WhatsApp is the backbone of daily life here; restaurants, hosts, and tour operators all expect to be contacted through it. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards now get competitive exchange rates automatically (MEP rate), so the old blue-dollar arbitrage is gone. Cards are accepted widely, but carry some cash for taxis, tips, and small shops. Download offline maps before leaving cities, as connectivity gets spotty fast in Patagonia and rural areas.
Payment & Finance Apps
Mercado Pago
Essential
Argentina's ubiquitous digital wallet. Accepted at street vendors, restaurants, and shops via QR code across the entire country.
Pro tip: Mercado Pago requires an Argentine ID (DNI) to sign up, so most tourists can't create an account. You can still pay at many of the same merchants using a foreign contactless Visa or Mastercard. QR payments dominate daily commerce here, and your card's contactless tap will work at most places that display a QR code.
DólarYa
Nice to have
Tracks Argentina's multiple exchange rates in real time, including the official, blue, and MEP rates.
Pro tip: Since April 2025, the gap between Argentina's exchange rates has mostly closed. Your foreign credit card now gets a competitive rate (MEP) automatically. DólarYa is still handy to double-check rates before large cash exchanges, but it's no longer the must-have it was in 2023.
