Buenos Aires / San Miguel / Costs
True cost of renting in San Miguel
Based on 946 verified listings in San Miguel.
All prices in USD
$639/mo
Median 1-bedroom all-in
· 25% below city median ($857)
What you actually pay
Monthly cost breakdown for direct rentals in San Miguel
Building fees and utilities add $148/mo beyond the advertised rent — the largest hidden cost for newcomers.
614 Argenprop listings, 10th–80th percentile. Utilities estimated.
Furnishing eats the rent savings
Unfurnished apartments look cheaper, but the real cost includes furniture, setup time, and hassle
138 hours
Active shopping, assembly, and coordination time to furnish a one-bedroom from scratch in Buenos Aires. That's 3.5 work weeks, plus $2103 in purchases.
| Upfront | Monthly | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Already furnished | $0 | $0 | 0 hrs |
| Buy furniture | $2,103 | $0 | 138 hrs |
| Rent furniture | $200 | $390/mo | 12 hrs |
Prices verified April 2026. Includes furniture items + hidden costs (delivery, assembly, tips, transport, unexpected). Kitchen tools ($164) modeled separately.
Furnished direct breaks even in ? months
Net economic cost over 3, 6, 12, and 24 months in San Miguel
| 3 mo | 6 mo | 12 mo | 24 mo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfurnished + buy | $5,486 | $7,403 | $11,237 | $18,905 |
With agent? Add ~$1,000 for temp (broker fee) or ~$2,200 for long-term (broker + seguro de caucion).
Does not include search time (~15-20 hours for direct, ~160 hours for unfurnished including furnishing).
Budget 2-3 months rent for move-in
Total upfront cash needed before you get the keys
Long-term unfurnished
| First month | $639 |
| Deposit (refundable) | $639 |
| Guarantee | $1227 |
| Stamp tax | $77 |
| Cleaning | $50 |
| Fumigation | $25 |
| Furnishing | $2,103 |
| Total upfront | $4,760 |
Guarantee estimated at 8% of 24-month contract (DNU 70/2023). Sellado ~0.5%. Deposit is refundable — shown as cash outlay, not cost.
FAQ
What is the real cost of renting a one-bedroom in San Miguel?+
The median all-in cost is $639/month, which includes base rent, building fees (expensas), utilities, and amortized guarantee costs. This is 32% more than the advertised rent alone.
What are expensas and how much do they cost?+
Expensas are monthly building maintenance fees covering cleaning, security, elevator, common areas. In San Miguel, the median is $74/month, about 11% of total housing cost.
Should I rent furnished or unfurnished in San Miguel?+
For stays under 12 months, furnished is almost always cheaper. An unfurnished one-bedroom requires $2,103 in furniture plus 138 hours of shopping and assembly. The 'savings' on rent don't cover this until month 12+.
What hidden costs should I expect when renting in Buenos Aires?+
Beyond rent: building fees known as expensas ($74/mo), utilities ($74/mo), guarantee or caución ($442 for 12-month contract), move-in cleaning ($50), fumigation ($25), and 30% risk of not getting your full deposit back.