Housing costs delay independence for youth in Argentina and US

Rising housing costs and economic instability are delaying independence for young adults in Argentina and the United States. In Argentina, young people are increasingly staying in their parental homes until their late 20s. In Buenos Aires, the proportion of renters has risen to 36%, while homeownership has declined. Factors contributing to this trend include high rental prices, high levels of informal employment—affecting approximately 57% of youth nationwide—and wages that fail to cover the cost of living.

Similarly, in the Miami metropolitan area, a phenomenon described as ‘shadow buyers’ has emerged. These are employed adults aged 25 to 39 who live with their parents despite having the potential to purchase property on paper. In Miami, 5.8% of households include these individuals, one of the highest rates in the U.S. The median salary for this demographic in Miami is approximately $33,600, which is insufficient to sustain a typical mortgage. Economic data indicates that nearly half of adults under 30 were living with parents in 2025, a significant increase from 2019.