The best currencies to bring to Argentina are the United States Dollar($) and the Euro. The official currency of Argentina is the Argentine Peso but it is usually not allowed to buy the currency outside of Argentina.
When you arrive in Argentina, I recommend taking an Uber (pay with card the first time and cash after that) to your accommodation and then finding an exchange shop to exchange your cash for the best rate.
How much cash should you take to Argentina?
You should take as much cash as possible when you go to Argentina. There are plenty of people looking for Euros and Dollars to combat the depreciation of the Argentine peso.
Remember, it can be dangerous to travel with all of your money in cash(in case you get robbed) so only take what you feel comfortable with.
My recommendation depends on how long you intend to stay in Argentina. If you are only staying for a week, then you can bring enough cash to last you for that week.
If you are staying for 3 months in Argentina, then you should take enough cash to last you for a week or two and send money to yourself via Western Union for the remainder of your trip.
How to exchange money in Argentina?
The best way to exchange money is to bring cash and go to a currency exchange or to send yourself money through Western Union. You can read more about how to exchange money in Argentina here.
Why is cash better in Argentina?
The reason it is better to bring cash to Argentina is that there are two exchange rates that you can exchange your Dollars for Argentine pesos. There is the exchange rate set by the government and the exchange rate that you get from exchange shops and Western Union which give you almost double the number of pesos for your Dollars or Euros.
You will also receive discounts when you pay for things in Buenos Aires in cash (Look for the word “efectivo”). Always choose “pay in cash” when you are travelling in an Uber as your ride will be charged at the government exchange rate if you use your card.
Is the US Dollar strong in Argentina?
Yes, the U.S Dollar is strong in Argentina. The exchange rate is changing all of the time, but you can live very well in Argentina if you have dollars.
For example, As of July 2022, a coffee costs around 350 pesos which is around $1.30 from today’s unofficial exchange rate and around $2.70 if you use the official rate.
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).
How do you get the Blue Dollar in Argentina?
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.
Read more about the Blue dollar in this article: Is Buenos Aires expensive to visit?
Final Thoughts
It is best to bring either United States Dollars or Euros to Argentina. Try to bring bigger notes with you (think 50 or 100 bills) as you may receive a better exchange rate.
It can be daunting to travel with a lot of cash so start the process of sending yourself money with Western Union if you plan on staying longer than a few weeks in Argentina.
Other related articles about Buenos Aires, Argentina: