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South America’s Most Livable Cities: Buenos Aires & Montevideo

On May 31, 2010, In competitiveness, foreign investment, lifestyle, us companies, by InvestBA
Buenos Aires and Montevideo quality of living index from Mercer

No Surprises: Buenos Aires and Montevideo were the highest ranked cities in South America.

While global mergers and acquisitions are based largely on perceived synergies and potential bottom line impact, a very human-oriented discussion typically emerges once the deal is done. Who do we send from the Home Office to manage the new foreign subsidiary? How is the quality of life there vis-a -vis the U.S.? And, of course, what is an appropriate compensation package for our soon-to-be expats?

Fortunately Mercer, a global leader in HR consulting, has the answers in their just-released 2010 Quality of Living Survey. Unlike the International Living index which focuses on variables important to retirees, the Mercer survey is designed to help multinationals fairly compensate their employees working abroad, and New York with a score of 100 is used as the base city.

The La Nacion headline came as no surprise to InvestBA readers: Buenos Aires, the best city to live in South America. In fact, out of 221 cities, Buenos Aires and our other local favorite,  Montevideo, were ranked back-to-back at #78 and #79, the two highest ranking metros in South America, followed by Santiago (#90), Brasilia (#104), Rio (#116), and Sao Paulo (#117).

For more information about investment opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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NYTimes: More Americans Choose Retirement in Argentina & Uruguay

On May 20, 2010, In foreign investment, lifestyle, tourism, uruguay, by InvestBA
Punta del Este Beachside Home
An American recently bought this beachside home in idyllic Punta del Este, Uruguay for US$160,000.

It’s another triple-digit loss day on the Dow so, depending on your degree of diversification, your retirement savings may be taking a similar hit. Appropriate then that we turn to an article on net worth and how to stretch your hard-earned savings post-retirement. The New York Times says Latin American destinations like Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and even Medelli­n are starting to factor into the equation for Americans seeking an affordable retirement destination with a high standard of living and affordable health care.

“Now that air travel and communications have grown easier, adventurous seniors are retiring to more far-flung destinations, lured by lower costs, better climates and growing colonies of like-minded retirees,” writes Shelley Emling. Argentina and Uruguay are both mentioned in the article which features one American who bought a Montevideo condo for $58,000 and a beachside Punta del Este home for $160,000. Two homes in Uruguay for the price of a two-room co-op in New York? No wonder the Times is looking to the Southern Hemisphere with a sense of longing.

It’s good to see more mainstream news sources picking up on what InvestBA and other specialty publications like International Living and Shelter Offshore have known for some time. As one of the North Americans interviewed sums it up, “I don’t know of anyone who has decided to move back full-time after having had a taste of living abroad.”

For more information on retirement opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, contact us and download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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There Are Better Places to Live

On April 19, 2010, In culture, foreign investment, lifestyle, uruguay, by InvestBA
More Americans and Canadians discovering the quality of life in Argentina and Uruguay

Rethinking country risk can change the way you view investing and living abroad.

With volcanic ash cascading earthward, half of all flights grounded in Europe and U.S. housing prices nursing an “epic hangover,” it’s a good morning to reflect on quality of life and other advantages of living here in Argentina and Uruguay.

Granted, both countries rank consistently as the #1 and #2 destinations in Latin America for Quality of Life, but sometimes anecdotal evidence speaks louder than quantitative rankings. In an analysis of country risk, investor and best-selling author Bill Bonner shares a lunch conversation with a friend who moved to Argentina “because (he) felt (his) children would have a better future here than in Britain.”

After ticking off a litany of BA advantages (e.g., lower population density, more affordable housing, shorter commute times), the friend dug deeper: “If you want to give your children the best combination of lifestyle and economic opportunity, there are better places to live.”

Does that mean you should renounce your citizenship and hop the next flight to BA, Montevideo or Sao Paulo? Of course not. Like Bonner’s article, it’s simply an open invitation for us to rethink country risk, growth opportunities and lifestyle advantages of living abroad.

Whether you’re bothered by the status quo or anticipating greater changes on the horizon, use online tools to start planning an exit strategy now. Not familiar with the local terrain? Open a Google map. Still struggling with the language? Join LiveMocha. Wondering what your net worth is in pesos? Go to XE.com. With an open mind and enough due diligence, you just might find a better place to live.

For more information about investment opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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Argentina, Uruguay Top International Living Quality of Life Index…Again

On February 3, 2010, In foreign investment, lifestyle, tourism, uruguay, by InvestBA
International Living Quality of Living Index Argentina Uruguay

Argentina and Uruguay were the top 2 Latin destinations in IL's Annual Quality of Life Index.

For the second consecutive year, Argentina and Uruguay were the two highest ranking Latin American countries in International Living’s annual 2010 Quality of Life Index. (Click image to enlarge) On the 1-100 scale, Argentina received its highest marks in the categories of Risk & Safety (100), Climate (91), Freedom (83) and Health (82).

Of the 194 countries surveyed, Argentina ranked #26 sandwiched right between the United Kingdom and Slovenia; however, Argentina’s Cost of Living score (61) was actually 2x better than the U.K.’s (30). Neighboring Uruguay, another InvestBA favorite along the Tango Coast, garnered the #19 spot on the IL 2010 Index, sandwiched right between more expensive and significantly colder European competitors, Finland and Hungary.

In a related story, data released this week from Argentina’s Tourist Ministry suggests a record number of foreigners traveled to Argentina in January “buoyed by an improved global economic situation and competitive prices at the country’s different destinations relative to those of its neighbors.” The entire 2010 Quality of Life Index ranking is available at InternationalLiving.com.

For more information about retirement and investment opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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