Embrace the Adventure: Teaching English in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Why Buenos Aires?

Maybe it’s the late-night energy, the café culture, the affordability, or the sheer size and spirit of the place. Buenos Aires has a way of turning a short visit into something more. Whatever the reason, a lot of travellers find themselves wanting to stick around. It’s a city that feels alive and accessible, and where there’s space to find your feet if you’re thinking about a longer-term adventure. Whether you’ve just arrived with a backpack or you’ve been on the road a while, it’s the kind of place that invites you to stay and maybe even start building a career while you’re here!

Part of what makes Buenos Aires so captivating is its rich mix of cultures and contradictions. Often called the “Paris of South America,” the city blends grand European architecture with Latin American grit and flair. Its history is shaped by waves of immigration, mostly from Italy and Spain, and you can feel that influence in everything from the food to the language to the famously passionate spirit of the people. Spend an afternoon exploring the cobbled streets of San Telmo, catch a tango show in La Boca, or lose hours in the bookshops and cafés of Palermo — there’s a sense of story and rhythm everywhere you go. It’s a city with deep cultural roots and a love of conversation, making it a surprisingly easy place to connect, explore, and live.

English Teaching Jobs In Buenos Aires

The most common employer for a foreign English language teacher in Buenos Aires is a private language school or language academy. Some of these will organise classes with groups of adults, teenagers and children, but it's also very common for them to have contracts with local businesses and send their teachers to various workplaces to teach corporate clients. There are also a lot of students looking for private tutoring and many, if not all, language teachers in Argentina will supplement their income like this. Online teaching is the fastest growing area of language teaching around and if you can find better paying clients online, this can often help to bring your income up above the wages available from local employers.

How much do English teachers get paid in Buenos Aires?

Argentina is undergoing a period of high inflation and unstable economic conditions. This means that the cost of living is high and wages don't always keep up with this. It is of course possible to make a living as an English teacher there, but it's important to research carefully. Some jobs will offer as little as $600 a month and it's probably not realistic that you would be able to live on this. Others will offer more and most people will make a living by combining private and online tutoring with a job in a school. Of course there are schools that pay better rates, up to a much more comfortable $1000 or even $1200 a month, but these are rarer.

Do you need to know Spanish to teach English in Buenos Aires?

No, it's not necessary to speak Spanish to teach English in Buenos Aires. Of course, it's an advantage, and your social and personal life in Argentina will be a lot easier if you have at least some Spanish, so I would absolutely recommend taking the bull by the horns and learning a little before you go, and continuing to learn while you're there, but even if you speak no Spanish at all, you can secure teaching work in Argentinian language schools.

Can you teach English in Argentina without a degree?

Argentina, like most South American countries, doesn't have a specific visa type for foreign teachers. If you want to teach in Asia, there are usually very specific requirements for English teachers to get a visa in terms of degrees and qualifications, but not in Argentina. Language teaching institutes will hire teachers with an array of qualifications, but a CELTA is definitely the most widely recognised and the most likely to get you a job interview.

Finding A Job In Other Argentinian Cities

While Buenos Aires is the most popular destination for new English teachers, it’s not the only option, and in some ways, it might not even be the easiest. Cities like Rosario, Córdoba, and Mar del Plata often have less competition for jobs, making it more straightforward to find teaching work soon after arriving in the country. These cities may not have quite the same buzz as the capital, but they offer a slower pace of life, smaller expat communities, and significantly lower living costs.

Rosario, Argentina’s third-largest city, sits on the Paraná River and has a lively arts and music scene, plus a reputation for being a bit more relaxed and friendly than the capital. Rent prices in Rosario are approximately 57% lower than in Buenos Aires. Córdoba, a university city surrounded by stunning sierras, has a big student population and so there are language institutes looking for teachers, and it's a great spot if you’re into hiking or weekend getaways. Then there’s Mar del Plata, the country’s most famous beach resort, which offers plenty of seasonal work, especially in summer, and a more laid-back, coastal pace of life.

All of these cities come with significantly lower living costs than Buenos Aires, meaning your money goes further, rent is cheaper, and it’s often easier to live comfortably even on a new teacher’s salary. With smaller expat crowds, you might also find yourself speaking Spanish more, making local friends, and settling into Argentine life more deeply than you would in the capital.

Living in Buenos Aires: What to Expect

Living in Buenos Aires can be exhilarating, but it’s also a city of contrasts: fast-paced and full of life, yet sometimes chaotic and unpredictable. Daily life tends to start late and stretch into the early hours, with people eating dinner around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., and public spaces buzzing until well past midnight. If you're coming from a more structured or early-rising culture, that adjustment can take time, but it’s also part of the charm.

On a practical level, expect a mix of old and new: gorgeous Belle Époque buildings next to decaying facades, efficient public transport routes side by side with outdated infrastructure. The Subte (underground) and bus networks are cheap and extensive, but they can get packed during rush hour. Topping up your SUBE card (used for all public transport) is essential and sometimes a bit of a scavenger hunt. You can purchase and recharge your SUBE card at Subte stations, kiosks, and other authorized locations throughout the city.

Prices are in flux due to ongoing inflation, but recent figures suggest a basic lunch costs around $5–7 USD, and utilities (including electricity, heating, and internet) might total $60–100 USD per month depending on usage and location. Foreign currency (particularly USD or euros) goes a long way here, especially if exchanged through the “dólar blue” rate, which many expats use to stretch their budget.

Culturally, Porteños (as locals are called) are known for their openness and intensity — people often speak loudly, gesticulate passionately, and aren't afraid to ask personal questions early on. It can feel overwhelming at first, but also incredibly warm. Saying hello with a cheek kiss (even between men) is the norm, and small talk about politics, football, or your thoughts on mate will usually earn you points.

Tips for Getting Started with Teaching English in Buenos Aires

1. Get a CELTA: While a bachelor's degree isn't mandatory, you will be competing for jobs with CELTA-qualified teachers, so it's a must!

2. Understand Visa Requirements: Many teachers enter Argentina on a 90-day tourist visa, which can be renewed by briefly leaving and re-entering the country. Immigration laws are being overhauled at the moment, so keep an eye on your local Argentinian embassy's website. You should ask your employer for help with getting a visa that will allow you to work once you have secured employment as it's illegal to work on a tourist visa.

3. Job Hunting: Unlike Europe or Asia, jobs in Latin America aren't often advertised on websites like www.tefl.com, though it is worth keeping an eye out just in case. You can contact schools directly - there are lists on websites like www.eslbase.com. Most jobs are offered in person and online applications and interviews are relatively rare for teaching jobs in Buenos Aires, so be ready to travel there as a tourist in order to make contacts with language schools and find employment.

4. Prepare Financially: Make sure you have some savings to cover initial expenses, including accommodation, transport, and daily necessities, until you receive your first paycheque.

5. Familiarize Yourself with Local Resources: Use platforms like BAExpats to connect with the expatriate community and gain insights into living and working in Buenos Aires.

Embarking on a journey to teach English in Buenos Aires offers more than just employment; it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in a vibrant culture, develop meaningful relationships, and experience personal growth. The city's dynamic atmosphere, coupled with the chance to make a tangible impact on students' lives, makes it a fulfilling destination for teachers. While challenges like economic fluctuations exist, the enriching experiences and memories you'll create are invaluable.

Apply for a CELTA

About the author:

Dr Connor O'Donoghue hails from Ireland and he started teaching English as a foreign language in Poland in 2003 and he became a CELTA trainer in 2008. He has taught and trained in Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, Slovenia, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam. Connor also holds a Masters and a PhD in Education from Trinity College in Dublin. He has previously managed large teacher training centres in Vietnam and in London before founding DC Teacher Training.