How Much Does It Cost To Travel To Argentina in 2024? An Affordable Budget Guide

So, are you planning a trip to South America and wondering how much it costs to travel to Argentina? This is the post for you. It’ll give you a breakdown of how much it cost to travel to Argentina in 2024 as a solo traveller.

Argentina has been on my bucket list forever. The bright lights of Buenos Aires and the emerald green lakes of the South have had me daydreaming of visiting for years. It was one place I’d always felt a draw to, and it lived up to all of my expectations—except the money expectation.

Money in Argentina is a challenge. Inflation has skyrocketed, plummeted, and skyrocketed again. It’s hard to keep up. But how much does it cost to travel to Argentina?

You have to bear in mind, the prices here change quickly. So take this article as a rough guide. The following post will give you a little outline of the money situation in Argentina, what the blue dollar rate is and the amount of money I spent travelling for 3 weeks.

This is based on staying in hostels, eating out for all meals apart from breakfasts and using a mix of transport.

So how much does it cost to travel to Argentina in 2024?

3 weeks in Argentina cost around £870 for one person:

• Currency = Argentinian Peso
• Days in Argentina = 21
• Total amount spent = (£870.92 //1,143.52 USD)
• Average daily spend = (£41.47 // 54.23 USD)

What is the currency in Argentina?

Argentina’s official currency is the Argentine Peso. It comes in a series of denominations, and as of 2024, a new 10,000 has been introduced to make transactions more manageable amid Argentina’s high inflation and rapidly depreciating currency.

Argentina has had a very unstable economic past and is still facing big challenges today with rising prices, a dropping currency value, and high debt. Prices change regularly and what was worth something yesterday may no longer be worth the same today.

Be prepared to take a backpack to fill up with money, seriously. You’re going to need somewhere to put all of the bills.

Is Argentina expensive to visit?

I would say Argentina is a relatively affordable place to visit in 2024. Not as affordable as previous years but still a great budget destination for travellers. There are areas where you’ll pay more than others, particularly in the fancier neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires.

But in general I found the prices to be reasonable for what you get especially in the North of Argentina.

Argentina is also home to some incredible museums that are free of charge and some delicious cheap eat options. It’s entirely possible to travel this country without breaking the bank. With lots of outdoor activities to do that cost nothing, I spent less in Argentina in 3 weeks than I did in other countries in South America.

What is the blue dollar rate in Argentina?

If you’ve been researching for your trip to Argentina, you’ve probably heard the term ‘blue dollar rate’ come up a few times.

The blue dollar rate is a higher, unofficial rate that people use in the street or on the black markets to get more pesos for their dollars instead of using official channels like the banks that offer the official rate.

The official rate is the rate that is set by the government which is often lower.

The blue dollar exists because of strict rules on how many dollars people can legally buy. So, many people turn to this unofficial way to exchange money at a better rate. It’s called “blue” because it’s informal, not the legal or “official” rate.

So, if someone exchanges money at the blue dollar rate, they get more Argentine pesos for each dollar than they would at the official rate. And the blue dollar is the rate you want to get for the most bang for your buck in Argentina.

The best way to withdraw money in Argentina?

To get cash in Argentina I’d recommend using Western Union. It’s the most reliable and convenient way for money transfers in Argentina. It often offers exchange rates that are closer to the blue dollar rate and I found it the easiest and least confusing way to access money.

There are Western Unions everywhere. You can search on the app for the nearest one to you. And it’s as simple as registering for an account and sending the money to a branch near you to pickup.

You’ll need to take your passport and the tracking code with you to be able to collect the money.

Also remember to write your name exactly as it appears on your ID. I spent 4 hours in Bolivia in 3 different banks trying to collect money because of the names being the wrong way round. Make sure you’re details are correct.

Your first transfer with Western Union is free, transfers after that have a fee, which will vary depending on where you’re sending money from. Hypothetically if you fancied skipping that fee, you could make another Western Union account and get your first free transfer again.

Avoid using ATMS to withdraw money. ATM fees in Argentina are among the highest in the world. Foreign cards are typically charged very high fees per transaction (often around $10 to $15 USD or more).

Tips for travelling in Argentina on a budget:

• Cash Transfer – use Western Union or the kiosks to get the best rate on your money.
• Use Public Transport – travel by metro or bus, download the sube app for the metro lines in Buenos Aires.
• Eat Cheaply – if you want to save money, take your pick from empanadas, milanesas, choripan, panchos or tartas at local food stands.They’re all delicious and won’t break your budget.
• Take advantage of safe water: tap water in Argentina is safe to drink so consider buying a reusable water bottle to save on having to buy bottle after bottle. You’d be surprised how quickly this adds up.
• Get outside: there are plenty of amazing hiking trails in Argentina that don’t cost a thing. Home to some of the most incredible natural beauty in the world, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
• Visit the free museums – if you’re in Buenos Aires, there are some great museums to explore that are free to enter.
• Take a free walking tour – many big cities will have free walking tours available. They’re a great way of getting familiar with a city and learning all about its history. Just remember to tip the guide at the end.
• Football tickets – beware of overpaying for football tickets in Argentina. Tickets sold to tourists are usually overpriced. Consider asking around to find the best deal.
• Avoid peak season – December-February are usually the busiest months in Argentina and also when the prices are the highest. Consider visiting in March-June or September-November for cheaper deals.

Are flights expensive in Argentina?

The biggest airports in Argentina are both in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Airport is for international flights. Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport is for domestic flights. After looking at flights you may be wondering why are flights to Argentina so expensive? I know I was.

Flight prices in Argentina vary depending on where you’re flying from, where you land and when you visit, but are generally pretty costly. I found that flights into and out of Argentina to be the most expensive in South America. Argentina in general has relatively high taxes and fees on flights, both domestic and international, compared to many other countries.

But it is possible to find affordable domestic flight deals in Argentina. I caught a flight from Salta – Buenos Aires for £65.80 ($87). When you’re booking domestic flights within the country it can be worth looking on the airlines website directly.

The main airlines in Argentina are Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi and JetSMART.

Check Skyscanner for the best international flight deals to Argentina.

Tips for getting cheaper flights to Argentina:

• Fly into neighbouring countries like Santiago, Rio de Janeiro or Montevideo then fly to Buenos Aires, you can even get the ferry across from Uruguay.
• Be flexible with your dates, flying on less popular days or times (e.g., midweek or early morning) can often be cheaper. Skyscanner also has a flexible date option, so you can see which month is the cheapest to fly.
• If you’re flying from the US consider flying from one of the big airports like Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Houston or Dallas.
• If you’re flying from the EU, consider flying from Madrid, Barcelona, London or Paris.
• Always fly into Buenos Aires first, then catch a domestic flight if you’ll be heading to another part of the country.
• Set price alerts, many flight search engines allow you to set up price alerts for specific routes and dates.
• Book in advance, although you can sometimes find cheap last-minute deals, I wouldn’t suggest waiting until the last minute to book a flight to Argentina.

What is the best way to pay for things, cash or card in Argentina?

There are two main means of payment in Argentina: cash and bank card (debit or credit). When deciding which is the best payment option you have to consider exchange rates, fees, and the local economy. And as we know the local economy is a little volatile in Argentina.

Because the economic situation in the country is sometimes unstable, where possible it’s better to make everyday purchases in cash, the simplest means of payment, and to pay by bank card in tourist areas.

Can you pay by card in Argentina? Most places in Argentina will accept major cards like Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Up until recently, the exchange rate on card transactions was less favourable. However now, most credit cards offer good exchange rates (based on the official rate) and may have no foreign transaction fees if you use the right card.

It’s always a good idea to ask before paying with a card if there are any fees. I regularly used my card to pay in shops and restaurants and didn’t experience any problems and I was getting a great rate. I was actually still getting refunds from my bank weeks later.

Withdrawing from ATMs is not recommended. The fees can be high, usually around £10 ($13 USD) and cash limits are low.

So, how much does it cost to travel to Argentina?

I travelled in Argentina for 3 weeks and spent a grand total of £870.92 ($1,143.52 USD)

I’ve put together a rough list of where my money went. These costs reflect 3 weeks spent staying in hostels in a shared room, eating out for lunch and dinner. It also doesn’t include the bus from Bolivia to the border of Argentina or the flight out of Argentina.

How much accommodation cost in Argentina:

20 nights in hostel dorms – £181.11 ($237.80)

• 9 nights in Buenos Aires cost: £100.53 in a dorm room at Millhouse Avenue.
• 4 nights in Humahuaca cost: £28.28 in a dorm room at Giramundo Hostel.
• 4 nights in Salta cost: £29.09 in a dorm room at Lead Pods Hostel.
• 3 nights in Tilcara cost: £23.21 in a dorm room at Hostel Waira.

How much transport cost in Argentina:

Travelling by bus, uber and one flight: £157.80 ($207.19)

• Flight from Salta – Buenos Aires: £65.80
• Buses: £42
• Uber/Taxi: £50

To note – the taxi price wouldn’t have been so high had I not gone to the complete wrong side of Buenos Aires when trying to get to the stadium. A very heartbreaking lesson in double-checking the location on Uber is entered correctly.

How much activities cost in Argentina:

Thanks to a lot of outdoor activities, costs were pretty low: £105.01 ($137.80 USD)

• El Hornaca guide: £15
• Football ticket for Rivers game: £70
• Entry to Recoleta Cemetery: £8.81
• Entry to Jardin Japones: £1.20
• Walking tour tip in Buenos Aires: £10

How much restaurants cost in Argentina:

Many days I would grab a light bite like empanadas or a sandwich for lunch. This figure includes eating out for lunch and dinner: £312 ($409 USD)

• Humahuaca: £54
• Tilcara: £41
• Purmamarca: £12
• Buenos Aires: £235

How much nights out cost in Argentina

This is based on going to a club twice in Buenos Aires and bars in Salta: £45 ($59 USD)

• Salta: £15
• Buenos Aires: £30

Other costs in Argentina

This is everything not already accounted for such as laundry, esims and random buys I have no memory of : £70 ($91.86 USD)

How much does it cost to travel to Argentina? FAQS

How much does it cost to travel to Argentina? A Summary

So there you have it, you can see how much it cost to travel to Argentina in 2024. This was entirely based on my experience here and as mentioned before, prices change regularly so always factor this in when planning a trip to Argentina.

Costs can vary widely depending on the style of travel and destinations but Argentina is still a great budget destination for travellers. And it’s truly a place that shouldn’t be missed.