Buenos Aires Subway Fares Soar by 360%, Sparking Outrage

Commuters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were met with an abrupt 360% increase in subway fares on Friday, part of President Javier Milei's austere budget plan. The price hike has sparked protests and complaints from residents, exacerbating the already high cost of living in the country.

Commuters in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were hit with a staggering 360% increase in subway fares on Friday, May 17, as part of President Javier Milei's harsh budget austerity campaign. The abrupt price hike has triggered outrage and protests, adding to the already dire economic situation in the country.

After weeks of hearings, a judge on Thursday lifted an order that had temporarily blocked the scheduled increase, paving the way for the change to take effect on Friday morning. The price of a single ride in Buenos Aires more than tripled overnight, from 125 pesos (14 cents) to 574 pesos (64 cents).

Public transportation fares are a sensitive issue across Latin America, where inequality is deeply entrenched. Past subway price hikes have sparked social unrest, such as Chile's 2019 mass protests. The fare increase in Buenos Aires has come at a time when Argentina is grappling with a painful cost of living crisis and persistent hyperinflation.

Commuters expressed their outrage at the sudden and drastic fare increase. "It obviously affects me because it means more money disappears from my salary every day, but the worst part about it is that there is zero investment in the service," said 35-year-old Sofía Acosta. "We commute in terrible conditions, cramped, delayed, and now we are paying more."

President Milei is implementing a radical free-market experiment aimed at rebuilding Argentina's credibility with foreign investors and taming hyperinflation. However, his deregulation and austerity measures have pushed up inflation to 289% annually, among the highest rates in the world, and made life harder for ordinary Argentines.

This is the third time this year that inflationary spikes have hit subway fares, which had been as low as 80 pesos in December. The fare increases are part of Milei's plan to cut federal subsidies for public transportation, forcing city governments to raise costs.

Municipal officials in Buenos Aires announced that fares would reach 650 pesos (73 cents) on June 1, but they would delay a further increase to 757 pesos until August 1 "to minimize the impact on riders' pockets."

The Buenos Aires underground transit system, one of the first to be built in the world, was once a symbol of the city's early 20th-century wealth. However, it has fallen into disrepair in recent decades, with commuters complaining of overcrowding, delays, and poor maintenance.

The fare hike has sparked protests and demands for improved service. Commuters have called for increased investment in the subway system to address its deteriorating conditions. They argue that the price increase is unacceptable without corresponding improvements in infrastructure and reliability.

The fare increase in Buenos Aires has also raised concerns about social equity. Low subway fares have long been a boon for residents, especially those forced to commute long distances from the more affordable outskirts of the city. The sudden price hike threatens to exacerbate income disparities and limit access to affordable transportation.