All costs are in the USD. Read budgeting tips from a recent Buenos Aires alumna: Budgeting in Buenos Aires: Tips & Tricks for Saving Money While Studying Abroad Food & Drink Breakfast at a restaurant $6 - $8 Lunch at a restaurant $15 - $25 Dinner at a restaurant $30 - $45 Soft drink $2 - $3 Coffee $2 - $3 Groceries per week $20 - $30 Housing Toiletries per week $10 - $15 Laundry per week $5 - $7 Social Activity & Entertainment Movie $6 - $9 Theater performance $10 - $30 Museum entry fee $5 - $10 Fitness club membership per week $20 - $45

Currency The Argentine monetary unit is the peso. The peso is divided into 100 centavos. There are coins of 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1, $2, & $5. Paper money starts at 10 pesos. Denominations in the thousands are signified by a (.) rather than a (,). Thus, $1.000 means one thousand pesos and $1,50 means one peso and 50 cents. Check a source such as www.xe.com to confirm the exchange rate before departing for Buenos Aires. www. xoom.com is a money transfer service owned by PayPal and what most students in Buenos Aires use to transfer funds between their home country and Argentina. Please consider using...

Meeting Local People IES Abroad students usually meet Argentines by participating in extracurricular activities, university courses, or through their IES Abroad housing. Remember, meeting people in any new place isn't easy, but if you take advantage of opportunities, including extracurricular activities, you will better enjoy your stay and feel a part of Buenos Aires sooner. Don't wait to begin initiating contact with non-Americans because your time abroad will move quickly! Sports & Fitness Argentines enjoy a variety of sports, especially soccer, basketball, tennis, rugby, polo, and swimming...

Students are able to receive letter-sized mail to the IES Abroad Center. If you are shipping a debit or credit card, we recommend that you disguise it as regular mail (i.e., put it in a birthday card or use a cardboard FedEx or UPS envelope). Mail should be addressed to: IES Abroad Buenos Aires ATTN: Student Name Carlos Pellegrini 1069, Piso 12 C1009ABU Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina We urge family and friends not to ship any packages to you while you are abroad. However, if necessary, packages should be sent to your housing address after you have confirmed with your housing...

Commuting Daily commuting using the city’s extensive public transportation system is a reality for all who live in or near Buenos Aires. Like local students, you will commute to classes, either at the Center or a partner university, using public transportation. Commuting time may take between 20 to 60 minutes depending on the locations of your classes, internships, or other daily responsibilities. Public Transportation Navigating public transportation in Buenos Aires can be a challenge at first. However, with some helpful guides and a little practice, you will quickly learn your way around...

Since Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, winter occurs between April and October, and summer between November and March. Buenos Aires has a temperate climate. Spring temperatures range from 65-75°F. Summer months are very hot and humid (75-95°F) and many people leave the city soon after the end of December for the beaches and mountain resorts. Wintertime is cooler as the temperature range drops to 40-60°F. Also, Argentines generally do not have central heating, so some buildings and homes can be colder than what you're used to. Don’t forget to pack a few sweaters! The winter months tend...

The city of Buenos Aires is the political, economic, and cultural capital of Argentina, with one-third of the country’s 40 million people concentrated in its environs. As the seat of the national government, it is the focus of the public’s most vocal and visible support as well as opposition to government policies. The weekly Mothers’ March at Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada, political posters and graffiti, and well-organized street demonstrations are familiar sites. These events serve as reminders that Argentina’s sense of democracy has been growing stronger since the 1980s. As such...

Voltage and Adapters Argentine electricity operates at 220 volts, 50 Hz, which means you will need to purchase a converter. These can be purchased in Argentina for about USD$10. You can buy a cheap hair dryer, alarm clock, etc., on-site instead of bringing yours with the necessary converters and adapters. You will need adapters to plug dual-voltage appliances into wall outlets. You may find these for approximately USD$5 in Argentina. Please note an adapter only changes the shape of the plug—it does not protect your appliance from burning out due to higher voltage. For more information on...

Amsterdam’s bustling city center is easily accessible by foot or bicycle, with 160 canals, 1,281 bridges, and 90 islands. Founded on Calvinistic principles, today the entrepreneurial spirit of the Dutch culture lives on, as evidenced by its lively arts scene and cafes. The city’s strong work ethic produced a society supportive of Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. The original religious zeal has been transformed into the uniquely Amsterdammer gezellig frame of mind. According to DutchAmsterdam.nl, "Locals and foreigners alike will tell you that the word cannot be translated...

Food & Drink Groceries per week, if you cook every meal at home €80 Breakfast at a restaurant €10-15 Lunch at a restaurant €10-20 Dinner at a restaurant €20-35 Soft drink €3 Coffee €3-5 Housing Key replacement fee (if key is lost, stolen, or damaged) €0-10 (Depending on housing) Local transportation Weekly tram and bus pass €40 Monthly tram and bus pass €100 Bike Rental and lock €50-75 for full term Personal Necessities Toiletries per week €5 Laundry per week €10 (for detergent or other supplies) Social Activity & Entertainment Movie Ticket €14 Concert/Theater performance Varies Museum entry...