So, your office days are passed behind you and the world is now your oyster. Congrats, you are now a digital nomad and probably looking for a change of scene. Good southern air sounds nice while retaining a cosmopolitan touch. Well, look no further: Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, welcomes you. We present you with the Buenos Aires digital nomad guide for you to settle in with some Argentinean vino and empanadas while working for your clients from around the world.
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When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires as a Digital Nomad?
It is no secret that Buenos Aires is a preferred destination from the southern shores of America. With warm summers and cozy winters, BA will receive you with shining sun. There is rain involved, especially, in March and October, with about 100 rainy days a year, but we are talking mostly of short and swift drizzles, the ones that last no longer than 30 minutes and allow you to go back outside later on. The hottest months (December to February) rise up to 100 ° F (38 ° C) and cold seasons (June to August) hit as low as 44 ° F (7 ° C) on average.
These deem autumn and spring as ideal moments to be in BA. Just watch out for that humidity, it messes your hair! Make sure to cover your precious hair with a helmet if you like biking, as Buenos Aires is big on bikes. The weather allows you to traverse town by bike, your own or one from the public bicycle service.
Is Buenos Aires diverse?
Diversity is part of Buenos Aires. Not only do our Latinamerican neighbors come in to live la BA life but also people from North America, Europe, and Asia find our city as a great place to start their digital nomad life. The LGBTQ+ community is also welcome, with progressive legislation and an open night scene, Buenos Aires is not ashamed to show its pride. You may have your doubts language-wise. Rest assured that English is commonly spoken here, especially by younger people. Still, it is your chance to get your Buenos días and your Gracias in practice, as Spanish is the king here. This does not mean that locals are not eager to help you even if you do not speak the same language.
Is there a digital nomad visa in Argentina?
No one wants to come to a place where they don’t feel invited to. Lucky for you, this is not the case, we are eager to receive new BA digital nomads. How so? Argentina has created a special visa for digital nomads, one that lasts 180 days with the possibility of extending it.
Check all of the perks available. You will find accommodation, education opportunities and all the assessments available. Make sure to check for any visa requirements from your country of origin.
How can I exchange money in Argentina?
Speaking of visas, upon landing in Buenos Aires, if you haven’t done it already, you might also want to call your bank to make sure that any spending you do does not sound any alarm in your credit entity. However, and this is the first tricky business, Argentina has some currency exchange controls that affect the rate. A valid option is to go to your most convenient Western Union location, which offers the chance to get your pesos upfront at a much better exchange rate. It is always to have some pesos in your pocket to tip nicely!
What are the best working cafes in Buenos Aires?
And now that we mentioned tipping, being a digital nomad, working in a nice café while looking at life going by might be your kick, so you should definitely grab your laptop with your 220v plug adapter to work from some of these notorious coffee places.
Brands live in our minds, and Tea Connection has managed to spark locations all over the city, with a very strong philosophy on what tea should taste like as well as delicious snacks to enjoy while working.
PANI is also keen on offering you breakfast, brunch, and tea experiences throughout many locations within BA and its surroundings. On the same tenor but more on the coffee side of life, Café Martinez has multiple stores all around the city and should be a calm place to take your laptop. Tostado café club does the same trick, while you taste some delicious sandwiches with their own personality.
Palermo, the popular neighborhood has it all, including cute cafés full of personality. Vive Café, Birkin Coffee Bar, Cigaló and Hacienda Coffee Company stand out from the crowd with their highly-praised menús and raving reviews. They happen to be quite close to each other, so you can try them all till you find the ideal one for you.
If you are still up for walking, Cuervo’s specialty is black coffee and it is not far from the rest. Café registrado manages to do the same while extending the offering to tea, excelling in customer service according to user ratings.
Nothing says “silence” like a good bookstore, and Libros del Pasaje exactly for that, a quiet place for studying and working. Or maybe you were wondering where the vegetarian and vegan offering was. Then, look no more, Buenos Aires Verde specializes in this kind of cooking. You can get some work done there or just use it as a takeaway location on your breaks.
Bonjour, mes amies ! Have you felt the French vibe from Buenos Aires? The best way to do so is to work at one of our local Parisian coffee places, like Cocu Boulangerie and Gontran Cherrier, which stand out for their patisserie.
Top 14 working cafes in Buenos Aires:
What are the best neighborhoods to stay in Buenos Aires?
We know what you are thinking. All this coffee talk and you still need to unpack and lay for a while in a comfy bed and feel at home in your new home. Choosing the right zone is always key upon moving, and you would probably want to be where all the action is.
If you haven’t already, the name Palermo should ring a bell. The biggest and chic-est neighborhood, full of parks, dining options, coffees and night entertainment. Plus, being the place where everyone wants to be, it is quite safe to walk at almost any hour, as you notice that there is always someone walking by. This is definitely the place to start if you want to take one step at a time while still feeling in an international and safe environment.
If Palermo sounds a bit too crowded and you would rather escape the more modern side of the city (architecture-wise), San Telmo is the hub for tourists and BA digital nomads who are more on the colonial side of things. Deemed the “old” part of the city, you will feel in the middle of the XIV century, but with nothing to envy Palermo. There are as many bars and places to crash as well as parties.
Almagro is another popular place to live, right between Palermo and the downtown area. Very multicultural, this zone offers as many gastronomic and entertainment experiences like the aforementioned, but with a more residential touch. Connectivity here is great in terms of public transport, so you should be buying your SUBE card, the plastic you will be needing to travel by bus, train and subway.
But then, you come from somewhere similar and would prefer some peaceful environment to work. Belgrano is closer to the northern side of the city, quite opposite to San Telmo but closer to Palermo. The population here is a bit older, giving the neighborhood a calm pace and convenient stores within walking distance of anything. This is another safe place to stay, with policemen at every two or three blocks.
Are you a bit tired of the tourist traps? Do you think you would blend in better on the least international side of the city? There are 48 neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, and you are a digital nomad, so you can work from everywhere. Some nice residential areas that can be your next homes are Villa Pueyrredon, Villa Urquiza, Villa Crespo are only some of these up-and-coming areas where to settle in for a while.
Top 7 neighbourhoods to live in, in Buenos Aires:
Palermo
San Telmo
Almagro
Belgrano
Villa Pueyrredon
Villa Urquiza
Villa Crespo
What is the cost of living in Buenos Aires?
You are starting to feel familiar with your block, buying at your Chino (Argentina has a big Asian community, with a strong presence in the supermarket industry) and working on your cardio at your favorite park. However, you surely want to keep track of your expenses and make the most of your bucks. To give you the numbers straight, 1,000 USD will give you a great life in Buenos Aires. And by great, we mean regular outings, comfortable non-shared accommodation, and occasional traveling so you can be a digital nomad in Argentina and not limit yourself to BA.
Let us clarify one thing on this number. You will have to keep in mind the different exchange rates we mentioned above. 1,000 USD should suffice in both rates, official and parallel, but the latter will give you more quality of life. You can even have a great one with 500 USD at the parallel exchange rate, but it may be sometimes tricky to cash in pesos that way, so a thousand and up should help you at any rate you get your ARS.
The cheapest side of living in Argentina is utilities and public transportation costs. A trip in any means of transport will be half a USD or less, and internet services, though not the fastest (25 to 1000 MB, and you never get as much as they say they offer you), and you can have a decent connection for 15-20 USD. Gas, electricity, and water are still state-subsidized at this point (though under revision), so you may be amazed when paying 50 USD or less for the 3 of them.
In terms of food, there are no big differences in eating out v. eating outside as it happens, for example, in London or NYC. However, buying groceries is not that cheap. Furthermore, inflation is something to which we are sadly accustomed, historically. This means that you might see differences in prices in your local supermarket for the same product in only one or two weeks. If you play your cards right and keep the exchange rate notes we made above at hand, you shouldn’t have any problem, but do not feel estranged when you see familiar costs going up suddenly.
What are the must-have mobile Apps in Buenos Aires?
PedidosYa and Rappi are the most renowned take-in apps in case you do not feel like cooking today (you can also use them for buying groceries). If the subtes and colectivos are too overwhelming for you or it is kinda late, we have Uber and local alternatives such as Cabify to be driven home safely. Just one catch, the most recurring in Argentina: given the exchange rate issue, you will probably have more success in getting your driver if you choose to pay him in cash.
What are the best co-living spaces in Buenos Aires?
So, at this point in our Buenos Aires Digital nomad guide, we are guessing that you are loving the city, but you need to get some work done. Besides, the cost of living did not look that high, but you might need to tighten up a little and you might also be eager to mix with other digital nomads as well as tourists. Ever thought of coliving spaces? Argentina is filled with them.
Selina, right in the middle of popular Palermo, is a great place to be, not only for the beds but also for the live music, cinema and other shared activities to get to know your roommates. Selina is the most popular choice for those who seek co-living in Buenos Aires.
If you would prefer to be closer to the downtown area, Codreamers is another good choice, with its own activities, plus, a beautiful rooftop to admire the unique architecture of Argentina. CasaCampus can also come in handy if you are looking for the right locations and you want to be sure that all amenities you need are covered such as furniture, cable, Chromecast and any other perk that will make your life easier here.
We know that being a digital nomad is all about changing your scene frequently. In that sense, why don’t you start via coliving.com? Buenos Aires is lovely, but you should definitely visit Mar del Plata, Rosario, La Plata and other popular and youthful cities with their own personalities. Coliving.com should help you crash in the right place throughout all of Argentina.
Top 3 co-living spaces in Buenos Aires:
What are the best co-working spaces in Buenos Aires?
Congrats! Now you are almost settled, but you do not like the view from your window, or it is possible that your co-living lease feels a bit “popular”. Maybe you need to try with a coworking station which, lucky you, Buenos Aires is filled with them! If you would rather start with a familiar brand to ease up your landing. If that is the case, we have multiple WeWork stations, all across the city and its surroundings.
But probably, you are here to absorb the local vibe and want to be somewhere cool to do some good ol’ networking. AreaTres, located at the heart of Palermo, is at the top based on user ratings and popularity. Their nicely tailored offices can accommodate multiple SME businesses and present you with your future business partners!
Not far from here and also with offices downtown, Urban Station is a great option for those looking for a nice open environment with international vibes. Or maybe you want to support our local coworking initiatives. La maquinita is an up-and-coming collaborative space not only housed in multiple locations in Buenos Aires but also with one in Cordoba city, in case you are already thinking of traveling.
Are you more on the practical side of things and would rather be somewhere modest but professional? Usina Co-Work is located in a less crowded block of popular Palermo and has a very complete webpage, with prices included, so you can book upfront and be there on Monday at 9 am or when you please. Not far from here, with a similar diversified approach in tariffs and service offerings, Manawa wants you to feel comfortable by choosing the plan that suits you best according to your job position and needs (i.e., HR, events, networking).
Meanwhile, somewhere in the low-key nonchalant Almagro, GoWork offers a more calm and familiar environment, with lovely leisure activities, as described by user reviews.
Your Spanish should be on point by now and you must know we speak about la ofi when talking of our bureaus. In that sense, La Ofi is an interesting option if you need to declare a business address and have someone take your calls for you, as well as flexible leasing for specific events. Besides, they have locations on the west side of Buenos Aires, a hidden gem for visitors who want to get away from the city without losing any of the perks.
If we managed to convince you before and Belgrano sounded like a good place to live, the northern city area has multiple options for you. HIT Cowork, in the Cañitas section of the neighborhood, not only is tailored to your BA digital nomad needs but also has multiple after-office bars ideal to chill after a long workday.
Ronda Coworking, close but not quite, decided to take “friendly” to the next level and invites you to come work with your pet, something to keep in mind if you cannot think of yourself living without a furry friend or personal support buddy. Going north, Join sits at a lovely spot of the city and offers flexible options for your freelance work.
And finally, still in Belgrano, we know some of you might be big on sustainability and care deeply about our impact on this planet. Huerta, (Spanish for Vegetable garden) is a certified sustainable company that is focused on delivering solutions to real-world social and environmental problems. Plus, who doesn’t like some sunlight while working?
Top 13 co-working spaces in Buenos Aires:
Closing thoughts on visiting Buenos Aires as a digital nomad
And this concludes our Buenos Aires Digital Nomad Guide in the hopes that you are already booking your ticket. Argentina is a lovely country, full of wonders to discover, and Buenos Aires holds a very cosmopolitan personality, with all of its implications. It is all-in-all a safe city, which does not mean that you will have to mind occasional pick-pocketing, scams, or any unpleasant encounter. Being careful will mostly avoid these uncomfortable situations.
Argentineans are very welcoming people, proper Latin Americans when it comes to the importance of friendship, and in general truthfully open to international visitors. Furthermore, it is already popular with tourists and digital nomads, so you will definitely never feel alone in this amazing city. So wait no more and come visit us, learn some Spanish, dance some Tango and enjoy!