Guides
Practical guides on paying, sending pesos, exchange rates and daily life in Argentina, whether you are visiting or already living here.
Most read
Mercado Pago for Foreigners: No DNI? Here's How to Pay (2026)
Mercado Pago needs an Argentine DNI, so tourists and expats can't open an account. The workaround: pay any Mercado Pago QR from a USD balance, with no DNI.
How to Pay in Argentina as a Tourist or Foreigner (2026)
Cash, cards, ATMs and QR compared honestly, plus the one setup that lets you pay any Argentine QR without a DNI. Updated for 2026.
How to Pay QR Codes in Argentina as a Tourist (No DNI, 2026)
Mercado Pago and MODO QRs need a DNI, so foreigners get stuck at checkout. How to scan any Argentine QR and pay from a USD balance with just your passport.
Does Wise Work in Argentina? Card Yes, Pesos No (2026)
The Wise card works in Argentina at terminals and ATMs, but Wise has no peso balance, cannot send to a CBU, CVU or alias and cannot pay QR codes. Expat fixes.
How to Pay Rent in Buenos Aires as a Foreigner (Without Losing 10% to the Card Rate)
Paying rent in Buenos Aires as a foreigner? Skip the ~10% non-resident card rate. Pay by alias, CBU or CVU at the crypto dollar, no DNI needed.
Pay in shops (QR)
Reading Menus and Bills in Argentina (2026): Translate, See USD
How to read a menu and bill in Argentina: what $ and cubierto mean, how much to tip, and how to translate any menu and see prices in USD with CacaoCash Scan.
Best Apps to Pay QR Codes in Argentina as a Foreigner (2026)
Best apps to pay QR codes in Argentina as a foreigner: CacaoCash, WanderWallet, Moreta Pay, belo, Prex and Mercado Pago compared, with fees, rates and limits.
Mercado Pago for Foreigners: No DNI? Here's How to Pay (2026)
Mercado Pago needs an Argentine DNI, so tourists and expats can't open an account. The workaround: pay any Mercado Pago QR from a USD balance, with no DNI.
How to Pay in Argentina as a Tourist or Foreigner (2026)
Cash, cards, ATMs and QR compared honestly, plus the one setup that lets you pay any Argentine QR without a DNI. Updated for 2026.
How to Pay QR Codes in Argentina as a Tourist (No DNI, 2026)
Mercado Pago and MODO QRs need a DNI, so foreigners get stuck at checkout. How to scan any Argentine QR and pay from a USD balance with just your passport.
How to Travel Argentina Without Cash (2026): Pay by QR and Transfer
You can go almost completely cashless in Argentina as a foreigner. Pay by QR and send pesos to any alias, CBU or CVU without a DNI, and skip ATM fees.
Mercado Pago Transfer Limits in Argentina (2026 Guide)
How Mercado Pago daily and monthly transfer limits work in Argentina in 2026, why they do not apply to foreigners without a DNI, and how to pay pesos anyway.
Argentina Payments Cheat Sheet for Travelers (2026)
Everything you need to know about paying in Argentina as a traveler in 2026, comparison table, glossary, first-24-hours checklist, and what to avoid.
Send pesos and pay rent
How to Pay Rent in Buenos Aires as a Foreigner (Without Losing 10% to the Card Rate)
Paying rent in Buenos Aires as a foreigner? Skip the ~10% non-resident card rate. Pay by alias, CBU or CVU at the crypto dollar, no DNI needed.
Send or Transfer Money to Argentina: Cheapest Ways (2026)
How to transfer money to Argentina from the US, EU or UK: what US$500 costs by Remitly, Western Union, PayPal and SWIFT, and how to send pesos to any alias.
CBU vs CVU vs Alias in Argentina: What's the Difference and Which to Ask For (2026)
CBU is a 22-digit bank account number, CVU is the same for wallets like Mercado Pago, and the alias is a nickname for either. How to tell them apart, no DNI.
Send Money to Argentina from the USA: Cheapest Ways Compared (2026)
What US$500 really costs by Remitly, Western Union, PayPal and SWIFT versus an instant peso transfer at the crypto dollar rate, plus the 1% remittance tax.
Send Money to Argentina from the UK: Cheapest Ways Compared (2026)
Wise, Remitly and a Barclays wire compared on £400 to Argentina, and how to send pesos to any alias, CVU or CBU instantly at the crypto dollar rate.
Send Money to Argentina from Italy: Cheapest Ways Compared (2026)
Wise, Remitly and an Intesa wire compared on €450 to Argentina, and how to fund by SEPA and send pesos to any alias, CVU or CBU at the crypto dollar rate.
Send Money to Argentina from Australia: Cheapest Ways Compared (2026)
Wise, Remitly and a CommBank wire compared on A$750 to Argentina, and how to send pesos to any alias, CVU or CBU instantly at the crypto dollar rate.
Alternatives to Western Union in Argentina (2026 Guide)
Used Western Union for peso rates in Argentina? Compare crypto dollar wallets, cuevas, Wise, USD cash and MEP for the best 2026 option.
How to Send Pesos to an Alias, CBU or CVU in Argentina (No DNI)
Need to send pesos to a landlord, friend or freelancer in Argentina with no DNI or local account? How peso transfers work and how to send to any alias or CBU.
Western Union vs Crypto Dollar: The Best Way to Bring Money Into Argentina in 2026
Western Union lost its rate edge after Argentina FX normalization. Compare WU vs crypto dollar for residents moving money monthly in 2026.
Cards, Wise and Revolut
Does Revolut Work in Argentina? Yes, With Two Gaps (2026)
Yes, Revolut cards work in Argentina at shops and ATMs. They cannot pay QR codes or send pesos to an alias, and settle at the card rate, ~10% below crypto.
Wise vs Revolut in Argentina: Which One to Bring (2026)
Wise vs Revolut in Argentina: both work at shops and ATMs, neither pays QR codes or sends pesos to an alias, and both settle ~10% below the crypto dollar.
Do Foreign Cards Work in Argentina? Yes, With 3 Catches (2026)
Foreign Visa and Mastercard work in most shops and ATMs in Argentina. The 3 catches: a worse rate than the crypto dollar, US$8-12 ATM fees and no QR payments.
Does Wise Work in Argentina? Card Yes, Pesos No (2026)
The Wise card works in Argentina at terminals and ATMs, but Wise has no peso balance, cannot send to a CBU, CVU or alias and cannot pay QR codes. Expat fixes.
Cash and exchange rates
Card Dollar vs Crypto Dollar in Argentina: The ~10% Gap (2026)
Foreign cards in Argentina settle at the Fiserv card dollar (~1,465 ARS/USD) while the crypto dollar sits near 1,603, about 10% better (October 2026).
Exchanging Dollars or USDT in Argentina: Why You No Longer Need a Cueva (2026)
Exchanging dollars or USDT in Argentina no longer needs a cueva: in 2026 the blue dollar is roughly level with the official rate and the crypto dollar beats both.
Blue Dollar and Cuevas in Argentina (2026): Still Worth It?
In 2026 the blue dollar is under 1% above the official rate, so cuevas no longer pay. Why the gap closed and how to get the crypto dollar rate without cash.
Blue Dollar vs MEP Dollar in Argentina (2026): Which Rate Should You Use?
Argentina's exchange rate spread has collapsed to 2-5% under Milei. What the blue dollar and MEP dollar actually are in 2026, and whether either is worth it.
How to Withdraw Pesos in Argentina Without Paying a Fortune (2026)
Argentine ATMs charge $8-15 per withdrawal. The cheapest alternatives for getting pesos cash in 2026: casas de cambio, Western Union and QR-based withdrawals.
Living in Argentina
eSIM for Argentina (2026): Best Plans, Prices and How to Set It Up
eSIM for Argentina in 2026: plans and prices compared (CacaoCash, Airalo, Holafly, local SIMs), how to install it before you fly and how much data you need.
How to Top Up a Prepaid Phone in Argentina (2026)
How to top up a prepaid phone in Argentina in 2026: carrier apps, kiosks, foreign-card sites and CacaoCash for Claro, Personal and Tuenti with no DNI.
Scams in Argentina (2026): Money Tricks and Street Crime to Avoid
Common scams in Argentina in 2026: fake transfer receipts, swapped QR codes, fake 10,000 and 20,000 peso bills, street changers, rental deposits and street crime.
Emergency Numbers in Argentina (2026): Police, Ambulance, Tourist Police
Emergency numbers in Argentina: 911 police, 107 ambulance, 100 fire, the Tourist Police in Buenos Aires, English-speaking hospitals and what to do if robbed.
Argentine Slang: 56 Lunfardo Words You Will Hear in Buenos Aires (2026)
Argentine slang guide: lunfardo words for money (guita, luca, palo), everyday talk (che, boludo, dale), the street and going out, with pronunciation and examples.
Buenos Aires Cost of Living for Expats (2026): Real Monthly Budgets
What an expat really spends in Buenos Aires in 2026: rent by neighborhood, food, transport, health and monthly totals for lean, comfortable and Palermo life.
How to Deposit to CacaoCash with Venmo or PayPal (2026)
Step-by-step guide to funding your CacaoCash wallet with Venmo or PayPal: buy PYUSD (PayPal USD) and send it on Solana to your deposit address.
How to Deposit to CacaoCash with Cash App (2026)
Step-by-step guide to funding your CacaoCash wallet with Cash App: send USDC on Solana to your deposit address, screen by screen, in under a minute.
Moving to Buenos Aires: Money Setup Checklist for 2026
A practical pre-arrival and first-week money checklist for foreigners moving to Buenos Aires in 2026, with the rate trap, rent, and what you skip.
How to Get Paid in USD While Living in Argentina (Freelancers & Remote Workers)
Earn USD and live in Buenos Aires? Compare Wise, PayPal, Payoneer and crypto, then receive in USD, hold in USD, and convert to pesos at the crypto dollar.
Living in Argentina vs Just Visiting: Why Your Payment Setup Changes Everything
Tourist payment advice optimizes a two-week trip. If you live in Buenos Aires, the non-resident card rate becomes a 10% monthly tax. The resident setup.
How to Open a Pesos Account in Argentina Without a DNI (2026)
Tourist in Buenos Aires and cannot open a peso account? Here is why a DNI or CUIT is required and how to hold USD and pay in pesos without one.
Argentina Resident's Money Cheat Sheet (2026): Every Payment at the Real Dollar
Live in Buenos Aires? Route rent, salary, bills and daily QR through the real dollar (~1,603) instead of the non-resident card rate (~1,465). No DNI needed.