What if you were born in Argentina?

If you had grown up in Argentina instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Buenos Aires could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Iguazú Falls, Misiones. Photo: Tomfriedel, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Argentina

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in ARS and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Argentina: ARS 83,400Rs 14,900
Rent (city centre): ARS 24,100
Transport (public transport): ARS 4,250
Food: ARS 12,000
Saved: ARS 12,500

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Argentina: ARS 192,000Rs 34,300
Rent (suburbs): ARS 48,800
Transport (public transport): ARS 9,770
Food: ARS 32,600
Saved: ARS 28,700

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Argentina: ARS 310,000Rs 55,600
Rent (city centre): ARS 76,000
Transport (car): ARS 29,100
Food: ARS 38,000
Saved: ARS 86,900

Try it with my own income

A day in Buenos Aires

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Buenos Aires, a city of mild winters around 11°C and warm summers around 25°C.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Spanish at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be asado: beef grilled slowly over wood or charcoal, served with chimichurri sauce.
Evening
You get home with ARS 28,700 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

Argentina compared with Pakistan

	Argentina	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	0.1× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	78 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	14 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	7.2%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	18°C	26°C
Languages	Spanish	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	ARS	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Argentina, living in Argentina and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Argentina?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around ARS 192,000 a month at the same level in Argentina (about Rs 34,300 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Argentina more expensive than Pakistan?

Everyday prices are about the same as in Pakistan or lower, according to World Bank price levels.

What language would I speak in Argentina?

Mainly Spanish. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Argentina?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Argentina page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.