Buenos Aires: The Broke Mad, Rising Costs, and Viable Alternatives.

What a time in Argentina with strong economic data points under Milei. 🇦🇷 But Buenos Aires has become very expensive. For the broke mads, here is what I'd do and where I'd go today.

You’ve probably seen my cheap steak (and the other) posts on Twitter, which ultimately gave me an online profile in the first place.

Actually, this is the photo that first drew attention to my Twitter account - titled ‘Feels like Europe’. It was during the time ex-president Sergio Massa was printing the shit out of pesos, and the Kirchnerists (socialists) got hold of it to ‘prove’ everything was all good.

As some of the “champagne expats” fully assimilated into Argentine society point out, you can’t complain about the new cost of living under Milei if you used to flex cheap steaks back in the day.

I agree.

The Buenos Aires “broke mad,” a term often attached to my photos and posts, can generally be broken down into two lad categories (from those who I’ve met).

1. The cashflow-strapped broke mad:

Here for a good time, no plans to work on anything, and likely defaulting back to the rat race within a few months. No ambition to build an alternative income (each to their own).

2. The cashflow-strapped but ambitious anti-woke broke mad:

Who realised the rat race wasn’t for them. They’ve reached a point where they looked up the corporate food chain, didn’t like what they saw, and put plans in motion to leave it all permanently. This person is figuring out an alternative way of life on their own terms. (I was this guy once upon a time.)

As the Argentines would say, “banco la segunda opción” - I fully support the second lad.

I’ve been there, and it’s why I started writing. Not many people have the guts to give it a proper go. In the early days, I struggled to find like-minded individuals, and when I thought I had, I got it completely wrong. One guy I went into business with (some of you know the story) was all talk on camera (still is, I think).

When it came to action, though, he completely fell apart, lost his mind, and realised being away from home comforts was too much of a stretch. Honestly, it’s not for everyone - which is why I fully respect anyone who gives it a proper go with modesty.

On Lowering Costs While Figuring Life Out (Geoarbitrage):

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with trying to lower your cost of living while figuring out how to build a life on your own terms.

You as the broke mad, expat or tourist are not responsible for the economic outcome of a democratic country.

The alternative is staying in an over-governed society designed to keep you from getting ahead financially - where the more you earn, the more taxes you pay, and the more obstacles you face - all while being dictated to by an ever-growing government presence

In today’s world, achieving true financial freedom is an incredibly tough journey for the independent thinker.

In this article, I’ll explore whether Buenos Aires is still worth it for the broke mad, discuss alternative options (including one that nobody seems to be talking about in nomad or expat circles), and share updates on my residency and tax situation as things progress.

My thoughts on Buenos Aires

Let’s bring it back to Buenos Aires, once the hub for the “cash-strapped broke mad.”