Argentina has seen a significant increase in the cost of living, leading to a rise in poverty indicators. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC), in December 2025, the Total Basic Basket (CBT), which defines the poverty line, increased by 4.1%. For a family of four, the minimum income needed to be above the poverty line was 1,308,713 pesos. On a year-over-year basis, this indicator accumulated an even larger increase of 31.2% throughout 2025. The cost of the Food Basic Basket (CBA), which defines the indigence line, also rose by 4.1% in December. For a single person, the minimum income to avoid indigence was 423,532 pesos. The growth in prices is outpacing the increase in household incomes, including salaries, pensions, and social programs, which exacerbates the social vulnerability of broad sectors of the population. Experts note that this creates a very challenging scenario as 2026 begins.
Rising Poverty in Argentina
The cost of living in Argentina has reached a critical level, leading to a sharp increase in poverty indicators. INDEC data shows that for a family of four, the minimum income to escape the poverty line was over 1.3 million pesos in December, and this figure rose by 31.2% year-over-year.
