airbnb? Don't they require residency/visa documentation? How would you go about renting a place outside of Airbnb?
Also, is there a reason why you want to spend so long just in Argentina? If it's an option, I would suggest spending 3 months in several countries. Depending on your passport, you may be able to hop around South America a bit instead of worrying about residency and dealing with bureaucracy. Argentina is very different from say Peru or Colombia, and all are great!
There's an app called Alquiler Argentina, but you should know Spanish to use it, or be prepared to be using a lot of Google translate!
@@jimbo_pickens Good question. I've been moving around Mexico for about a year and feel ready to settle down somewhere more long term. I love Mexico but want to experience Argentina for 6-12 months before I decide between the two. (Based on various factors, I don't think Peru and Colombia are for me in terms of permanent living.)
What's a Blue dollar?
The blue dollar is the unofficial rate that people get in Argentina when they exchange USD using western union or money changers on the street. If you go to an ATM, you will get the official rate, which is not as good.
Looks like Mendoza has 3-4 VERY hot months ?
We are US retirees looking for a retirement city but we don’t like hot weather. Maybe it is a bit better because it is dry ?
I lived in Florida for many years and can’t deal with hot n humid.
Great video !
Haha! Hot is quite relative! I lived in Tucson and Bangkok, so I've felt two hot extremes, the humid and the dry, and I can't imagine Mendoza ever feels as hot and oppressive as either of those places. That being said, I was in Mendoza during the summer here, and I didn't notice the heat except for the day I hiked to Cerro Arco.
I wouldn't pick Argentina to retire to, but if I did, it would be to Mendoza. The best city I visited here, by a wide margin.
What countries would you pick to retire ?
Yes, we have been to Tucson and Thailand twice…very hot.
Not so humid but definitely hot. I live in Mendoza and hace a nice pool shaded by Palm trees which takes the curse off a little bit.
@2987fjhkiq My Argentine wife is from Mendoza so I really don't have an option of where in Arg. I am going to live but I have just returned from my first trip to Brazil. I don't know anything about the taxes or free speach but I loved Rio. The people, food, ocean, vistas are all great. I loved it.
@@Entonces
Dry heat is much better for us. And a pool would do the trick…along with air con.
Hi Jimbo! Is Argentina a country where you would consider getting residency in or living there longterm? Is Argentina food good?
I would consider it, but it wouldn't be my top choice. For example, I would choose México over Argentina. Mexico's economy is much more stable, I prefer the food there, there's more beaches, and it's easier to connect to the US and Europe from there. I would also rather choose Thailand, Vietnam, and Colombia for similar reasons. Costs in all of these countries are very cheap by most Western standards, and SE Asia in particular can be extremely cheap in smaller cities.
The food is pretty good, but I lived in México, China, and Thailand, so it doesn't rank among my favorite cuisines. I generally have a kitchen while traveling here, so I cook many of my own meals.
@@jimbo_pickens Have you been to Guatemala? Is Guatemala a great place to retire!
I have spent a month or so there about 5 years ago! It's not incredibly well developed, and the cities are not the most lovely places to live, so I wouldn't consider it unless I was somewhere very near to lake Atitlán, or Antigua. México is still the one I'd pick if I were thinking Guatemala. Do you speak Spanish? Or is there a special reason you're looking at Argentina and Guatemala? They are very different countries!
@@jimbo_pickens Because the cost of getting residency in Mexico is out of reach for many people now days! Mexico isn’t cheap anymore. Guatemala has a perfect climate, low cost of living, and tax friendly. I was also looking at Nicaragua, but it seems very hot the weather there. I liked Ecuador for awhile, but it has become more and more unstable, and dangerous. Colombia isn’t tax friendly. Paraguay sounds interesting, but isn’t close to the USA. It’s far away…😊
Some of the hottest weather I can recall was in Nicaragua! A lot of the countries in Latin America are cheap because they are unstable, and the infrastructure is old and crumbling.
I don't look at residency and taxation for my travels, so I'm not too aware of what would be best in your circumstances. Georgia is an interesting place that has lax visa schemes. Have you considered that country? I spent a few months there and thought it was very nice, I even looked at apartment prices.
It will be getting expensier very soon.
Prices have already adjusted in many places to the new exchange rates. It is noticeable for sure, but us foreigners aren't feeling the same pain from it as local people. I hope the new policies help the people here soon!
@@jimbo_pickens yes I hope so too! Enjoy your stay!
Thank you! Do you live in Argentina?
@@jimbo_pickens I don’t but I follow what’s happening very closely.
Do you speak Spanish and if not did you have trouble communicating with English, would be interested to know thanks! 😊
I do speak Spanish, but I think even knowing a few words before arriving will be enough. Many people here speak at least a little English
I'm moving to Mendoza this upcoming February. I've talked to a few landlords already, but could still use some help. do you know anyone that helps people find an apartment?
I can't give any specific information, but I would recommend renting an Airbnb for a week or two to start. Spend some time exploring the different areas, and you will see a lot of places with 'for rent' signs just walking around. If you still don't find something, there are some real estate agencies that I'm sure can help, but probably don't want to try to help too hard for someone far away on the internet.