End of Shopping Tourism: Why Traveling for Electronics No Longer Makes Sense

For a long time, traveling to Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, or Uruguay to buy technology was a common strategy among Argentines. The exchange rate gap, high local prices, and restrictions on accessing dollars made it justifiable to purchase a cell phone, a computer, or a console, leading to what was known as shopping tourism.

However, that reality has begun to change, as greater access to the currency market and the easing of international purchases allow consumers to obtain foreign products without leaving the country. Nevertheless, Argentine prices still reflect differences compared to some regional markets.

The Impact of Tariff Removal on E-commerce

One of the factors that altered the equation was the simplification of the regime for making personal purchases abroad. The changes reduced paperwork and equated certain conditions between shipments made through Correo Argentino and courier services.

Under the new scheme, shipments of up to USD 400 come with a franchise that makes them exempt from import duties. This allows part of the price differences with neighboring countries to be directly leveraged through international platforms.

The change is already reflected in the numbers; courier imports reached USD 125 million in June, while in the first half of the year, they totaled USD 643 million, a year-on-year growth of 104.2%. Additionally, consumers can now access the currency market more easily, allowing for international purchases to be resolved online and products to be delivered directly to their homes.

While it is true that this does not mean local prices have equaled international ones, it remains advantageous because the potential savings from traveling must be compared to ticket prices, fuel, accommodation, meals, and the time spent traveling.

Why Technology Prices Remain Higher in the Local Market

Argentina still has some of the highest prices in the region for technological products. One reason is the tax burden accumulated during various stages of commercialization. Chile has a different structure, as it has lower tax pressure on these operations, does not apply taxes equivalent to Gross Income or the Tax on Debits and Credits, and has years of free trade agreements that reduce costs for importing technology.

The differences can be clearly seen in certain products; for example, an iPhone 17 Pro Max with 256 GB costs USD 2,112 in Argentina, but in Chile, it can be found for USD 1,473, a 43.4% difference. In other cases, the disparity is even greater, as an LG NanoCell 85-inch Smart TV costs USD 2,508 in Argentina and USD 968 in Chile, a difference of 159%.

However, this is not the case for all technology. A 13-inch MacBook Air with an M4 chip and 256 GB is priced at USD 1,716 in the Argentine market, compared to USD 1,657 in Chile and USD 1,457 in Paraguay. In Brazil, its value is even higher than in Argentina. The same applies to the PlayStation 5 Slim with 1 TB, which costs USD 1,063 in Argentina, nearly the same as in Uruguay and close to the prices in Brazil and Paraguay.

Argentina vs. Chile: Which Products Still Justify Crossing the Border

Chile remains one of the most competitive markets in the region, especially for products where the price difference far exceeds the costs necessary to make the trip. In addition to the iPhone and high-end televisions, a Nintendo Switch OLED costs USD 660 in Argentina and USD 369 in Chile, a gap of 78.9%.

The second-generation Lenovo Tab P11 is priced at USD 462 in Argentina compared to USD 246 in Chile, an 87.8% increase in the local market. Therefore, traveling may still make sense for those living near the border or looking to purchase high-value devices. For example, for someone in Mendoza, the trip to Chile involves a very different expense than for someone traveling from Buenos Aires.

High-end cell phones, some laptops, televisions, and certain devices with significant price gaps continue to be cases where the math may favor traveling. However, when the differences are small, buying from Argentina or resorting to international e-commerce may be more convenient once accommodation, transportation, and other expenses are included.

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