Green IslandPrices in Argentina Part One
June 3rd 2009 21:52
Below are the lists for daily expenditure in Argentina dating from 27th May to 3rd June. Argentina is a clean and well organised country. The tap water is safe to drink. The long distance buses are luxurious. The hostels well organised and safe. Naturally the big but is the price. However, by buying food in the supermarkets and not indulging in more than a few beers in the bars we´ve stuck pretty much in budget.
The budget being 30 US dollars each a day. We changed at Buenos Aires airport (only $100) for the disappointing rate of 3.2 peso to the US$. The same day we changed again at the American Express Office in the centre of Buenos Aires for the much better rate of 3.7 pesos to the $US. So 60 US dollars makes the magic number of 222 pesos.
Just as a footnote, Argentinian money has a hypothetical quality to it, like quantum physics. Because of prices for kilos and the necessity for fractions the label often claims something costs for example 3.14 pesos. There are 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 coins but no 0.01 or 0.05 coins so 3.14 is just wild shooting. They just round it up or down depending on the money the customer has. This is the main problem. Few places will break a 100 note and 100 notes are all that the banks and exchange houses will give you. I can imagine the scenario of a hungry beggar stealing a wallet full of 100 peso notes and not being able to find a place that can break a note and sell him some food.
27-05-09
Taxi from Buenos Aires airport to Lime House Hostel = 115 (ripped off here. Should be more like 70)
Lime House (6 bed dorm) 38 per person = 76 (2 people)
bottled Water = 4
empanada = 8
supermarket = 28
alcohol in hostel = 30
Total = 261 (39 over budget)
28-05-09
LIme House (12 bed dorm) 28 per person = 56
water = 2
MacDonalds (feel guilty about this but needed a piss) = 7
donation to H.I.V at Necropolis in BA = 10
lunch in Law University cafe = 9
supermarket = 21 peso
washing machine = 2
Pizza = 12.5
2 beers in Lime House (Quilmes medium size) = 20
Total = 139.5 (82.5 under budget)
29-05-09
Lime House = 56
supermarket = 33
Malaria medicine (6 boxs of Doxycycline) = 90
cigarette papers = 2.5
gear (5g) = 75
beer = 30
Total = 286.5 (64.5 over budget)
30-05-09
Taxi to bus station = 14
Bus to Rosario (58 per person) = 116 The journey was with Empressa Argentina and took 4 hours.
Bus from coach station to centre of Rosario = 3.2
Tips = 4
Rosario Inn (35 per person for 6 bed dorm) = 70
supermarket = 35
fags = 5
Total = 247.2 (25.2 over budget)
31-05-09
Rosario Inn = 70
Supermarket = 28
Fleece in street market = 42
Supermarket = 22
Total = 162 (60 under budget)
01-06-09
Rosario Inn = 70
2 sandwiches from street vendor = 10
crisps = 5
Supermarket = 22.5
Total = 107.5 (114.5 under budget)
02-06-09
Taxi to bus station = 10
Tips = 3
Coach ticket to Cordoba (66 per person) = 132 The journey fro Rosario to Cordoba takes 6 hours and stops at lots of places. This was with Chevelier.
2 rolls = 16.5
fags = 4
supermarket = 22
Cordoba Backpackers (6 bed dorm for 33 per person) = 66
1 litre Quilmes in hostel = 8
Total = 261.5 (39.5 over budget)
03-06-09
Cordoba Backpackers = 66
hat for me = 12
gloves for me = 12
supermarket = 10
fags and smoking papers (times 5) = 12
supermarket = 29
Total = 141 (81 under budget)
Totals -- Budget = 1,776 Argentine Pesos
Actually spent = 1,606.2
Difference = 169.8
These numbers basically show that if we travel more than 4 hours by coach we go over budget.
For more thoughts, details and phots from our journey go to
wwwdottrippytravellerinsoutha mericadotblogspotdotcom
or click here
The budget being 30 US dollars each a day. We changed at Buenos Aires airport (only $100) for the disappointing rate of 3.2 peso to the US$. The same day we changed again at the American Express Office in the centre of Buenos Aires for the much better rate of 3.7 pesos to the $US. So 60 US dollars makes the magic number of 222 pesos.
Just as a footnote, Argentinian money has a hypothetical quality to it, like quantum physics. Because of prices for kilos and the necessity for fractions the label often claims something costs for example 3.14 pesos. There are 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 coins but no 0.01 or 0.05 coins so 3.14 is just wild shooting. They just round it up or down depending on the money the customer has. This is the main problem. Few places will break a 100 note and 100 notes are all that the banks and exchange houses will give you. I can imagine the scenario of a hungry beggar stealing a wallet full of 100 peso notes and not being able to find a place that can break a note and sell him some food.
27-05-09
Taxi from Buenos Aires airport to Lime House Hostel = 115 (ripped off here. Should be more like 70)
Lime House (6 bed dorm) 38 per person = 76 (2 people)
bottled Water = 4
empanada = 8
supermarket = 28
alcohol in hostel = 30
Total = 261 (39 over budget)
28-05-09
LIme House (12 bed dorm) 28 per person = 56
water = 2
MacDonalds (feel guilty about this but needed a piss) = 7
donation to H.I.V at Necropolis in BA = 10
lunch in Law University cafe = 9
supermarket = 21 peso
washing machine = 2
Pizza = 12.5
2 beers in Lime House (Quilmes medium size) = 20
Total = 139.5 (82.5 under budget)
29-05-09
Lime House = 56
supermarket = 33
Malaria medicine (6 boxs of Doxycycline) = 90
cigarette papers = 2.5
gear (5g) = 75
beer = 30
Total = 286.5 (64.5 over budget)
30-05-09
Taxi to bus station = 14
Bus to Rosario (58 per person) = 116 The journey was with Empressa Argentina and took 4 hours.
Bus from coach station to centre of Rosario = 3.2
Tips = 4
Rosario Inn (35 per person for 6 bed dorm) = 70
supermarket = 35
fags = 5
Total = 247.2 (25.2 over budget)
31-05-09
Rosario Inn = 70
Supermarket = 28
Fleece in street market = 42
Supermarket = 22
Total = 162 (60 under budget)
01-06-09
Rosario Inn = 70
2 sandwiches from street vendor = 10
crisps = 5
Supermarket = 22.5
Total = 107.5 (114.5 under budget)
02-06-09
Taxi to bus station = 10
Tips = 3
Coach ticket to Cordoba (66 per person) = 132 The journey fro Rosario to Cordoba takes 6 hours and stops at lots of places. This was with Chevelier.
2 rolls = 16.5
fags = 4
supermarket = 22
Cordoba Backpackers (6 bed dorm for 33 per person) = 66
1 litre Quilmes in hostel = 8
Total = 261.5 (39.5 over budget)
03-06-09
Cordoba Backpackers = 66
hat for me = 12
gloves for me = 12
supermarket = 10
fags and smoking papers (times 5) = 12
supermarket = 29
Total = 141 (81 under budget)
Totals -- Budget = 1,776 Argentine Pesos
Actually spent = 1,606.2
Difference = 169.8
These numbers basically show that if we travel more than 4 hours by coach we go over budget.
Demo in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Law University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Parana River, Rosario, Argentina
Che Guavara childhood home, Rosario, Argentina
dancer for money at the lights
For more thoughts, details and phots from our journey go to
wwwdottrippytravellerinsoutha mericadotblogspotdotcom
or click here
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