Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital city, welcomes thousands of expatriates from across the globe every year. Buenos Aires has been drawing vast large numbers of expats not only for its cultural and historical richness but also for its career opportunities. If you have decided to head to to Buenos Aires, renting a place to live will be one of your priorities even before moving to Argentina. But this should not be difficult since the city has a variety of accommodation for all needs and at a range of price points.
Moving to Buenos Aires is not simple. It's easy, but not simple. But it can be done. So breathe. Stay tranquil, or ‘tranquila,' the Spanish word for tranquil, which means the same, but much more. Think ‘unperturbed' or ‘unruffled.'
Where to look for accommodation in Buenos Aires
Many accommodation options are available in Buenos Aires: Should you rent a house? Rent an apartment? Share a place with others?
One excellent resource to help with the pesky apartment search is Compartodepto.com. Login and create a profile and search for roommates who may share common interests with you.
Craigslist Buenos Aires is another good place to look and probably the most popular with expats., even though the listings are crowded with agents' postings. But occasionally offers from owners or apartment managers pop up.
Don't want a roommate? You are in luck. There are plenty of options available as well. First, decide which of two types you prefer. There are two: Long-term and temporary.
Long-term rentals usually come unfurnished and require a lease for up to two-years.
Temporary, furnished units can be rented on a 30-day basis. With a little searching — and depending on the property — it is also possible to find weekly rentals.
Owner or agent or something else
With a lot of websites available to help you search, Airbnb has tons of options and choices for short-term or temporary housing.
For long-term rentals, sites like Mercadolibre.com or Soloduenos.com can be helpful.
Private businesses like Buenos Aires Habitat offer rentals as short as a day. They also offer small discounts, the longer you plan to rent. However, the three-month payment, upfront, can be a problem.
If you decide to use a real estate agency you may have to pay a commission to a realtor. That commission can be bypassed by renting directly from the owner.
Meeting the owner and renting from them may save the realtor's fee, but make sure you have a good command of Spanish and a good understanding of how things are done in Buenos Aires — especially if a contract is involved and you are looking for a long-term rental.
Other costs to consider, besides the monthly/weekly rent, is a one-time administration fee and a security deposit.
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