Money in Argentina: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping

Argentina's currency is the Argentine peso, written $ and coded ARS. In mid-2026 the market rate sits around ARS 1,450–1,600 per US dollar — check before you fly, because the number moves and old guidebooks are useless here. Inflation has slowed but prices still drift upward through the year, so treat every peso figure you read as a snapshot.

Argentina is no longer a cheap destination. Buenos Aires and Patagonia now sit close to southern Europe on food, hotels and transport. The site's country figures put a backpacker day at US$55–80, mid-range at US$130–220 and comfort at US$300+, with Patagonia running 20–40% above the capital. A parrilla steak dinner with wine is US$30–60 per person; coffee and medialunas US$4–7; an empanada US$1.50–3.

Cards are now the easy answer. Most currency controls, including the old 'cepo', ended in April 2025, and foreign Visa and Mastercard purchases in pesos are converted near the market rate. The tourist surcharges that once made cards a bad deal for visitors no longer apply to foreign cards — check, since rules in Argentina can change with little notice. Tap-to-pay works in supermarkets, chain cafés, hotels and most restaurants in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and the Patagonian towns.

Cash still matters at the edges. Small kiosks, some taxis, rural stalls, market vendors and a few family-run hostels prefer pesos in hand, and some will offer a discount for efectivo (cash) or a bank transfer. Ask before you pay rather than assuming. Keep a few thousand pesos on you for the day and don't carry large sums.

Bring some clean, unmarked US$50 and US$100 notes. Casas de cambio in Buenos Aires and other cities accept them, and a crisp note gets a better rate than a torn or written-on one. You can also change pesos back at the airport, though the rate is worse.

ATMs are the weak point. Foreign-card withdrawals carry a fixed fee of roughly US$10–15 per transaction and a low per-withdrawal cap, so a single visit rarely gives you much. Withdraw rarely and take the maximum each time, or skip ATMs altogether and bring dollars to change. Bank branches in city centres are more reliable than street machines, and machines run out of cash on weekends and holidays.

Casas de cambio are the standard place to change dollars, and in Buenos Aires and Mendoza there are many. Compare two or three before committing, count your pesos before leaving the counter, and ask for a receipt. Never change money with someone approaching you on the street.

For larger sums, a bank transfer or a card payment is simpler than carrying cash. Some hotels and tour operators quote a lower price for a transfer from an Argentine account; if you don't have one, ask whether a card payment gets the same rate. Western Union and similar transfer services are widely used by locals and visitors — check current limits and ID requirements before relying on them.

Tipping in Argentina is straightforward and modest. In restaurants, 10% is the norm, left in cash on the table even when you pay the bill by card — the tip usually goes to the server, not through the till. Check whether a service charge (servicio) is already on the bill; if it is, you can round up instead. Cafés and bars follow the same 10% habit for table service.

For taxis and ride-hailing, rounding up to the nearest convenient amount is normal; a 10% tip is generous but not expected. Hotel housekeeping gets a small amount per day, and porters a small note per bag. Tour guides and drivers on day trips are usually tipped at the end of the day, more for a full-day private tour than a short group walk. Spa and salon staff take about 10%.

Keep small peso notes for tips. Coins are scarce and low-value notes are useful for rounding up. If you pay a restaurant bill entirely by card and leave no cash, staff may not see anything extra, so carry a few notes for this purpose.

Tell your bank you are travelling, and carry two cards from different networks in case one is blocked. Contactless is common in cities, but keep a physical card for machines that need a chip and PIN. Keep your card in sight when paying; skimming happens in tourist areas, as it does anywhere.

Prices are quoted in pesos almost everywhere, though some hotels and tour operators in Patagonia and Buenos Aires price in US dollars. If a price is in dollars, you can often pay in dollars or in pesos at the day's rate — ask which is cheaper. National park entries, such as Los Glaciares and Iguazú, are paid in pesos and cost foreign adults roughly US$30–45 — check, as fees are updated through the year.

Keep a small amount of pesos for the airport, bus stations and national parks, where card machines can be offline. If you are heading to Patagonia or the northwest, stock up in the nearest city: smaller towns have fewer ATMs and change money less readily.

Argentina's currency rules have shifted repeatedly in recent years, so confirm the current position close to your trip. The end of most controls in April 2025 made foreign cards competitive with cash for the first time in years, but exchange-rate policy, card surcharges and ATM fees can all be adjusted at short notice. Check your card network's page and a current news source a week before departure.

If a rule changes while you are there, the practical response is the same: pay by card where accepted, keep a modest amount of pesos for small vendors, and change dollars only at a licensed casa de cambio or bank. Do not chase a better rate on the street.