MONEY

The local currency in Argentina is the Peso (ARS). Only Pesos are dispensed at ATMs. Keep your change! Most places only accept Pesos and small bills are sometimes hard to come by.

Withdrawing money out of ATMs is not always the best option. Although you'll run into multiple ATMs around the city, they let you withdraw a very small amount with very high fees, so it ends up not being convenient. 

We recommend sending money to yourself through Western Union. You'll also find multiple locations to pick up the cash from and their fees are considerably lower than ATMs. Bear in mind Western Union is only going to provide Pesos, no matter your currency. Some WU locations also exchange money (cash<>cash) and their rates are also convenient. 

● Note: Argentina has one of the most unusual economies in the world. It is important for visitors to learn about the parallel currency market and the so-called ‘blue dollar‘. ‘Blue Dollar’ is an euphemism for the black market exchange for US dollars. Exchanging currency on the black market is a legal grey area but, while being hugely beneficial for foreigners, we don’t encourage it. Students will be shown where they can exchange money during the new student orientation.

We understand that keeping to a budget is an important step when planning for a trip. Although each person has a different lifestyle that will affect how much they spend, the following list is an example of average costs in Buenos Aires  (remember to convert and check the exchange rate):

Cup of Coffee = 5.000 AR$

Bottle of water or soda at a bar = 2.500 AR$

Beers at a bar = 5.500 AR$

Lunch (at a restaurant) = 15.000 - 25.000 AR$

Dinner (neighborhood restaurant) = 20.000 - 45.000 AR$

Dinner (high-end restaurant) = 45.000 - 70.000 AR$

Bus Ride (one way) = 900 AR$

Subway Ride (one way) = 1.900 AR$

Taxi rides within the city = 5.000 - 15.000 AR$

Monthly Gym Membership = 45.000 AR$

ATMs in Argentina have a maximum withdrawal limit that varies according to cards and banks. In general it is between $40,000 and $65,000 pesos per day. Keep this in mind if you need to make a large purchase in cash.

Most stores throughout the city that accept credit/debit cards, but you may get discounts if you pay cahs, so we recommend carrying some bills on you at all times and not relying on using credit/debit.

● Tip: Before leaving, please contact your provider to let them know you will be using your card in Argentina and for online payments.

Tipping is expected (but not mandatory!) in restaurants and cafes. The standard is a 10% tip. Some restaurants charge a "cubierto", which is a service charge and may range from 1200 – 1600 pesos per person.

●  Note: Taxis are not customarily given a tip.