Retire in Argentina
To retire in Argentina most people apply for pensionado residence with a pension of 5 minimum wages, ARS 1,956,000 a month from October 2026.
What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from Argentina's law and official data. Checked on Oct 8, 2026.
- Retiree visa
- From ARS 1,956,000/mo (about $1,270) A regular, permanent pension from a government, an international body or a private company…. Dirección Nacional de Migraciones; Consejo del Salario; Migration Law 25.871. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~45% of the US Household consumption, 2021. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- Up to 35% Foreign pensions are taxed. PwC Tax Summaries. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Travel advisory
- Level 1 of 4 Exercise Normal Precautions. US State Department. Updated Jul 9, 2026.
- Health spending
- $1,457/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- US tax treaty
- None No income tax treaty with the US. IRS. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Do you qualify?
Foreigners who receive a regular, permanent pension from a government, an international body or a private company, for work done abroad, apply to the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones for temporary residence. The pension must be at least 5 times Argentina's minimum wage. Migraciones grants one year at a time, renewable, and after 3 years you can apply for permanent residence.
Pensionado visa: documents and feesRetiring in Argentina, topic by topic
Visa
Pensionado visa requirements
Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.
Healthcare
Healthcare for retirees
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.
Money
Banking, pensions and tax
How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.
Budget
Cost of living
Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.
What it costs
Household prices in Argentina run at about 45% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent; food starts from the official basket.
Build your budgetOfficial basic food basket, one adult, per month, August 2026
INDEC. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Where retirees settle
Buenos Aires
- Capital, about 3.1 million people (2022)
- 25 m above sea level
- Fundación Favaloro; Hospital Universitario Austral in Pilar
Córdoba
- About 1.5 million people (2022)
- 390 m above sea level
- Sanatorio Allende, JCI-accredited
Mendoza
- About 127,000 people in the city (2022)
- 769 m above sea level
- Clínica de Cuyo
San Carlos de Bariloche
- About 136,000 people (2022)
- 794 m above sea level
Wikidata; Fundación Favaloro; Hospital Universitario Austral; Sanatorio Allende; Clínica de Cuyo. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Argentina compared
Visiting Argentina first
Most people spend a few weeks in Argentina before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:
Kiwi.com
Flights to Argentina
Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.
Airalo
eSIM for Argentina
Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.
Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How this works.
Retiring in Argentina: questions
Can I retire in Argentina on Social Security alone?
Yes, if it pays at least ARS 1,956,000 (about $1,270) a month: a state pension paid for life meets the Pensionado rule. A comfortable life usually needs more; build a budget from your own rent on the cost of living page.
Is Argentina safe for retirees?
The US State Department rates Argentina Level 1, exercise normal precautions.
Do I pay tax in Argentina on my pension?
Yes. Tax residents pay income tax on worldwide income, including a foreign pension, at 5% to 35%, with a credit for income tax paid abroad. You become tax resident from your 13th month living in Argentina. US citizens still file a US return, and Argentina has no income tax treaty with the US.
Can Americans retire in Argentina?
Yes. Retirees of any nationality apply for temporary residence as a pensioner with a pension of at least 5 minimum wages a month, ARS 1,956,000 from October 2026, and can apply for permanent residence after 3 years. Social Security can be paid by direct deposit into a bank in Argentina.
What should retirees know about Argentina before moving?
The income threshold is set in pesos and follows the minimum wage, which rises every month. Foreign pensions are taxed once you are resident, from the 13th month, and since 2025 foreigners need health insurance for routine care at national public hospitals.
Where do retirees live in Argentina?
Mostly Buenos Aires, the capital, and the cities of Córdoba, Mendoza and San Carlos de Bariloche. Buenos Aires and Córdoba have JCI-accredited hospitals, Hospital Universitario Austral and Sanatorio Allende.
