Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina; the city is one of Latin America's busiest ports with its location along the Atlantic Ocean. The city is located at the northeastern edge of the Pampas, flat plains throughout Argentina; it is also along the Rio de la Plata.

Uniquely Buenos Aires is the fact that it was founded twice. First, in 1536, Pedro de Mendoze named it Nuestra Senora Santa Maria del Buen Aire, or "Our Lady St. Mary of the Good Air." Only 50 years after, Juan de Garay named it Ciudad de Trinidad, or "City of Trinidad." Two-hundred years later, in 1806 and 1807, local Argentinians defeated British efforts to conquer the capital; Buenos Aires officially established its independence from Britain. One century later, beginning in the 1930s, Buenos Aires saw a great deal of migrants searching for work. Migrants primarily came from neighboring countries including Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia, in addition to other parts of Argentina.

More activity sprung with the development of automobiles and colectivos, or microbuses, as new methods of transportation. This led to the establishment of roads and other transportation networks. With these developments, the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires was running. Today, the city consists of the Federal District, the mainstream downtown district with narrow streets and right-angled buildings; and the suburbs, with more emerging industry opportunities and an ever-growing population. While main attractions are downtown, much of the residential life is in the suburbs of Buenos Aires; approximately one-quarter of the city's residents live downtown. The official language is Spanish; currency used is the Argentinian Peso (commonly abbreviated ARG), and one ARG equals 0.0098 USD.

Location

Job Opportunities

Used as South America's largest port, Buenos Aires has employment opportunities including trading and manufacturing, financial operations, and working in the transportation sector. Within manufacturing, the more popular industries include food processing, printing and publishing, textiles, and automobiles. Over one-half of Argentina's manufacturing jobs are located in Buenos Aires, and over one-fifth of the city's workforce is employed in manufacturing. The banking and finance industry is also busy, with the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina located in Buenos Aires; this bank controls the federal banking system and is opportunistic for investing, financial planning, and other financial-related jobs. The travel and transportation industry of Buenos Aires also plays a role in the economy. From driving Buenos Aires' electric urban lines to operating ferries across the Rio de la Plata to operating the Colectivo bus routes, transportation and tourism is key to a thriving economy in Buenos Aires.

Cost of Living

There are more apartment living arrangements than houses in Buenos Aires. However, apartments can be both rented or purchased. To live in the city center, an apartment rental costs roughly ARG $30,300 ($300 USD); a one-bedroom in the suburbs is around ARG $23,250 ($230 USD). For larger apartments, such as a 3-bedroom apartment near or in the city center, costs will vary around ARG $70,750 ($700 USD); 3-bedroom apartments outside the city will run around ARG $40,430 ($400 USD).

As for other utilities and expenses, one gallon of gas averages around ARG $430 ($4.27 USD) and new car prices can be as low as ARG $1,516,000 ($15,000 USD). Unlimited internet costs around ARG $2,525 ($25 USD) per month, and other utilities in an apartment add up to around ARG $5,050 ($50 USD) per month.

Transportation

The most convenient mode of transportation is the Subte, the light rail line in Buenos Aires. These routes travel all around the city, and costs are based on the distance travelled. For example, when buying a single-ride pass, prices start at ARG $25 ($0.25 USD) and increase based on distance travelled. There are also 2, 5, 10, and 30-day passes offered on this system.

Other options for transit include the bus, known as Colectivos. Similar to the Subte, buses also travel downtown, and prices increase as trips become longer. When travelling out of the city, prices increase with the longer distance in between stops. Overall, public transit, including the Subte and bus lines, are strongly preferred in Buenos Aires over cars and taxis because of the safety risks, and they come at more affordable costs.

Recreation

Known as the "Paris of South America," Buenos Aires provides a great deal of entertainment and activities. For starters, Argentina is the birthplace of Tango; free classes are available for all levels. The Teatro Colon is a historic theater in the heart of downtown showcasing plays, musicals, and music performances. Not far away, la Plaza de Mayo is a great entertainment spot with local restaurants, shops, exhibits, and outdoor performances.

For more scenery, Buenos Aires offers an aerial helicopter tour throughout the city. Take off from Puerto Madero and view different residential neighborhoods, in addition to the Rio de de Plata. Another scenic option is Los Bosques, highlighting Japanese gardens full of roses and other flowers.

Climate

The hottest months in Buenos Aires are December through March, with highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s (25 to 30 degrees Celsius); these months also have high humidity, with the potential for terrential storms. Precipitation is also more abundant during these months, peaking at the year's high of 5 to 6 inches monthly between January and March. The coolest months are May through September, with highs in the low to mid 60s (17 to 19 degrees Celsius) and less precipitation ranging from 2 to 3 inches per month.