Housing & Real Estate in El Calafate
Everything you need to know about housing & real estate as an expat in El Calafate. Locations, tips, costs, and local insights.
Overview
Finding apartments, rental agencies, and real estate services for expats.
Rental market operates in USD for long-term contracts. Short-term rentals in pesos. Guarantor (garantía) often required - expats use seguro de caución instead.
Specific to El Calafate:
- • Rental prices in El Calafate are significantly lower than Buenos Aires. More inventory available in local peso contracts.
Recommended Providers
ZonaProp
Largest rental portal
Argenprop
Major real estate portal
Properati
Property search engine
Mercado Libre (Properties)
Classified listings
Airbnb
Short-term furnished rentals
Tips for Expats
- Use seguro de caución instead of garantía (guarantor)
- Long-term contracts typically in USD
- Short-term in pesos with monthly adjustments
- Photos can be outdated - visit in person
- Use reputable agencies for contracts
Costs
Studio: $400-700 USD | 1BR: $600-1,000 USD | 2BR: $800-1,500 USD (monthly)
Documents Needed
- DNI (or passport for temporary)
- Proof of income
- Seguro de caución (surety bond) or garantía
- Previous rental references (helpful)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a garantía?
A property owner who guarantees your rent. Expats typically can't provide this. Instead, use 'seguro de caución' (surety insurance) costing 1-1.5 months rent annually.
Should I rent in USD or pesos?
Long-term contracts are typically in USD (more stable). Short-term can be in pesos but will adjust monthly for inflation.