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Travel money guide: Argentina

Credit cards are widely accepted in Argentina, but you may also need cash.

Whether you’re going on a wine-tasting tour in Mendoza, riding with gauchos or crossing the Patagonia to sightsee glaciers, you’ll want to carry cash, a debit and credit card to be prepared. Cash is more widely accepted in Argentina than other payment methods, so you’ll need some pesos on hand. However, you can pay with credit cards or even US dollars in many major stores, hotels and restaurants, especially if you’re sticking to large cities like Buenos Aires.

Slip a travel credit card in your wallet to pay where you can, and avoid the usual 3% foreign transaction fees that most cards charge. However, you’ll want to keep cash on hand at all times, given by ATMs in bank branches or by transferring money from your bank to Western Union cash pickup points.

Our picks for traveling to Argentina

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  • 4.33% APY on USD balances
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Comparing travel, debit and credit cards

Visa and Mastercard are most common in Argentina, with American Express coming in third. Discover cards are not as widely accepted. To save money using a credit card, make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees, which can cost 3% on every transaction.

If you own a Discover card, you might struggle to find an ATM that accepts them. Opt to use a debit card at ATMs to avoid expensive ATM fees, including credit card cash advance fees and high APRs.

These are your options for spending money in Argentina

Using a credit card

Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in Buenos Aires and other major cities. Some smaller establishments and shops in rural areas may accept only cash. When you can use a credit card, go with travel rewards credit cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees, as these fees can be high in Argentina. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card doesn’t charge the usual 3% foreign transaction fee that most cards charge.

Tips:

  • Avoid making ATM cash withdrawals and paying fees.
  • If asked, always pay in local currency and not in US dollars.
Pros
  • Credit line access
  • Rewards
  • May come with travel insurance and coverage
  • May come with concierge service
Cons
  • Cash advance fees on ATMs
  • Cash advance APR on ATMs

Compare travel cards for Argentina

Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.

1 - 5 of 12
Name Product Fee Minimum deposit to open Annual Percentage Yield (APY) Offer
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus
$0 per month
$0
5.07% on balances of $0+
Earn up to 2% cashback rewards on everyday purchases. Pay $0 fees for overdraft, domestic wire transfer and monthly maintenance. Pair with Performance Savings account to earn 5.07% APY. Member FDIC.
SoFi Checking and Savings
Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
SoFi Checking and Savings
$0 per month
$0
4.60% on balances of $0+
0.50% on balances of $0+
1.20% on balances of $0+
Get up to $250 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2023.
Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings by meeting deposit requirements, and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Members without deposit requirements will earn 0.50% APY on both savings and checking balances. Turn on automatic savings or use the Roundups feature to help you reach your savings goals faster. Get up to $2M of additional FDIC insurance through a network of participating banks.
Revolut
Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Revolut
From $0 per month
$0
4.25% on balances of $0+
3.25% on balances of $0+
Revolut is a global fintech that offers up to 40% off international transfers.
Chime Checking account
Finder Rating: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Chime Checking account
$0 per month
$0
N/A
Save easily and access your paycheck up to 2 days early with direct deposit. Pay $0 monthly fees, and no minimum balance is required. Access 24/7 support and get daily balance and transaction alerts. FDIC insured.
Acorns Checking
Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Acorns Checking
From $3 per month
$0
N/A
Invest your spare change in real-time and earn up to 10% in bonus investments. Member FDIC.
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1 - 5 of 36
Name Product Welcome Offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Up to 5x miles
$0
Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. See rates & fees
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Up to 5x miles
$95
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months ​from account opening. See rates & fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Up to 5x points
$95
If you're not ready to drop a premium on Chase's flagship travel card, consider the issuer's excellent $95 a year travel product. It currently offers a generous welcome offer at $750 in value, all while maintaining the low annual fee. You'll also earn accelerated rewards on travel and dining, and points are worth more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Better yet, you can transfer points to select travel partners, letting you find much higher redemption rates.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
$200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Up to 1.5% cash back
$0
More than an unlimited 1.5% cash back card: you'll also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). See rates & fees
Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
Capital One VentureOne Rewards for Good Credit
N/A
Up to 5x miles
$0
The same rewards and $0 annual fee as the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, but for those with good credit. See rates & fees
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Using a debit card

In Argentina, ATMs can be expensive to use, costing up to $10 or $11 per transaction, according to forums. Aside from paying foreign transaction fees, you’ll pay local ATM fees, and you’ll be limited to how many pesos you can get per withdrawal. You’ll need to make multiple withdrawals, adding up the fees. Using a card like the Betterment Checking can save you big time since the account reimburses your international ATM fees within 24 hours of submitting.

  • Tip: Carry your debit card as a backup in case you run out of cash and need to make ATM withdrawals.
Pros
  • No cash advance fee
  • No cash advance APR
  • No overdraft
Cons
  • Weak or no rewards
  • No access to a credit line
  • Most debit cards have foreign transaction fees from 1% to 3%.

Using a prepaid travel card

Prepaid travel cards are usually an alternative to debit cards. However, in Argentina, they could cost you more than they’re worth. If you already have a Prepaid travel card, use it to make payments where accepted.

  • Tip: Avoid ATM cash withdrawals or use them as a last resort. Prepaid cards are already full of fees.
Pros
  • Can load multiple currencies
  • No cash advance APR
Cons
  • Many fees, including currency conversion fees
  • May take time to load
  • No rewards

Paying with cash in Argentina

Cash is popular in Argentina. Museums, taxis, smaller shops and restaurants may accept only cash. This leaves you with two options: carry some cash from the US or make a cash withdrawal. Since ATMs in Argentina have fees and daily withdrawal limitations, you should consider carrying enough cash to last for up to five days. Keep ATM withdrawals as a backup option.

  • Tip: Carry smaller banknotes and make sure they are in good condition. Larger banknotes with marking or slight wearing could be declined.
Pros
  • Payment flexibility
  • Convenience
  • No need for ATMs
Cons
  • High risk of theft

Using traveler’s checks

Traveler’s checks are rarely accepted in Argentina. Some high-end shops in Buenos Aires might accept them, but you’ll likely have to find a bank to cash them. This could cost you additional time and fees, which makes traveler’s checks a poor cash alternative in Argentina.

  • Tip: Traveler’s checks can be a good choice if you carry a lot of cash. This will diversify your money and will lower the risk of theft.
Pros
  • Security
Cons
  • Not accepted everywhere
  • Fees for purchasing and cashing checks
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Where can I get the best exchange rate for Argentinian peso?

You’ll get the best exchange rates at the bank or airport — but always have your passport with you. Don’t expect to get the best rate at hotels. Some high-end hotels let you pay in US dollars, but you’ll save money by paying with the peso.

Live Rate

= ARS$ 360.6743

Refreshing in: 60s | Sat, Dec 02, 12:11PM GMT

Common Argentine peso banknotes:

5 Argentinian Peso Banknote10 Argentinian Peso Banknote20 Argentinian Peso Banknote
50 Argentinian Peso Banknote100 Argentinian Peso Banknote

The main banks in Argentina are:

  • Banco Credicoop
  • Banco de la Nación Argentina
  • Banco Hipotecario
  • Banco Itaú Argentina
  • Banco Macro
  • Banco Patagonia
  • Banco Santander Río
  • Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires
  • BBVA Argentina
  • Central Bank of Argentina
  • Citibank Argentina
  • Bank of the City of Buenos Aires
  • Grupo Financiero Galicia
  • HSBC Bank Argentina
  • ICBC

Using money transfers

Consider a money transfer service if you don’t want to carry a lot of cash. Worldremit, for example, gives you an excellent exchange rate and money transferred to your destination country.

You need to use an Argentinian phone number and local address to make the transfer. If you don’t have one, Worldremit recommends using the address and the phone number of the hotel or the place you’ll be staying so the company can contact you if necessary.

Verdict

Credit cards are widely accepted in Buenos Aires and other large cities in Argentina. If you’re planning to use a credit card in Argentina, compare credit cards without foreign transaction fees. But make sure to carry cash for smaller shops, family-owned restaurants, taxis and other incidentals.

ATM cash withdrawals is an option, but due to ATM withdrawal limitations and fees, it may be best to take some cash with you and use a debit card as a last resort.

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