Best Place to Exchange Money in Buenos Aires

Where to change money in Buenos Aires

The city tourist board says casas de cambio and most banks change money if you show ID, and advises using only legal, regulated outlets. No individual business could be confirmed from two sources, so none is named.

• Registered casas de cambio and banks, microcentro (Florida, Lavalle and Avenida de Mayo) - The financial district has the main cluster of exchange offices. Count the notes at the counter and keep the receipt: the tourist board says you may need it to change pesos back.
• Street changers ('arbolitos'), Florida and Lavalle - Touts calling 'cambio, cambio' still gather where Florida meets Lavalle. The street trade is illegal, and in 2024 the Federal Police broke up a gang passing forged notes to tourists in the microcentro and San Telmo, urging people to use registered exchange houses.

Changing money at the airport

Ezeiza (EZE), the international airport, is 32 km from the centre, about 50 minutes away according to the city tourist board; Aeroparque (AEP), for domestic and regional flights, is within 25 minutes of the main hotels. We could not confirm from an official source which exchange desks or cash machines operate in either terminal, so do not plan on changing a large sum when you land.

From Ezeiza, Tienda León coaches run to the company's base in Puerto Madero. Taxis wait at both airports, and private transfers can be booked ahead or on arrival. Public buses serve the airports too, but you need a SUBE card and there is little room for luggage.

ATMs and cards in Buenos Aires

Argentina lifted most currency controls for individuals in April 2025, and the official dollar now floats within a band. On 7 October 2026 Infobae and Ámbito put the street (blue) dollar only about 1 per cent above the Banco Nación rate, against roughly 3 per cent in June 2025, so bringing dollar bills to sell on the street no longer pays.

Cash machines work around the clock and take major international cards, the tourist board says. Your own bank and the machine's operator may both charge, so check your bank's overseas fees and read any charge shown on screen. Most hotels and many large shops accept cards, while some smaller businesses want cash. If a machine or terminal offers to bill you in pounds, choose pesos. The FCDO warns that express kidnappers sometimes force victims to empty their accounts at cash machines, so withdraw in daylight, ideally inside a bank.

Paying for transport in Buenos Aires

Buses (colectivos), the Subte and trains run on the SUBE card. The national government said in May 2025 that city buses also accept a tap from a Visa or Mastercard card, a phone or a watch, and the city says its Subte gates accept contactless cards at every station. Neither mentions foreign-issued cards, so keep a SUBE card as a backup.

From 1 October 2026 the minimum city bus fare is ARS 920.48 with a registered SUBE, rising with distance, and a Subte ride costs ARS 1,817, Infobae and La Nación report. Bank-card taps on buses pay a set average fare instead. Provincial and national bus lines charge their own fares, and prices rise most months. The FCDO advises avoiding casual taxis: book ahead, or hail only a radio taxi with its logo on the doors.

Good to know

• Inflation moves prices quickly, so treat every peso figure here as an October 2026 snapshot.
• Tipping is voluntary, and around 10 per cent is usual in restaurants, La Nación reports. Since November 2024 businesses must let you add a tip on the card terminal.
• The FCDO names Florida Street, San Telmo, La Boca, Palermo, Retiro and Avenida de Mayo among places to take particular care; if you are robbed, hand over valuables without resistance.
• Visitors can reclaim VAT on Argentine-made goods from Global Blue shops; keep the receipts and complete the forms at customs as you leave.
• Leaving, a casa de cambio will change pesos back only up to the equivalent of US$100, the tourist board says.