Cards work almost everywhere in Buenos Aires now, but cash in pesos still gets you discounts of up to 15%. Bring clean US$100 bills, change a little at a time, and budget around US$100 a day for food, transport and small things if you travel solo.
Check the US$100 a day against your latest receipts.
Card or cash?
A few years ago paying by card in Argentina meant losing money on a terrible exchange rate. That’s over. Today foreign Visa and Mastercard get almost the same rate as cash, and most cafés, restaurants and shops in the city take cards and contactless payments, including your phone.
Cash still matters, though. Many places all over the country only take pesos or local transfers (transferencia) that you can’t use with a foreign bank account. And a lot of businesses give a discount for cash, sometimes as much as 15%. My rule: card for the big stuff, cash for markets, small cafés, tips and anything where they offer an efectivo price.
Should I bring US dollars?
Yes. Clean, undamaged US$100 bills (the blue, newer series) get exchanged almost everywhere at the best rate. Smaller or worn bills often get a worse rate or get refused. Change what you need for a few days, not your whole budget at once. How do you usually change money? Bank, casa de cambio, a friend? Add one or two lines.
The legal limit for bringing cash into Argentina without a customs declaration is US$10,000 per person.
Can tourists use local payment apps?
Most locals pay by QR code with Mercado Pago. Tourists usually can’t open an account, but there’s a workaround: some crypto apps (I use Bybit) let you pay Mercado Pago QR codes by converting USDT to pesos at a decent rate. Add a note on how you set it up, and a line that it’s for people already comfortable with crypto.
Tipping
About 10% in restaurants is standard. You usually can’t add a tip to a card payment, so keep some cash for it. The cubierto on your bill is a small table charge for bread and service, and it is not a tip. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips; just round up.
Is Buenos Aires still cheap?
Honestly, it depends where you look. Prices in BA are all over the place: if you search, you’ll find great deals, but most of the time things cost about the same as in a big European city like Barcelona.
Here’s what a normal day looks like for me update with today’s numbers before publishing:
| What | Price (US$) |
|---|---|
| Bus ride | about 0.50 |
| Subway ride | about 1 |
| Taxi, starting fare | from 2 (motorbike taxi from 1) |
| Coffee and pastry in a nice café | 8–15 |
| Steak dinner for one | about 35 |
One tip on steak: portions are huge, so sharing is always the better deal.
The funny part: locals pay less than you
Paradoxically, daily life here is cheaper for people who live here. Almost every business has ways to save with local payment methods, loyalty programs unlock a completely different level of prices, and many attractions are much cheaper or even free for residents. As a visitor you can’t use most of that, which is exactly why a local friend (or guide) saves you money. Give one real example.
Sources: Argentina Visa Law — money guide (cash limits) · LandingPad BA — tipping (tips, cubierto)
