Guide to Money in Argentina

Disclaimer: for informational purposes only. We highly encourage you to speak with professionals and comply with all Argentine laws.

Overview

Getting money in Argentina doesn't need to be complicated. Just check https://app.ggomma.xyz/ars-currency. See what approach has the best rate and then follow this guide's instructions.

We explain everything. How to get pesos. How to use credit/debit cards. How to get more USD cash. How crypto works. How cuevas (aka money exchanges) work.

The most important thing to know is that no one uses the official rate here. That's why we check the real rates on this website: https://app.ggomma.xyz/ars-currency: Visa, Mastercard, Dollarblue (aka $ to peso rate), and the Western Union money order rate. When you need more pesos check that site to see what the best rate available is.

**If you're visiting Argentina for the first time, it is easiest to use credit/debit cards. Take an uber (or better yet a didi/cabify/taxi premium etc) from the airport to the city. Most places accept cards. For cash, Carrefour supermarkets allow up to 50k pesos cashback (at visa rate!) when you pay with card. Bring a couple 100 USD or 100 € bills (in good condition) with you for those times you need more cash. You can swap them for pesos at a cueva or Western Union. **

Let's chat about each of the payment methods and rates listed here: https://app.ggomma.xyz/ars-currency

Tip: many Argentines accept USD for payments of $100 or more. I paid for my wedding and furniture using USD. Most landlords ask that you pay rent in USD.

Why so complicated? Argentina has strict capital controls and makes a lot of their money by taking a cut between the official rate and the real rate.

Getting Argentine Pesos

There are several ways to get pesos with three considerations:

Often what I do is check https://app.ggomma.xyz/ars-currency. If the credit/debit rate is good I use that. If Dollarblue is better I exchange USD for pesos and if Western Union rate is really good I send myself a money order.

Getting Physical USD

How do I get more physical USD? People often run out of the USD they bring. Getting more is easy and cheap. One option is pick up pesos at Western Union and convert them to USD. The better option is send a cueva crypto (often USDT) in exchange for physical USD. They charge 0-4% depending on the day and can handle orders of over $100k USD.

DolarPalermo: whatsapp +54 9 11 6555-0905 is the most popular crypto cueva. You can schedule a pickup for orders of $2k+ or have it delivered. If you don't trust the recommendation, ask around. Tons of cuevas will give you physical USD for crypto.

Cuevas

Cuevas are everywhere. They are not legal but they are accepted by the government. In all my time in Argentina I've never heard of a foreigner having a problem.

I recommend starting by using a Western Union (WU) to exchange your $/€ to pesos at Dollarblue rate. Later, you can ask around and see if your friends know a cueva that offers a better rate or is closer to your apartment.

These cuevas have good reputations:

Credit: thank you to Tango Lounge for some of these contacts!

Western Union (WU) Money Transfers

Install the WU mobile app on your phone or use their website and create an account. You withdraw money from your foreign credit card (instant but highest fees), debit card (instant and cheap!), or bank account (1-5 days). Then, you send the funds to yourself (name has to exactly match your passport). Bring your passport to pick up the funds at a WU location.

If you use our WU sign-up link with referral code, you and I will both get a $20 Amazon gift certificate: https://ssqt.co/mQ7SPy7

Tip: Do not use Google Maps to find WU locations and/or find hours when they’re open. It is not reliable for WU location information. The WU app is more reliable, but not 100% reliable about being open late/weekends.

Finding WU Locations with enough cash can sometimes be a challenge. The WU mobile app has a “Find Location” menu option to find locations in your area, or use this page on their website, including finding ones that are open at that time - press the “Open Now” button. Most locations aren’t open on Sundays; it’s best to withdraw pesos during the weekdays Tuesday through Thursday. Saturdays, Fridays and Mondays have longer lines.

These following locations are best for withdrawing large amounts, such as USD $500 to $2000:

There is a limit of 3 transactions per day per WU location.

Tip: remember, sometimes the WU rate is higher, and sometimes the Blue rate at a cueva is higher. Check rates https://app.ggomma.xyz/ars-currency.

Tip: at the EZE airport, upstairs from departures, there is a post office “Correo Argentino” which also offers WU withdrawals, but is only open on weekdays and possibly Saturdays daytime. You can use this to get pesos at the blue rate as soon as you arrive in Buenos Aires, and also pay your taxi with pesos.

Tip: to skip the WU line, you can make an appointment online: https://westernunion.agenda.whyline.com/**

Credit: thank you to Tango Lounge for some of this WU info!

Crypto

Crypto makes it much easier to get physical dollars. Like the cuevas, crypto is not illegal. Tons of Argentines use it. There are many reliable options that will accept your crypto (usually USDT) and give you physical USD and/or pesos.

How do you buy crypto? There are dozens of reputable exchanges like Coinbase, Binance, Kraken etc. They're safe and popular. Ask your cueva what type of crypto they want and buy that on an exchange. Then send it using the crypto network that your cueva tells you to use (eg ethereum or tron).

Best option: DolarPalermo (delivered to your location): Safe, reliable, responsive, competitive rates, easy to deal with, and professional. They deliver to your location for a small fee. They accept EUR or USD cash, Euro IBAN, PayPal, Payoneer, Skrill, Wise, Zelle and Crypto. Limited hours on Saturdays and not open on Sundays. You can negotiate with higher amounts (usually US $500 or more). Message them via WhatsApp: +54 9 11 2406-4881 .

Argentine Bank Transfers

Argentine bank or Mercado Pago transfers are extremely common now. Most places that don't accept credit cards will accept "transferencia", as they call it. This works via bank account number (CVU) or username (aka alias). Ask for their alias.

Strike and Wapu both enable this for foreigners. You do not need an Argentine bank account. Those services give you roughly the credit card exchange rate. Don't be put off by their crypto marketing. Both are excellent for providing cheap transfers to Argentine bank accounts. Strike usually transfers within a minute. Wapu takes closer to a day.

A third, but more annoying option, is ask for the person's Mercado Pago deposit info and make a cash deposit into their account via Pago Facil.

Paying for Online Services in Cash

It's possible to pay almost every single bill using cash. Mercado Libre, utilities, medical bills, cell phone etc. Just bring your bill to a Pago Facil or select the efectivo option when buying a service online.

I pay all my bills using Pago Facil. It's very easy. Almost every Western Union location allows Pago Facil. I've also bought flights on https://www.despegar.com.ar/ and paid for them in cash using RapiPago. You can even use Pago Facil to send money directly to an Argentine's Mercado Pago account.

Warnings

Do not try to wire money to Argentina. It won't work. Do not mail yourself credit/debit cards via regular mail. They will not reach you. Use DHL to send them (costs ~$100). I found international mail was good for documents but that cards and packages don't make it.

Conclusion

Don't overcomplicate it. Just check https://app.ggomma.xyz/ars-currency. See what approach has the best rate and then follow this guide's instructions.

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