Student life in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires has a large multiethnic and multicultural community and is a fascinating and welcoming city for students choosing to study abroad. The quality of education is excellent and also very affordable. About 90,000 students from around the globe come to Buenos Aires to study. For anyone looking to learn and enjoy a laid back lifestyle while surrounded by flora and fauna, Argentina is the go-to place.
Want to get a degree while combining your time with tango lessons and polishing your Spanish? Again, there's nowhere like Buenos Aires. The city boasts several universities and provides an optimum learning experience both on and off-campus.
Universities in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a top choice for international students who want to study in Argentina. Students come here because of the variety, and number of schools which are recognised internationally.
The Universidad de Buenos Aires and Universidad del Salvador, as well as the Universidad Austral, have a campus in the city. The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and ranks inside the top 150 universities in the world according to the QS Index.
Social life in Buenos Aires
Many other things combine to make Buenos Aires the perfect spot for your student life in Argentina.
Buenos Aires is the spot where culture and social life intersect and is dubbed the “Paris of South America.” The mingling of cultures means you may enjoy breakfast with a student from Germany, go to lunch with students from Norway and have dinner with students from America and then finish the evening with drinks and dancing with students from Japan.
Two barrios (neighbourhoods) in Buenos Aires, Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood, both boast lively commercial spaces which young people find welcoming. With plenty of cafes, restaurants, cinemas and shopping malls, any trace of boredom with school life is erased.
Culture in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is not disappointing when looking for cultural spots which can help you wrap your mind around Argentine society. Plazas, opera houses, theatres, dance floors and boutique art galleries all mix to deliver a distinctively Argentine experience.
Local events include Tango Festivals, agricultural fairs, gauchos and fashion parades. They all are the weave of Argentine life and yours for the taking and becoming part of the Buenos Aires community.
The city offers up an eclectic mix of modern and traditional neighbourhoods and each is their own paradise where the famous Argentine beef, steak and wine can be tasted and enjoyed.
Portenios
The local Buenos Aires population, called the Portenios, (people of the port) is a colourful and friendly lot once you get to know them and they get to know you. They welcome foreigners and are used to being part of a diverse group.
The city will never be utopian, but it's as close to ideal as a city can get for those who want to be in the centre of important events as it becomes home for those with a leaning to a vigorous lifestyle.
Student accommodation in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is home to various options for students seeking a place to live. With dozens of student hostels and residences — many linked to a university — every student should be able to find housing which is palatable to both taste and budget.
The city has published a student guide which can be downloaded here. It provides general guidance for living and housing in Buenos Aires. You can also check with your school; often, they can help find appropriate residences.
Useful links:
Zonaprop
Properati
Go Place It
Top Inmobiliaro
Busca Inmueble
Inmuebles Clarin
Argen Prop
Craigslist
The cost of living in Buenos Aires
There is no such thing as “typical living costs,” just as there is no such creature as a “typical student.” Living costs are entirely dependent on the lifestyle desired while in town.
Most would say anything between US$1,500/2,000 including rent, maybe more if you wish to go to restaurants more than three times a week, is reasonable. Prices can be high compared to major cities in the US, for example, but some are cheaper. Going out to restaurants, haircuts, salons, having cleaning ladies or help in general, meat and grocery shopping are expensive to most Argentines, as their salaries are in pesos, but lower when compared to the US.
Someone wanting to get around on buses or taxis will feel an impact on their daily budget. Even though taxis are cheap in American dollars, it might eat up a lot of your allowance if its the only method of transportation you are planning to use. Below is a small breakdown of costs you should expect in Buenos Aires:
Rent - anything between ARS 5,000 and ARS 10,000 (depending on the neighbourhood and if shared)
Transportation - ARS1000-2,000
Food and drink - ARS 3,000-5,000 (an average work lunch is between ARS100 to ARS200) a high-end meal at a nice restaurant between ARS500-1,000
Student discounts in Buenos Aires
Students enjoy lots of exclusive discounts when in Argentina.
Some of the more popular are:
- Bicicleta Naranja: 50 % student discount on a bike city tour
- Kilca Hostel: 25 % student discount on accommodation
- Hilton Garden Inn Buenos Aires: 10 % student discount on accommodation
Other discounts are frequently offered. The admissions office of your school would have the latest information.
The International Student Identify Card is available for downloading and can be used globally.
