When to Use
User asks about Buenos Aires for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) |
visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) |
visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay |
visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips |
visitor-tips.md |
|
Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison |
neighborhoods-index.md |
| Palermo, Belgrano, Nunez |
neighborhoods-norte.md |
| Microcentro, San Nicolas, Retiro |
neighborhoods-centro.md |
| San Telmo, La Boca, Barracas |
neighborhoods-sur.md |
| Caballito, Almagro, Villa Crespo |
neighborhoods-oeste.md |
| Puerto Madero, Recoleta |
neighborhoods-premium.md |
| Choosing guide |
neighborhoods-choosing.md |
|
Food | |
| Overview & dining scene |
food-overview.md |
| Argentine cuisine |
food-local.md |
| International & fine dining |
food-international.md |
| Best areas for dining |
food-areas.md |
| Dietary, tipping, customs |
food-practical.md |
|
Practical | |
| Moving & settling |
resident.md |
| Transport (subte, colectivos, taxis) |
transport.md |
| Cost of living |
cost.md |
| Safety & security |
safety.md |
| Weather & seasonal tips |
climate.md |
| Local services (banking, SIM) |
local.md |
|
Career | |
| Tech industry & salaries |
tech.md |
| Business setup & regulations |
business.md |
| Visas (work, residency, digital nomad) |
visas.md |
| Startups & funding |
startup.md |
|
Lifestyle | |
| Culture & customs |
culture.md |
| Healthcare & insurance |
healthcare.md |
| Schools & education |
education.md |
| Expat lifestyle & social |
lifestyle.md |
| Driving & car ownership |
driving.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- - Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur, digital nomad
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Economic Context (Critical)
Argentina has chronic inflation (~140% annually in 2024) and currency controls:
- - Official rate vs "blue dollar": Significant gap (30-40% historically)
- MEP/CCL rates: Legal alternatives for better exchange
- Crypto adoption: Very high due to currency instability
- Dollar preference: Many transactions quoted in USD
See
cost.md for current rates and strategies.
3. Cultural Context
Buenos Aires is the most European city in South America:
- - Spanish influence: Architecture, cafe culture, late dining
- Italian influence: 60%+ of population has Italian ancestry, affects food and gestures
- Tango: Cultural institution, not just for tourists
- Futbol (soccer): Religion-level passion, Boca vs River divides the city
- Late night culture: Dinner at 10pm, clubs open at 2am
See
culture.md for detailed guidance.
4. Weather Reality
- - Summer (Dec-Feb): 28-35C, humid, many locals leave in January
- Winter (Jun-Aug): 8-15C, gray, limited heating in buildings
- Best months: March-May (autumn), September-November (spring)
- No central heating: Most apartments use space heaters
See
climate.md for monthly breakdown.
5. Current Data (Feb 2026)
| Item | Range (USD at blue rate) |
|---|
| 1BR rent (Palermo) | $400-700/month |
| 1BR rent (Recoleta) |
$500-800/month |
| 1BR rent (outer barrios) | $250-400/month |
| Senior SWE salary (USD) | $3,000-6,000/month |
| Subte monthly pass | ~$15 |
| Dinner for 2 (nice restaurant) | $30-60 |
| Asado for 4 at home | $20-30 |
6. Cost Reality
Buenos Aires is very affordable for dollar earners:
- - Housing: 20-30% of budget typical for expats
- Food: Excellent quality at low prices (especially beef, wine)
- Services: Very cheap (cleaning, laundry, repairs)
- Tech salaries: Often paid in USD, huge advantage
- Hidden costs: Importing goods expensive, electronics cost 2-3x US prices
7. Transit Options
Buenos Aires has good public transport, especially vs other LATAM cities:
- - Subte: 6 lines, cheap, crowded at rush hour
- Colectivos (buses): 140+ lines, 24/7, covers entire city
- Taxis/Ride-hailing: Cheap, Uber/Cabify widely used
- SUBE card: Essential for all public transport
Most residents don't own cars in central areas. See
transport.md.
8. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|
| Young professionals/Digital nomads | Palermo Soho, Palermo Hollywood, Villa Crespo |
| Families |
Belgrano, Nunez, Caballito |
| Budget-conscious expats | Almagro, Boedo, Villa Crespo |
| Luxury seekers | Puerto Madero, Recoleta |
| Artists/Bohemian | San Telmo, La Boca (Caminito area only) |
| Tech workers | Palermo, Belgrano, Puerto Madero |
Visa Context
Unlike Dubai, Argentina has relatively easy immigration:
- - Tourist visa: 90 days, extendable once (180 total)
- Digital nomad visa: 6-12 months, renewable
- Work visa: Employer-sponsored, becoming more common in tech
- Residency: Relatively easy through rentista, investor, or ancestry
- Citizenship: Possible after 2 years of residency
See
visas.md for detailed requirements.
Buenos Aires-Specific Traps
- - Blue dollar confusion - Always know the parallel rate. Official rate = losing 30-40%.
- January exodus - City empties out. Many businesses close. Plan around it.
- Crime awareness - Express kidnapping, phone theft common. Be street smart.
- Building heating - Central heating rare. Winter apartments get COLD.
- Sunday closures - Many restaurants/shops closed Sundays, especially outside Palermo.
- Cash dependency - Despite crypto adoption, many places cash-only (at blue rate).
- Import taxes - Electronics, clothes, anything imported costs 2-3x.
- Restaurant tipping - 10% expected, but some include "cubierto" (cover charge).
- Spanish requirement - Less English spoken than expected. Learn basics.
- Afternoon closure - Some businesses close 1-5pm (siesta culture).
Safety Awareness
Buenos Aires is generally safe but requires street smarts:
- - Tourist areas: Well-patrolled, relatively safe
- Phone theft: Very common, don't use phone obviously on street
- Express kidnapping: Rare but real, avoid displaying wealth
- ATMs: Use inside banks, never at night
- Areas to avoid: La Boca (outside Caminito), Once at night, Constitucion
See
safety.md for comprehensive guidance.
Expat Community
Buenos Aires has a large, established expat community:
- - Digital nomad hubs: Palermo cafes, coworking spaces
- Expat groups: Active Facebook groups, meetups
- Languages spoken: Spanish dominant, English in tech/tourism
- Integration: Easier than many cities due to welcoming culture
- Dating scene: Active, Tinder/Bumble popular
Legal Awareness
Key laws visitors/residents should know:
- - Marijuana: Decriminalized for personal use, but selling illegal
- Alcohol: Legal at 18, widely available
- Protests: Common, mostly peaceful, avoid area during
- Photography: Generally permitted, ask before photographing people
- Noise laws: Exist but loosely enforced, expect late-night noise
- Consumer rights: Strong protection laws, refunds possible
Scope
This skill ONLY:
- - Provides information about Buenos Aires for visitors, residents, and workers
- References auxiliary files with detailed neighborhood, food, and practical guides
- Gives current data on costs, visas, and local services
This skill NEVER:
- - Makes network requests or API calls
- Accesses calendar, email, or contacts
- Stores data or creates files
- Executes code or scripts
- Modifies its own SKILL.md
