Buenos Aires / San Telmo / Costs
True cost of renting in San Telmo
Based on 1,469 verified listings in San Telmo.
All prices in USD
$966/mo
Median 1-bedroom all-in
· 13% above city median ($857)
What you actually pay
Monthly cost breakdown for direct rentals in San Telmo
Building fees and utilities add $186/mo beyond the advertised rent — the largest hidden cost for newcomers.
452 Argenprop listings, 10th–80th percentile. Utilities estimated.
Direct rentals cost 25-40% less than Airbnb
Monthly median prices in San Telmo. Same bedroom count, trimmed 10th–80th percentile
1BR
Airbnb
n=346
Temp furnished
-33%
Long-term furnished
-9%
Long-term unfurnished
-28%
2BR
Airbnb
n=76
Temp furnished
-24%
Long-term furnished
-29%
Long-term unfurnished
-37%
* Unfurnished price excludes $2103 in furniture + 138 hrs setup. Trimmed 10th–80th percentile.
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 is cheaper from month 1
Net economic cost over 3, 6, 12, and 24 months in San Telmo
| 3 mo | 6 mo | 12 mo | 24 mo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbnb | $3,453 | $6,906 | $13,812 | $27,624 |
| Furnished direct | $2,636 | $4,964 | $9,620 | $18,932 |
| vs Airbnb | −$817 | −$1,942 | −$4,192 | −$8,692 |
| Unfurnished + buy | $6,516 | $9,012 | $14,004 | $23,988 |
| vs Airbnb | +$3,063 | +$2,106 | +$192 | −$3,636 |
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
Temp furnished
| First month | $776 |
| Deposit (refundable) | $776 |
| Cleaning | $50 |
| Fumigation | $25 |
| Total upfront | $1,627 |
Long-term unfurnished
| First month | $832 |
| Deposit (refundable) | $832 |
| Guarantee | $1597 |
| Stamp tax | $100 |
| Cleaning | $50 |
| Fumigation | $25 |
| Furnishing | $2,103 |
| Total upfront | $5,539 |
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 Telmo?+
The median all-in cost is $966/month, which includes base rent, building fees (expensas), utilities, and amortized guarantee costs. This is 31% more than the advertised rent alone.
Is Airbnb or direct rental cheaper in San Telmo?+
Direct furnished temp rentals are 33% cheaper than Airbnb in San Telmo ($776/mo vs $1,151/mo for a one-bedroom). The savings pay for the Scout service fee within 0.8 months.
What are expensas and how much do they cost?+
Expensas are monthly building maintenance fees covering cleaning, security, elevator, common areas. In San Telmo, the median is $110/month, about 12% of total housing cost.
Should I rent furnished or unfurnished in San Telmo?+
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 ($110/mo), utilities ($76/mo), guarantee or caución ($590 for 12-month contract), move-in cleaning ($50), fumigation ($25), and 30% risk of not getting your full deposit back.