Buenos Aires household utility bills jump 20% above inflation in June

A report by the IIEP Observatory of Tariffs and Subsidies shows that the average household in Argentina’s Greater Buenos Aires (AMBA) spent AR$282,758 in June on energy, transport and water, a 10.1% rise from May. The total services basket was 20 percentage points higher than the consumer price index (CPI) for the same period, which was estimated at a 34% annual increase.

The biggest driver was gas, where the fixed charge rose 4.4% and the variable component 2.2%, leading to a 23.4% jump in the gas bill. Electricity tariffs also rose, with fixed charges up 4.7% and variables 1.6%, while transport costs grew 5.7% month‑on‑month and are up 75% year‑on‑year. Since the start of Javier Milei’s administration in December 2023, the AMBA services basket has increased 919%, far outpacing the 236% rise in overall prices. Public services now account for 58% of household expenses, representing about 15% of the average salary and allowing families to afford roughly 6.8 such baskets, down from eight a year earlier.