I follow a lot of expat sites and blogs, and the consensus has been lately that teaching English in Buenos Aires just doesn’t pay the bills. I’ve got some thoughts on that. Back around 2002 it was probably fairly easy to just teach English and do well, but nowadays with the galloping inflation it isn’t so easy.
Pay for a native English speaker teaching at an institute tops out around 25 pesos an hour. Most schools will offer around 20. Private tutoring and lessons are more lucrative, but are very hard to come by and the competition is fierce. The school I’m teaching at pays 25 pesos an hour (little more than $8 USD). Hours vary, but I’ll probably end up with around 20-25 a week once I really get going. If I work 25 hours a week at 25 pesos, I’ll be making 2500 pesos (about $833 USD) a month. Princely living this isn’t.
All in all though, it can definitely be done. I’m living in an admittedly more expensive area of the city (I like the nightlife, what can I say?), but if you split an apartment with a roomie and make an effort to cook at home or eat at restaurants only for lunch, you can do fine. I’ve been bleeding some money these first two months, but that’s because I was establishing my budget and where I’ll be working. If you bring some savings down, you can definitely enjoy yourself.
I promise to return to my regular adventures next post, but I was tired of seeing all these people telling students my age that it can’t be done. It can be done, and I’m doing it. So if you’re reading this and debating whether or not to take the plunge, go for it!
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Yeah man, I know you’ll get it done! I’ve been bleeding money as well… definitely know what that is like. It’s tough at first, but once you get a routine going, things will straighten out.
See you before you know it!