Chile is once
again cheap for Argentines
. In clothing, appliances, technology and, especially, in some foods that in Argentina triple the trans-Andean price, such as
tuna
.
The thermometer of how much products have risen in Argentina can be seen at the borders, which were collapsed during the days of Holy Week.
Not even the delays of up to
10 hours to cross the Andes mountain range
, from Mendoza to the Chilean coast, stopped the travel boom to the trans-Andean country.
At the mountain crossing with Mendoza, the main corridor from the Atlantic to the Pacific, travelers to Chile quadrupled.
More than 35 thousand people in three days.
From 3 thousand people passing through customs per day at the beginning of March, to 14 thousand on Good Friday and another 20 thousand, between Wednesday and Tuesday.
The prices and quantity of supply in Chile, which has
free trade agreements with all world powers
, make it a regional shopping destination.
Argentines who cross into Chile take the opportunity to shop at the supermarket cheaper than in Argentina.
It is surprising to arrive at a supermarket and see that there are many products that cost 1 dollar or less, such as long-life milk, for 90 cents on a blue dollar.
But tuna is the star product that is a temptation. A can of a well-known supermarket brand costs
$1.40
. And, in a pack of three, it's only
$1 per can
.
"I bought
24 cans of tuna
, I almost have no room in the trunk of the car but it is really much cheaper than in Argentina," says Victoria, who leaves with a car loaded with food and kitchen utensils.
Once again, Chile is more convenient in some products.
Tuna in Argentina rose 317% in one year.
From $907 in 2023 to $3,785 in 2024, according to a comparative study by the consulting firm
Focus Market
.
It is one of the products that make up the imported food basket that will have its tax burden reduced to force its price to drop.
“At this time a measure of this style is warranted. It is not all the products, but products from the basic basket, plus toiletries and diapers. It is to give it a little push so that prices not only stop rising but start falling,” explained Economy Minister Luis Caputo.
The trans-Andean country has free trade agreements and therefore, some products are cheaper.
For now it is known that the import will cover potatoes and bananas, pork, coffee, tuna, cocoa products, insecticides, shampoos, diapers, among other products.
In addition, a reduction in the payment period for imports will be applied, going from four payments in 120 days to a single installment after 30 days.
Outings to eat
In decades, eating in a restaurant and even in a pizzeria or cafeteria in Chile was an expensive treat for Argentines.
In just four months with the devaluation of the Milei government and the increase in average prices above 50%, eating out in Chile costs the same or less than in Argentina.
“A tenderloin with fries and soda costs 7 dollars; “I paid 5.5 dollars for an 8-slice mozzarella pizza,” says Fabian, who traveled with his partner and his 17-year-old daughter from San Luis to Viña del Mar for the Easter holiday. .
Carolina Borsoi (20) and Abril Trovatelli (20) are law students in Mendoza and went shopping at the Parque Arauco shopping complex, in Santiago de Chile.
Carla and Abril, two young people who took advantage of the extra long weekend to shop in Chile.
"It is surprising that
all the toiletries, toothpaste, creams, deodorants, are cheaper than in Mendoza
," describes Carolina.
Some of the offers even have a second or third product for $1 Chilean peso (0.001 dollar).
Some examples are: Skim milk 1L: $850 Chilean pesos (90 cents); smoothie strawberry yogurt 120g: 249 Chilean pesos (20 cents), and a Costanuss chocolate 120g: 1,000 Chilean pesos (80 cents).
Santiago de Chile. special envoy
MG