A Buenos Aires family needed more than $ 235,000 to be considered “middle class”

A typical family, made up of two elderly people and two children, one of 9 and another of 6, living in the city of Buenos Aires required an income higher than $ 235,188 in December to be considered “middle class”, which the daily cost of living for a typical family is equivalent to about $ 7,587. according to the baskets reported by the General Directorate of Statistics and Censuses of CABA (DGEyC). In line with the inflationary slowdown in food, the total basic basket increased below the inflation rate measured by the DGEyC for that month, of 5.8%, but more than food that increased by 4.9%. Since January, the income needed to reach that socioeconomic level has increased 90%. Meanwhile, in order not to be considered poor, a typical family needed $ 152,962 per month, while those who exceed $ 188,150 per month but do not reach $ 235,188 per month are considered “fragile middle sector”. The monthly report of the statistics institute establishes a social stratification based on socioeconomic levels: In a situation of indigence: households whose total monthly income is not enough to cover the Basic Food Basket (CBA – Indigence Line). In December, families who did not receive $83,373 per month were considered indigent. In a situation of non-indigent poverty: households whose total monthly income is not enough to cover the Total Basic Basket (CBT – Poverty Line), but allows at least the CBA to be acquired. The income range for this stratum was between $83,373 and $152,962 per month.- Vulnerable non-poor: households whose total monthly income is at least CBT and does not reach the Total Basket (TC) of the Consumption Basket System. They earn between $ 152,963 and $ 188,150 per month.- Fragile middle sector: households whose total monthly income is at least the TC and does not reach 1.25 times the TC of the Consumer Basket System. They receive monthly income between $ 188,151 and $ 235,188.- Middle sector “middle class”: households whose total monthly income is at least 1.25 times the TC and does not reach four times the TC of the Consumer Basket System. They earn between $ 235,189 and $ 752,602 per month.- Affluent sector: households whose monthly income is four times or more the TC of the Consumer Basket System. It’s income of $752,603 a month or more. The DGEyC published the data of the report of Poverty Lines and Consumption Baskets for the City of Buenos Aires of December 2022. The report, among other data, establishes the updated criteria that the district takes to delimit socioeconomic levels based on income level.

Original source in Spanish