Detailed comparison
| Side-by-side comparison of taxation, cost of living and scores between the two countries. |  France | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | ||
| Dividend tax | 35%Scale5-35% | 31.4%, Edge to this country |
| Capital gains tax | 15%, Edge to this country | 31.4% |
| Corporate tax | 35% | 25%, Edge to this country |
| Wealth tax | Yes (Bienes Personales), progressive rates from 0.5% to 1.75% on worldwide net assets | Yes, IFI (real estate only) |
| Direct inheritance | 0%, Edge to this country | 45%Scale5-45% |
| Cost and real estate | ||
| Monthly FIRE budget | €1,300, Edge to this country | €2,700 |
| Cost-of-living score | 93.9, Edge to this country | 38.5 |
| Reference city | Buenos Aires | Paris |
| City-center 2-bed rent | €500, Edge to this country | €2,450 |
| Safety and FIRE score | ||
| Insecurity | 1.8, Edge to this country | 2.0 |
| FIRE Ultimate V3 score | 86.1, Edge to this country | 64.6 |
Verdict
- Argentina wins on cost of living (an index near 32 against an expensive France), on direct-line inheritance (0% federal against up to 45% in France), and on the purchasing power of euro income in Buenos Aires.
- France keeps the edge on monetary stability (the euro against a peso at roughly 50% volatility), a solid public health system, and the absence of an annual tax on financial wealth, where Bienes Personales taxes foreign ETFs every year.
- Verdict: Argentina is a lifestyle bet for a mobile FIRE retiree able to keep wealth out of the peso; France remains safer for anyone wanting predictability and a large financial portfolio shielded from a wealth tax.
Frequently asked questions about this duel
Is Argentina less taxed than France for a rentier?
Not mechanically. On capital income, Argentina can be lighter than the French 31.4% flat tax, with foreign capital gains at 15%. But Bienes Personales, the worldwide wealth tax (a decreasing scale capped at about 1% in 2025 then 0.75% in 2026), hits the portfolio every year, which France does not do on financial assets. The advantage depends on the size and composition of your wealth.
Is inheritance gentler in Argentina than in France?
At the federal level, yes: inheritance in the direct line is 0% in Argentina, against a scale that can reach 45% in France after the €100,000 per-child allowance. Be careful, however: some Argentine provinces, including Buenos Aires, levy their own inheritance duties.
Does the Argentine peso cancel out the cost-of-living advantage?
For a resident paid in pesos, the risk is real: volatility of roughly 50% and inflation around 32% in 2025. For a French FIRE retiree living on euro income, the cost-of-living advantage holds, provided wealth is kept out of the peso and converted only as you spend.