You can either exchange money in Argentina by bringing cash and exchanging it in a “cambio” shop or by transferring yourself money via an online service like Western union and collecting the money in a branch in Argentina.
You can also use your ATM card but you will be charged a fee and only receive the official rate which can be significantly lower than the unofficial rate you receive from exchange shops and Western Union.
Official Rate vs Dollar Blue
You might wonder why there are two different rates of exchange between the Argentine Peso and the United States Dollar.
There are restrictions on the number of pesos Argentinian people can exchange for United States dollars and this is the reason that an unofficial rate(“Blue Dollar”) has appeared.
The Blue Dollar rate can be as much as double the official rate. For this reason, I recommend that you try to get the unofficial rate when you come to Argentina. You should always try to get a higher number compared to the dollar(for example 1: 300 is better for you than 1:250)
🗣️ Language tip
When you want to exchange money you should say: Quiero cambiar dólares a pesos.
For asking how much is the exchange rate, you can ask: ¿A cuánto está el dólar hoy?
Asking for the official rate: ¿A cuánto está el dólar oficial?
The best way to exchange money(get dollar blue)
You can get the blue dollar exchange rate in two ways:
Bring cash
If you can, bring U.S dollars or Euros to Argentina and exchange them in one of the “cambio” places around Buenos Aires.
Be warned that these exchange shops often run out of pesos and you may have to go back several times or wait for a long time. Make sure you ask for the exchange rate and see if it more or less meets your expectations.
Western Union
You can also send yourself money to a Western Union account. You then need to go to one of the many Western Union branches in Buenos Aires and withdraw the money. You will need to bring your identification.
Western Union can also run out of pesos and expect that the queue will be very long. The best time to go is at 9 am in the morning but then the problem of waiting for the delivery of pesos starts.
Where to exchange money in Argentina?
Your best bet is to exchange money from cash or a Western Union Branch.
Cash
You can find cash exchange shops all around the city but the best place to find these “cambio” places is in Calle Florida. Here you will find lots of black market exchange shops where you can get the unofficial rate.
If you don’t feel comfortable going to an unofficial exchange, you can go to one of the official exchanges on Sarmiento street which is one street over from Florida street and get the official rate.
What is the best currency to take to Argentina?
The best currencies to bring to Argentina are the United States Dollar($) and the Euro. You should try and bring higher denomination notes as you may receive a higher exchange rate.
You should only take enough cash that you are comfortable bringing with you and you can always get more when you are in Argentina(though this is more of a hassle than in other countries for sure!)
You can read more about what is the best currency to bring to Argentina here.
Should you bring U.S dollars to Argentina?
Yes, you should definitely bring U.S dollars to Argentina. You can get a great exchange rate and everything will be relatively cheap for you as the Dollar is quite strong against the Argentine Peso.
Can you use your ATM card in Argentina?
Yes, you can use your ATM card in Argentina but I strongly recommend that you don’t do that unless you really have to. First of all, you will receive the government exchange rate and then you will also have to pay at least $10 to withdraw money.
Some restaurants and taxis do not accept cards so it is always better to have some pesos or even dollars with you(Some places accept American dollars).
It is best to use your ATM card as a backup in Argentina and only use it when you run out of cash.
Can I withdraw USD in Argentina?
No, you can’t withdraw USD in Argentina. The official currency of Argentina is the Argentine Peso and that is the only currency you can withdraw from ATMs here in Argentina.
You can take the boat over to Montevideo and you will be allowed to withdraw USD there in Uruguay.
Final Thoughts
It may be a little bit more complicated to exchange money in Argentina but it is definitely worth the hassle.
The best ways to exchange money is to either bring U.S dollars and exchange them in an exchange shop or to use an online service like Western Union.
Have a look at these other posts about Buenos Aires, Argentina: