6 Reasons Why Living in Buenos Aires is like Being in a Toxic Relationship

You know it’s bad for you. You hear that voice inside your head telling you no. You know you should walk away. But something keeps pulling you back. Buenos Aires is like that toxic partner we just can’t quit. Living in this city is like being caught up in a whirlwind romance-  exhilarating, exhausting, and impossible to resist. Here’s why living in Buenos Aires is (slightly) toxic: 

Buenos Aires doesn’t know what sleep is, and neither will you. Dinners start at 10 PM, and by the time you finish, the party’s just starting.  Before you know it, you’ll find yourself in the boliches until the sun comes up. The city’s energy is infectious, keeping you on your feet even when you know you should be resting.Sleep is overrated, anyways. 

In Buenos Aires, time is a fluid concept—it can feel like the city is gaslighting your entire perception of it. You think the bus will arrive “soon,” but soon can stretch into what feels like hours. You plan to meet friends for a casual dinner at 8, but somehow end up strolling home at 4 AM, wondering if time moves differently here. Even making plans feels like entering a parallel universe where nothing is set in stone.

Your friend texts, “I’m on my way,” but what they really mean is they’re still deciding what shoes to wear. You show up on time, but end up wondering if you misunderstood what time was supposed to mean. Here, punctuality isn’t about sticking to the clock—it’s more about vibing with the flow of the day.

And it doesn’t stop there. Making plans is like trying to keep up with plot twists. One minute you’re set to meet up in Plaza Serrano, and the next, everyone has vanished into thin air. It’s not ghosting, though—it’s just the Buenos Aires way of life. Plans change, people juggle a thousand options, and sometimes your hangout gets bumped for a spontaneous siesta. But don’t worry—they’ll pop back up at the next asado, acting like nothing ever happened. Eventually, you’ll get the hang of it too, learning that in Buenos Aires, plans are more like a loose suggestion, and actually nailing them down is like trying to catch smoke.

Buenos Aires knows how to make you feel like you’re missing out if you’re not constantly part of the action. The city’s social life is a never-ending: a pop-up art gallery here, a craft brewery there, a spontaneous outdoor concert around the corner, or an international DJ in town with their latest hits. The fear of missing out is real, and Buenos Aires thrives on keeping you hooked, always wondering what amazing thing you might be missing. Staying in feels wrong here. As you stay home with your book in hand, you start to feel restless, imagining friends having the time of their lives without you, and before you know it. All of a sudden you’re back on the streets, searching for that next unforgettable moment. The city makes you feel like there’s always something happening that you can’t afford to miss, pulling you back into its vibrant, chaotic embrace every time you try to take a step back.

Buenos Aires doesn’t just watch telenovelas—it lives in one. With main character energy, the city is dramatic. From political protests that turn streets into arenas to the city erupting over a fútbol match as if it were a matter of life and death, Buenos Aires is that person who refuses to go unheard. One day the price of avocados has doubled overnight; the next, your cashier gives you the evil eye for not having change. And heaven help you if you tell the wrong person whether you drink mate amargo or dulce—it could spark an lifelong alliance or a forge a rivalry as strong as River vs. Boca.  In Buenos Aires, drama isn’t an event; it’s a lifestyle.

But the drama doesn’t stop there. Talk about another city, and Buenos Aires is ready to remind you why it’s the one. It doesn’t just want to be loved—it wants to be the only love. The city will constantly make sure you know that nothing else compares to its unique charm. Mention New York’s skyline, and Buenos Aires will point out its Parisian-style streets. Praise São Paulo’s food scene, and Buenos Aires will remind you of its world-famous steak. (Life pro tip to survive here: DO NOT CRITIQUE THE PIZZAS. Just accept them as the gooey, cheesy variations that they are.) Buenos Aires demands loyalty, and it’s not afraid to show its possessive side.

Buenos Aires sweeps you off your feet with spontaneous street music, delicious empanadas, and the thrill of a fútbol match that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger. It’s all laughter, passion, and the buzz of the city that makes you feel alive. But then come the days when the power goes out in the middle of summer, your landlord casually increases the rent without warning, and you find yourself standing in line at the bank for hours just to get some cash because the ATMs are all empty.

These are the moments when Buenos Aires tests your patience, leaving you frustrated and exhausted. Yet, despite the lows, the highs are so exhilarating that you find yourself coming back for more. Buenos Aires has this magnetic charm that keeps you hooked, no matter how many times it drives you crazy. You learn to ride the waves, embrace the chaos, and find beauty in the unpredictability. After all, the rollercoaster might leave you dizzy and breathless, but it also makes you feel more alive than ever.

Just when you think you’ve had enough of Buenos Aires—the traffic, the chaos, the unpredictability—it finds a way to remind you why you fell in love with it in the first place. It’s the little moments that win you over: the stunning sunset over the Río de la Plata, the soulful music that fills the air on every corner, or a random act of kindness from a stranger. Buenos Aires knows exactly how to pull you back in.

You could be having the worst day, ready to give up on the city, and then you get invited to an impromptu asado with friends, where the camaraderie lifts your spirits and reminds you why you love it here. Or maybe a random stranger starts a deep conversation about life while you’re waiting for the bus, making you see things in a new light. And it’s not until you leave that you realize just how much the city’s energy has gotten under your skin. You find yourself missing the very things that used to drive you crazy—the endless vueltas to make plans,  the vibrant conversations, and even being packed like a sardine in the Subte. Buenos Aires has this way of making you long for its chaos, proving that its charm is impossible to resist.

Buenos Aires is like that toxic partner you can’t quite quit. It’s exhilarating, unpredictable, and sometimes downright exhausting. On the outside, people may look at the chaos—the lateness, the ghosting, the drama—and wonder why anyone would stick around. They might not understand why you would put up with the dando vueltas to make plans, the constant FOMO, or the emotional rollercoaster that is everyday life in the city. They see the frustration, the sleepless nights, and the never-ending noise and think it’s all just too much.

It’s excitement, passion, and unforgettable moments that keep you hooked. Buenos Aires drives you crazy one moment and makes you fall in love the next, late-night conversations, mate in the park, and surprise asado invites. It’s these little moments of magic that make all the chaos worth it. In the end, Argentina is Argentina, with its charm in the mess, beauty in the unpredictability, and love in the imperfections. 

Buenos Aires isn’t just a city; it’s an experience that challenges and changes you, making you feel more alive. It’s the kind of relationship, messy as it may be, that you just can’t walk away from.