In a nutshell
- Inflation in Argentina is very high and price levels are unstable — here’s what that means for your travel budget.
- For payments, we recommend sending yourself cash via Western Union or paying with a Visa debit card — both get you a much better rate than ATMs.
- Overall, Argentina sits in the mid-range for South America — but southern Patagonia is significantly more expensive than the north.
- We break down everything you need to know about paying in Argentina and what a vacation in Argentina realistically costs.
Is Argentina an expensive country to visit?
Yes, Argentina is currently one of the most expensive countries in South America. Due to inflation, prices have risen sharply in recent years.
For a while, Argentina was very affordable for tourists despite inflation, because you could exchange euros and dollars at a fantastic rate. This was known as the “Blue Dollar.”
The Blue Dollar still exists today, but you can no longer get as good a rate with it. As a result, the Argentina vacation cost is now quite high for tourists as well.
Inflation in Argentina explained simply
To understand what’s going on with prices in Argentina, you first need to know what inflation actually is. Inflation means prices rise and the currency loses value. In many European countries, prices have been rising since 2021 — you notice it most at the supermarket. In 2025, inflation in Germany was around 2.3%.
The currency in Argentina is the Argentine Peso (ARS). Inflation in Argentina is currently at around 31%. You can already see that’s dramatically higher. The Argentine Peso is worth very little compared to the dollar or the euro, and at the same time, prices in Argentina are extremely high.
Exchange Rates in Argentina
1 euro is worth approximately 1,700 ARS (as of December 2025).
Since there are different exchange rates in Argentina, you’ll want to be careful to exchange your money at the best possible rate.
Official and Unofficial Exchange Rates in Argentina
For a long time, euros and dollars were worth twice as much at the unofficial exchange rate compared to the official rate. That’s no longer the case — the unofficial rate is now only slightly better than the official one.
Here’s how to exchange money at the best rate in Argentina.
What’s the best way to pay in Argentina?
Let’s walk through all the payment methods available in Argentina and tell you which ones we recommend and when.
Sending Money with Western Union
Sending money via Western Union is a solid option. You get your money at a great exchange rate and the process is simple.
Western Union is a US-based financial service through which you can make international transfers. Locations can be found in almost every country. You can have money sent to any country with a Western Union location and pick it up in cash there.
You pay in euros from your account and receive Argentine Pesos at the Blue Dollar rate in Argentina.
Note: The fees for each transaction at Western Union are around 3–5 percent. However, the first transaction is free.
Here’s how sending money with Western Union works:
- First, go to the Western Union website. Enter the destination country (Argentina) and the amount you want to send in euros.
- The exchange rate will be shown to you directly. Indicate that you want to receive the money in cash and choose how you’d like to pay. If you pay by credit card or instant bank transfer, you can pick up the money right away.
- Click Continue and you’ll need to create an account. Log in, select a recipient (yourself), then choose the purpose of the transfer and the origin of the funds.
- After that comes the payment process. Once it’s complete, you’ll receive a transaction number — you’ll need this to pick up your money.
Here’s how to pick up your money:
- Go to any Western Union location. You can find these on Google Maps or on the Western Union website.
- Show your transaction number and then your passport. The money will be counted and handed over to you.
Exchanging Cash in Argentina
The second option for getting the Blue Dollar rate is to bring cash to Argentina and exchange it there. We’d only recommend this for the beginning of your trip, though — otherwise you’ll be carrying quite a lot of cash around with you.
To exchange money, head to a currency exchange office (found all over the country), a kiosk, or a Western Union location.
Make sure you go to a reputable provider and never exchange money on the street. The rate should be roughly the Blue Dollar rate. Your safest bet is to ask at your hotel where you can exchange money nearby.
Note: Exchange euros or dollars whenever possible — these get the best rate. Currencies from Brazil, Bolivia, or Chile get a noticeably worse rate.
Paying by Card in Argentina
Paying by card is a great alternative to cash. Your best option is a Visa debit card — the exchange rate is generally very good.
When you pay with a credit card, additional fees often apply.
Note: Try paying by card once and then check what exchange rate your money was converted at.
You can pay by card almost everywhere in Argentina. If you’d rather skip the hassle of exchanging money altogether, card payment is the easiest, most straightforward option.
We don’t recommend withdrawing money from ATMs — the rate at Argentine banks is often poor and fees can be high.
Why are there multiple exchange rates in Argentina?
Honestly, we never quite wrapped our heads around the Blue Dollar at first. Having two exchange rates seemed a bit strange to us, and we wondered whether everything was above board. So we did some research and gradually figured it out:
When Argentina’s economy started going downhill and the peso lost value, Argentinians began saving up dollars in cash. That makes sense — the peso kept losing value while the dollar stayed stable.
In 2011, the purchase of dollars was banned by the government. As a result, dollars have since been bought on the black market at a higher price than the official exchange rate. Otherwise it wouldn’t make sense for the seller to part with their dollar bills. This is what the Blue Dollar refers to.
When you as a tourist hold US dollars and exchange them for ARS at an exchange office, you’re essentially selling your dollar bills to the Argentine at a higher price than the official rate.
Is the Blue Dollar illegal?
Technically, yes. However, it is now accepted by the Argentine government, and you are not breaking the law if you exchange your money at the Blue Dollar rate.
Even Mastercard and Visa convert at a rate similar to the Blue Dollar. So it’s perfectly fine to do the same.
Also read our article on safety in Argentina
Prices in Argentina
Now that you know how exchange rates work in Argentina, here’s a quick overview of what things actually cost.
- Meal at a simple restaurant: 12,000 ARS (7 euros)
- Pasta at the supermarket: 3,000 ARS (2 euros)
- Cola at the supermarket: 3,000 ARS (2 euros)
- 1 empanada: 2,000 ARS (1.50 euros)
- 6-liter bottle of water: 3,000 ARS (2 euros)
- Bus ride within the city: 500 ARS (30 cents)
- Double room at a good hotel: 170,000 ARS (100 euros)
What’s cheap in Argentina?
You can already see from the price overview that Argentina sits in the mid-range. Most things are a little cheaper than in Western Europe, but quite expensive by South American standards.
What’s expensive in Argentina?
Fashion stores, electronic devices, and long bus rides are relatively expensive.
You might wonder why there isn’t a single H&M or Decathlon in Argentina. You’ll find these stores in almost every other country in South America. It comes down to complicated import regulations and high taxes and duties. Many international chains simply decide it’s not worth opening a store in Argentina.
That same import situation explains why electronics are so pricey. Products made in Argentina are considerably cheaper.
Daily travel costs in Argentina
Now that you’ve got a handle on prices and exchanging money, here’s an overview of the daily travel costs you can realistically expect. It all depends on how you plan your trip, of course — your costs may differ from ours.
Here are two example days:
Example Day 1: Sightseeing in Buenos Aires
- Hotel stay with breakfast: 50 euros (per person)
- Snacks and water: 5 euros
- Lunch: 8 euros
- Transport: 6 euros
- Dinner: 12 euros
Total costs for this day: 81 euros
Example Day 2: Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia
- Hotel stay with breakfast: 50 euros (per person)
- National Park entrance fee: 26 euros
- Perito Moreno Glacier tour: 80 euros
- Snacks and lunch: 15 euros
- Dinner: 12 euros
Total costs for this day: 183 euros
Those were examples of a budget day and a splurge day in Argentina. For a two-week trip, plan on spending roughly the average of the two.
Average daily costs: 130 euros
Travel costs for two weeks in Argentina
Here are our approximate costs per person for a two-week road trip through Argentina:
- Round-trip flight: 1,000 euros
- Accommodations: 700 euros
- Transportation costs: 400 euros
- Food: 400 euros
- Sightseeing: 300 euros
- Miscellaneous: 100 euros
Total Argentina trip budget for 2 weeks: 2,900 euros
If you’re traveling as a backpacker, your costs will be lower. If you want more comfort and luxury, you’ll spend more.
Also read our article on the most beautiful sights in Argentina
Tipping in Argentina
How much of a tip you should leave in Argentina isn’t set in stone — it depends a lot on the type of establishment and the service.
In general, you should always leave a propina.
In restaurants, it’s sometimes added to your bill automatically. If not, leave the tip on the table. At food stands and small takeaway shops, there’s usually a small tip jar on the counter.
