Argentina at a Glance
Living in Argentina
Tango is Argentina's national passion, fascinating nationals and foreigners alike.
Living in Argentina enables most expats to lead a relatively comfortable life. Some of the best-known indices such as the Mercer Quality of Living Survey place the quality of living in Argentina well above that in other Latin American nations. However, the quality of expat life in Argentina does not quite rival a move to such top-notch places as Switzerland or New Zealand.
Only a few other cities in Central and South America (e.g. its neighbor Montevideo) are ranked ahead of Buenos Aires by Mercer Consulting when it comes to the quality of living in Argentina. Moreover, in comparison with São Paulo or Caracas, living in Argentina’s capital – not to mention other towns – is far cheaper (as well as safer). However, inflation remains rather high (between 10% and 24% in autumn 2011, depending on whether you believe the lower figures provided by the government), and prices can be volatile. Therefore the average expenses of living in Argentina may vary greatly.
Living in Argentina: Immunizations and Diseases
One’s personal well-being is an essential part of a successful expatriate assignment. Most expats place a great emphasis on a salubrious environment, affordable health insurance options, and good medical care.
As previously mentioned in our article on moving to Argentina, the country is largely free from dangerous infections. Only in a few northern areas do malaria and yellow fever pose a risk to residents. However, an increasing number of dengue fever patients have been reported, so expats and tourists outside the Buenos Aires province should protect themselves against mosquito bites. Doctors advise tourists and expats to refresh their routine immunization shots (MMR, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio) in preparation for life in Argentina.
Moreover, an additional vaccination for hepatitis A is often recommended. People planning on living in Argentina for a longer period should probably get immunized against hepatitis B, yellow fever, rabies, and typhoid too.
Life in Argentina: Medication and Physicians
People with respiratory diseases should take note that the air pollution in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Region can be rather bad on occasion. This may aggravate existing health conditions like bronchitis or asthma.
Regardless of the illness they suffer from, all expats should pack enough of their prescription meds for a couple of months. In this way, they do not need to hurry while looking for a decent doctor living in Argentina. Of course, seeing a physician requires a health insurance that will cover your life in Argentina.
Living in Argentina: Public Healthcare
Argentina’s healthcare system is fairly well developed. It consists of three sectors, all of which are overseen by the Ministry of Health. The first part of the healthcare sector includes public services provided by the government to all people living in Argentina.
For example, Argentina’s public hospitals are funded by the state to offer basic care and emergency services to everyone living in Argentina who is not otherwise covered by a medical insurance plan. Due to the several economic crises that hit the country in the last two decades, many people living in Argentina have recently relied on such services.
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