Where to Live in Buenos Aires as a Digital Nomad

Palermo is the city’s biggest barrio and the centre of nomad life. Palermo Soho has cobbled streets, boutiques, cafes, bars and Plaza Serrano; Palermo Hollywood, across the railway, has restaurants, nightlife and TV studios. The parks of the Bosques de Palermo are close, and most coworking spaces are here.

It is the most expensive and touristy area, and noisy at weekend nights, but the easiest to land in.

• Good for: first-timers, cafe workers, food and nightlife
• Work nearby: La Maquinita, Huerta, AreaTres, Urban Station, Cuervo Café, Full City
• Watch out for: weekend noise and phone thieves on busy corners

Next to Palermo, Villa Crespo is a traditional barrio that has become a food and cafe hotspot, with outlet shops, bars and a strong local feel. Chacarita, beyond it, is up and coming. Rents are lower than in Palermo, and Palermo Soho is a short walk away.

• Good for: value, food lovers, long stays
• Work nearby: La Maquinita Niceto Vega, cafes along Thames and Malabia
• Watch out for: quieter streets at night near Chacarita

Elegant Recoleta has Parisian-style apartment buildings, the famous cemetery, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, wide avenues and classic cafes. It is calm, safe and central, with big old apartments, often with high ceilings and balconies.

It is more grown-up and less of a scene than Palermo, which many people like.

• Good for: couples, classic Buenos Aires, a calm and central base
• Work nearby: Lattente Recoleta, cafes along Avenida Santa Fe; Palermo’s coworking a short ride away
• Watch out for: older buildings with old heating and plumbing

North of Palermo, Belgrano and Núñez are residential barrios of tree-lined streets, parks, apartment towers, a small Chinatown and good schools, popular with families. They are quiet, green and safe, with the Subte D line and Mitre trains.

• Good for: families, long stays, runners and cyclists
• Work nearby: Café Registrado, local coworking spaces
• Watch out for: 20 to 30 minutes from the centre

The oldest barrio in the city, with cobbled streets, colonial buildings, antique shops, tango bars and the Sunday market on Defensa. It is atmospheric and cheaper than Palermo, close to the centre and Puerto Madero.

Some streets feel rough at night, and there are fewer cafes for working.

• Good for: history and character on a budget, tango lovers
• Work nearby: a few cafes and small coworking spaces; the centre close by
• Watch out for: petty theft, and empty streets late at night

Traditional working-class barrios south of Palermo, with tango history, local cafes, pizzerias and theatres, and among the lowest rents in the central city. They are very local and good for Spanish practice.

• Good for: budget long stays, Spanish learners
• Work nearby: local cafes; Palermo’s coworking 15 to 20 minutes away
• Watch out for: fewer foreigners and English speakers

• Temporary rentals (alquiler temporario) of one to six months, furnished and with bills included, are what most nomads use. They are usually priced in US dollars.
• Long leases (alquiler tradicional) are cheaper, but often need a local guarantor or an insurance-backed guarantee, and are priced in pesos with regular increases.
• Airbnb is easy for a first month, and many hosts offer monthly discounts.
• Rooms in shared flats and coliving houses suit a first month and are a good way to meet people.

1. Book a week or two first, then view flats in person.
2. Search temporary rental agencies, Airbnb, Zonaprop and Argenprop, and the Buenos Aires expat and housing Facebook groups.
3. Check the essentials: the Wi-Fi speed, heating and air-conditioning, hot water (many flats have gas heaters), the building’s security, and street noise at night.
4. Agree the currency and payment method before you sign: US dollars in cash, a bank transfer, or pesos.

• Deposit: usually one month’s rent for temporary rentals, sometimes paid in US dollars.
• Bills: temporary rentals usually include utilities, internet and the building fee (expensas).
• Contracts: get a written contract, even for a short stay.
• Inventory: photograph everything on day one.
• Scams: never pay for a flat you haven’t seen or verified.