Buenos Aires, Argentina
In Buenos Aires, $10 covers a full sit-down parrilla lunch menu, a night at a traditional milonga tango hall plus a drink, or six empanadas to go.
Index score 186 (rank 11 of 20) — the full basket totals $26.83, so $10 covers about 37.3% of it.
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The basket
| Item | Buenos Aires | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $2.68 | $4.61 | -42% |
| Milk (1L) | $1.45 | $1.44 | +1% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.77 | $5.90 | -53% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $2.08 | $2.10 | -1% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $1.68 | $2.50 | -33% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $2.34 | $3.21 | -27% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $4.06 | $6.09 | -33% |
| White rice (1kg) | $1.57 | $6.64 | -76% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $7.10 | $14.41 | -51% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $1.10 | $3.00 | -63% |
| Total | $26.83 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- Menú del día at a neighborhood parrilla~$9.50
A full sit-down grilled-meat lunch with a side and a drink.
- Milonga entry plus one drink~$6.50
A traditional social tango hall — cheap because it's community, not a tourist show.
- Six empanadas to go~$10.00
Argentina's iconic grab-and-go meal, enough for a full meal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in Buenos Aires?
$26.83 for a basic grocery basket in Buenos Aires — about $23 less than New York City's $49.90.
What can $10 buy in Buenos Aires?
A full menú del día grilled-meat lunch with a side and a drink at a neighborhood parrilla, or six empanadas to go — Argentina's classic grab-and-go meal.
Is Buenos Aires cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — Buenos Aires's index score of 186 means a dollar goes roughly 1.9 times as far as in New York.
How much is a cappuccino in Buenos Aires?
$4.06 — about a third less than New York City's $6.09.
How much does milonga entry cost in Buenos Aires?
A traditional social tango hall runs about $6.50 including a drink — cheap because it's a community gathering, not a tourist show.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Warsaw, $10 covers a pierogi plate at a traditional milk bar with money to spare, a zapiekanka street snack from Nowy Świat, or reduced-rate admission to the POLIN Museum.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.