Argentina housing: Rental prevalence and rising construction costs

In Buenos Aires, approximately one in three households—between 425,000 and 500,000 homes—resides in rental properties. This significant portion of the population faces potential legal shifts following the introduction of the Ley de Inviolabilidad Privada to the Chamber of Deputies. Concerns have been raised by legal experts, including Maximiliano Vittar of Inquilinos Agrupados, regarding new expropriation and eviction provisions that could expand the ability of various parties to initiate legal actions and potentially equate different types of occupants during eviction processes.

Simultaneously, the cost of building new housing remains a significant economic challenge. In Buenos Aires, constructing a 100-square-meter home is estimated to cost $228,617,063, according to Apymeco. Based on average net salaries, it would take approximately 143.76 monthly incomes—or nearly 12 years of dedicated earnings—to cover construction costs. In Mendoza, the cost per square meter for medium-quality housing is approximately $1,969,800. While construction cost increases have recently trailed general inflation, labor and material costs continue to drive upward pressure on the sector.