A family of four in Greater Buenos Aires needed 1,632,505 pesos in September 2026 to stay above the poverty line, according to the [INDEC](https://www.indec.gob.ar/uploads/informesdeprensa/canasta_10_26DA5CEEFE06.pdf) report published on October 13. To avoid extreme poverty, the same family needed 738,690 pesos. The total basic basket (CBT), which sets the poverty line, rose 1.7% in the month, less than inflation of 1.9%, and 38.7% over twelve months.
How much was needed in September to avoid poverty
| Household | Basic food basket (extreme poverty) | Total basic basket (poverty) |
|---|---|---|
| Equivalent adult | 239,058 pesos | 528,319 pesos |
| Household of 3 | 588,083 pesos | 1,299,664 pesos |
| Household of 4 | 738,690 pesos | 1,632,505 pesos |
| Household of 5 | 776,939 pesos | 1,717,036 pesos |
The household of three is a 35-year-old woman, her 18-year-old son and her 61-year-old mother. The household of four is a 35-year-old man, a 31-year-old woman and two children aged 6 and 8. The household of five is a couple aged 30 and three children aged 1, 3 and 5. That is how INDEC defines them.
How much the basket rose
| Change | Food basket (CBA) | Total basket (CBT) |
|---|---|---|
| September vs. August | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| Year to date 2026 | 25.3% | 24.7% |
| 12 months | 40.0% | 38.7% |
Headline inflation in September was 1.9%, with 23.6% year to date and 33.4% year on year, INDEC reported, according to Canal 26. So far in 2026 the poverty basket has risen slightly more than the CPI, and the food basket considerably more: over twelve months, basic food rose more than six points above headline inflation.
How the basket changed month by month in 2026
| Month of 2026 | CBT, household of 4 | Monthly change |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,360,299 pesos | 3.9% |
| February | 1,397,672 pesos | 2.7% |
| March | 1,434,464 pesos | 2.6% |
| April | 1,469,768 pesos | 2.5% |
| May | 1,498,741 pesos | 2.0% |
| June | 1,531,473 pesos | 2.2% |
| July | 1,564,716 pesos | 2.2% |
| August | 1,605,497 pesos | 2.6% |
| September | 1,632,505 pesos | 1.7% |
The amounts come from table 2 of the INDEC report, rounded to the peso. September had the smallest monthly rise of the year: it is the first time in 2026 that the total basket rose less than 2%. To compare with previous years, see inflation in Argentina year by year since 1998.
What the basic basket is and how it is calculated
- Basic food basket (CBA): the food an adult man aged 30 to 60 with moderate activity needs to meet his calorie and protein requirements for a month. Its value sets the extreme poverty line.
- Total basic basket (CBT): the CBA plus non-food goods and services such as transport, health, clothing and education. It sets the poverty line.
- Engel coefficient: the CBT is obtained by multiplying the CBA by the ratio of total spending to food spending in a reference population.
- Equivalent adult: each household member is converted into a fraction of an adult according to age and sex. For example, a 31-year-old woman counts as 0.77 and a 6-year-old boy as 0.64.
The food composition was defined with the 1996/97 National Household Expenditure Survey and validated with the 2004/05 survey, INDEC explains in its methodological note. The values are for Greater Buenos Aires.
How many minimum wages are needed to avoid poverty
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage, October 2026 | 391,200 pesos |
| Poverty basket, household of 4 | 1,632,505 pesos |
| Minimum wages needed | About 4.2 |
| Extreme poverty basket, household of 4 | 738,690 pesos |
| Minimum wages needed | About 1.9 |
The minimum wage is the one reported by El Cronista. The comparison uses the October minimum wage and the September basket, so it is only a reference. To see how Argentina's minimum wage ranks in the region, see the minimum wage ranking in Latin America.
What comes next
INDEC publishes the basic basket every month together with the CPI. The poverty rate, by contrast, is reported every six months using the Permanent Household Survey. October's basket figure will be released in mid-November.
How much it rose in a year
| Household of 4 | September 2025 | September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food basket (extreme poverty) | 527,736 pesos | 738,690 pesos | +40.0% |
| Total basket (poverty) | 1,176,852 pesos | 1,632,505 pesos | +38.7% |
In a year, the poverty line for a typical family rose by about 455,650 pesos. The values come from tables 1 and 2 of the INDEC report.
How each household's basket is calculated
| Household | Members and their equivalence | Total equivalent adults |
|---|---|---|
| Household 1 | Woman aged 35 (0.77), son aged 18 (1.02) and mother aged 61 (0.67) | 2.46 |
| Household 2 | Man aged 35 (1), woman aged 31 (0.77), son aged 6 (0.64) and daughter aged 8 (0.68) | 3.09 |
| Household 3 | Man and woman aged 30 (1 and 0.77) and children aged 1, 3 and 5 (0.37, 0.51 and 0.60) | 3.25 |
To calculate the basket for any household, add up the equivalences of its members using INDEC's table and multiply the total by the equivalent-adult value: 239,058 pesos for the food basket and 528,319 pesos for the total basket in September.
Basic basket and poverty: not the same thing
The basket says how much money a household needs to avoid poverty. The share of people in poverty comes from comparing that basket with the income households report in the Permanent Household Survey, which INDEC reports every six months. So even if the basket rises less than wages in a given month, official poverty is only known from the half-yearly report.
Frequently asked questions
How much did a family need to avoid poverty in September 2026?
1,632,505 pesos for a household of four, according to INDEC.
What is the extreme poverty line?
738,690 pesos for a household of four, and 239,058 pesos per equivalent adult.
How much did the basic basket rise in September?
1.7%, both the food and the total basket.
Did the basket rise more than inflation?
In the month, no: 1.7% against 1.9%. Year to date, yes: 24.7% against 23.6%.
What is the difference between the CBA and the CBT?
The CBA includes only food and sets the extreme poverty line; the CBT adds other spending and sets the poverty line.
