Is Argentina an Expensive Country to Visit in 2025?

As an American expat who has chosen to make Argentina my home for the past 15 years, I’ve seen the country go through five presidents and ongoing economic woes that have placed Argentina at the top of the charts for countries with the highest inflation. 

Due to a run on the banks in 2001, the Argentine people lost faith in their currency and began a parallel black market economy using the US Dollar. Inconsistent monetary policies have left the state of the economy in a huge mess. 

The Argentine peso has devalued from 3ARS to 1USD (in 2009) to reach a max of 1500ARS to 1USD (in 2024).

That means your dollar should stretch further now, right? Well, not necessarily. 

• The best time to visit Argentina was in 2023, when prices were incredibly affordable and you could dine out on steak and malbec every night. This was before current president Milei was sworn in,
• Thanks to Milei’s new economic policies, the peso is slowly gaining value against the dollar. However, the adjustment period has been brutal for the local population. Uncertainty about the future means that prices have gone up not only in pesos but in USD as well.
• Fast food in Argentina is now almost as expensive as in Switzerland, according to the Big Mac Index. And a coffee is ~U$3.50-$5.50 (depending on your order)- the most expensive price for a coffee in Latin America. 

Read on to learn more about the costs of planning a trip to Argentina. 

Is now a good time to visit Argentina? 

A lot of people are asking me “Is it cheap to travel to Argentina”? I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled from Jujuy to Ushuaia and visited almost all the provinces. I can tell you that Argentina has never been a budget destination to travel (like Thailand, for example). 

• Thanks to its sheer size and inhospitable regions, parts of the country are underdeveloped and unpopulated except for tourist outposts. 
• Flying is an expensive mode of transportation, and direct flights are not always offered between destinations like El Chaltén and Iguazu Falls. 

• Neighboring countries like Brazil and Chile are a better bargain right now. One reason is cheaper flights. Airlines in Brazil and Chile are better connected through major hubs of Sao Paolo and Santiago de Chile, and have greater demand for direct flights. While Chile shares similar desert and Patagonian climates as Argentina, the overall tourist experience is cheaper, factoring in the cost of groceries and dining out. 

The short answer about prices for travelers in Argentina is that they’re expected to go up in the coming years. The cost of living in Buenos Aires is currently on par with major European cities in Europe, like Madrid. 

What that means for you:

• DON’T postpone your trip hoping Argentina will get cheaper. Buy your flight to Buenos Aires 3-6 months in advance for the best price. 
• DO set a realistic budget for your trip. Expect flights and daily food prices to be as expensive or more than back home.
• DON’T arrive in the country without a travel plan. Select 2-3 destinations to visit, including Buenos Aires.  
• DO research which parks don’t charge visitors an entry fee. Major national parks, such as Los Glaciares in Patagonia, are now $45 a day to visit. 

What it costs to travel in Argentina

	In Buenos Aires	In Patagonia	Rest of Argentina
Bed in hostel dorm	$15-$20	$30	$8
Private room in a hostel	$30	$60	$38
Mid-range hotel	$55	$80	$50
Airbnb	$40	$70	$30
Beef empanada	$2 (El Santa Evita restaurant)	$2 (Don Pichon restaurant, El Calafate)	$1 (La Nueva Criollita, Salta)
Rib-eye steak	$50 (Hierro Parrilla San Telmo)	$30(Carnero restaurant, Bariloche)	$24(El Asadito restaurant, Mendoza)
Slow-cooked lamb shoulder	$50 (Jose El Carnicero restaurant)	$31(La Zaina Restaurant, El Calafate)	$40 (Ramos Generales at Bodega Kaiken, Mendoza)
Bus trips	Less than $2 (inside the city)	$25 (El Calafate to El Chalten)	$60 (Buenos Aires to Mendoza)
Flights	$1,050 (NYC to BA, American Airlines)	$435 (BA to Ushuaia, Aerolineas Argentinas)	$170 (BA to Salta, Aerolineas Argentinas)
Tours (e.g. ice trekking tour in El Calafate or a winery tour in Mendoza)	$55 (average tour cost on AirBnb Experiences)	$438 (Perito Moreno Glaciar Trek)	$60 (Mendoza Winery Bus Tour)

What does it cost to spend one week in Argentina?

Highlights of Argentina: (Buenos Aires, Bariloche, El Calafate

From $2,885 USD pp traveling on a low to mid-range budget: 

• Buenos Aires (2 nights)
  • $1,350 round-trip flight (NYC to Buenos Aires, American Airlines)
  • $18 Uber from the airport (EZE)
  • $10 public transport (bus and subway)
  • $34 city tour (I recommend this one with local guide Belenile)
  • $60 studio AirBnb
  • $10 empanadas and soda lunch
  • $60 steak dinner with glass of Malbec
  • $8 breakfast (grocery store eggs and fruit, coffee to-go)
  • $10 milanesa and soda lunch
  • $8 pizza and soda dinner
  • $10 Uber to the local airport (AEP)
• Bariloche (2 nights)
  • $100 flight (Aerolineas Argentinas)
  • $10 Uber from the airport
  • $40: 2 nights in a shared room in a hostel
  • $30 bike rental 
  • $15 lunch with a beer at a brewery
  • $50 lamb/steak dinner with a glass of wine
  • $8 breakfast (grocery store)
  • $10 picnic basket to-go to take hiking
  • $15 burger, fries and soda dinner
  • $10 Uber to the airport

• El Calafate (2 nights)
  • $250 flight (Aerolineas Argentinas)
  • $15 Uber from airport
  • $40: 2 nights in a shared room in a hostel
  • $170 Boat tour of the Perito Moreno glacier (includes tour, 3-day park pass and Ubers)
  • $15 lunch (grocery store)
  • $40 lamb dinner with a glass of wine
  • $10 breakfast (grocery store)
  • $15 lunch (grocery store)
  • $30 pasta and soda dinner 
  • $15 Uber to airport
• Buenos Aires
  • $300 flight (Aerolineas Argentinas)
  • $30: 1 night in a studio AirBnb
  • $8 breakfast (grocery store, coffee to-go)
  • $15 lunch
  • $40 dinner
  • $20 Uber to airport

Tips for traveling in Argentina on a budget

Tips for saving cash

• Plan before you travel! Last-minute decisions on airfare, lodging, and dining out while hangry can cost you money. For inspiration, discover three Argentina itineraries for seven, ten and fourteen days here.
• Don’t try to travel the length of the entire country. Argentina is the size of all of Europe. Instead, pick two to three must-see destinations and cut costs on lodging.  Stick to just one region (ie: Salta & Jujuy, or Bariloche & the 7 Lakes Region). Use Buenos Aires as a home base to fly to destinations like Ushuaia or Iguazu Falls.

• Bring all your travel gear and clothing; don’t plan to buy it in Argentina. Quality waterproof hiking and snow gear are imported and therefore very expensive. Buy clothing before you travel. You’ll need a warm jacket with a waterproof shell and hood and a pair of ankle lace-up waterproofed hiking boots with good traction. Bear in mind that some nightclubs and cultural destinations have a dress code to get in. 
• Invest in rental equipment like hiking poles or crampons for mountain treks. There are rental shops in destinations like El Chaltén and Bariloche. 
• In Buenos Aires, stay at accommodation downtown or in San Telmo. These neighborhoods are cheaper than Palermo and closer to cultural landmarks and free walking tours.

How to eat for cheap 

• How much is a meal in Argentina? Eating at a sit-down restaurant for lunch costs roughly $10-$20, while dinners are $30-$60 per person.
• Don’t eat out for breakfast or brunch (these meals are grossly overpriced). Instead, buy groceries and cook at home.
• For coffee fanatics, skip the oat milk latte order and ask for an americano (search for cafe de especialidad on Google Maps). Buying quality coffee beans to brew at home is very expensive.

• Make your own lunches and snacks to take on hikes and excursions. Find lodging that is close to local grocery stores or chino supermarkets (similar to a NYC bodega).
• Load up on calorie-rich dishes with large portions. Ask your waiter if they charge extra to share dishes. 
• Use my Buenos Aires maps to find cheap meals. Eat at a bodegon (pizza, pasta, milanesas, steak). Choose neighborhood parrillas (steakhouses) over touristy ones like Don Julio
• Ask your waiter if they offer a cash discount before you sit down. This can result in savings of between 10 and 15% off. 

How to take affordable public transport

Taking the bus is always the cheapest option (whether traveling in Patagonia or crossing the city in Buenos Aires), but can eat into time allocated for a busy travel schedule. Bus trips can take 20 minutes to 20 hours!

For local city buses buy a SUBE card ($1500 pesos). In Buenos Aires: at the kiosk inside the Ezeiza airport, or at major subway (Plaza Italia) and train stations (Retiro). In other provinces: use this map to find places to buy SUBE cards.

Load money onto your SUBE card (using cash at kiosks or VISA credit card at subway stations). Each trip costs between $200-$800 pesos. 

Check your card’s balance when you swipe it (you can go negative $1200 pesos before needing to recharge).

You can use the same SUBE card for up to three people to travel together. 

When using the bus, make sure you get on the right bus! Check to see that the sign in the dashboard window corresponds to the route you want to take. 

These bus schedules should help you navigate:

• For travel in Bariloche (Rio Negro province): Local bus schedule (bus stops correspond to kilometers from town)
• For travel in Villa La Angostura (Neuquen province): Local bus schedule (four different routes to tourist attractions)
• For travel in San Salvador de Jujuy (Jujuy province): Local bus schedule
• For travel in Salta (Salta province): Local bus schedule (choose a bus route based on your destination, for example: route 5 for the Mercado Artesanal). Note that this province does not use SUBE cards for its bus system, instead, purchase a SAETA card

You can find long-distance bus tickets to travel to Patagonia or Northern Argentina. Search sites like Busbud or Central de Pasajes to get an idea of ticket prices. For the best price, purchase bus tickets in cash at the bus terminal (Retiro station in Buenos Aires); however, many buses in Patagonia fill up at day or two in advance, so buying online is recommended there. 

When purchasing a ticket, choose roundtrip (ida y vuelta) or one-way (solo ida). I would also recommend buying cama or cama ejecutivo for maximum comfort on long trips (fully reclinable seats) and seats towards the front of the bus (to avoid bathroom smells). 

For the best views through the window, pick seats on the top level at the front. 

Sometimes you’ll get better prices and quality buses using local companies:

• Bus connection between El Calafate and El Chalten (3 hours)
• ViaBariloche to book a bus from Buenos Aires to Bariloche
• La Veloz del Norte for buses to Salta, Jujuy and Tucuman

Traveling overnight can also save you plenty of cash over a more pricey airline ticket. Routes I recommend include:

• Buenos Aires to Mendoza (~15 hours)
• Mendoza to Salta (~20 hours)
• Salta to Buenos Aires (~23 hours)

Read my guide to transportation in Argentina for more recommendations. 

Finding affordable accommodation

AirBnbs are an affordable option in Argentina and can cost from $30 USD for a one-night stay in a studio apartment. 

The local alternative to Airbnb is called an aparthotel and you can book many of these on Booking.com (which generally offers free cancellation until very close to your stay). 

Check-in is at a front desk (similar to a hotel) with kitchen amenities in your room (like a studio apartment). In major cities, you’ll find they’re priced similar to or higher than budget AirBnbs. 

Hostels are good for solo travelers or travel with a group of friends. A bunk bed in a shared room goes for as little as U$8. A private room with a bathroom at a hostel is an average $30 USD.

If you’re traveling while working remotely and need reliable WiFi, choose a coworking hostel chain like Selina or Sociatel.

Selina has a location in Salta Capital. A bunk bed in a shared room goes for U$14-18 (they even have rooms exclusively for female travelers).

Sociatel has locations in Buenos Aires (Palermo SoHo), Bariloche, and Cordoba. A bunk bed in a shared room is U$20 per night (female-only rooms available). A private room with a bathroom is U$60 per night.

The cheapest time of the year to visit Argentina 

If you’re visiting from the US, you probably have limited vacation days to spend in Argentina. 

Most of the time, travelers try to calculate how to stretch their PTO by adding on US holidays like Christmas or New Year’s. Unfortunately, winter is actually the most expensive time of year to travel to Argentina. 

Because the seasons are flipped in the Southern Hemisphere, December-March is summer for Argentines. Tourists expecting to enjoy the lively nightlife of Buenos Aires during the summer are sadly disappointed to find the city empty and all the partygoers migrating to the beach. 

If you’ve ever traveled to Europe in August, you’ll know that prices go up, and hotels in tourist destinations are all booked up by locals.

However, if you visit late November you’ll be able to use the Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy spring weather. This is the best time to see the flowering purple jacaranda trees that Buenos Aires is known for. 

It’s also a great time to enjoy hikes in Patagonia, as some of the trails are inaccessible from June to August. 

If you’re on an extreme budget, you might want to stick to Northern Argentina (Salta, Jujuy, Tucuman, Catamarca). This part of the country is closer to Bolivia and you can enjoy street food and book lodgings for cheaper than in Buenos Aires or Patagonia. Travel by bus (~U$13 per bus ticket) instead of renting a car (~U$400+). 

The environment is reminiscent of the American Southwest, with stunning desert landscapes and rock formations. The best time to visit Northern Argentina is June-August (a balmy 70°F average temperature). During the months of December through March, however, rain causes flash floods and the average temperature is 90°F.

Iguazu Falls is on many travelers’ bucket lists as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. However, new government policies have increased park entry fees (now U$39) and it’s no longer part of the budget destinations in Northern Argentina. 

If you can’t visit Argentina without seeing the falls, go during the months of May, June, or September. There will be fewer local visitors and the walkway to see the main attraction, the Garganta del Diablo won’t be closed due to flooding. 

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To help you further plan your travel budget, this article will help you make the most out of your money in Argentina, while you can read about the best time to visit Argentina here. If you’re looking to enjoy the nature of this spectacular country, you can discover the 13 coolest Argentine National Parks in this article, and no trip is complete without a visit to Buenos Aires – the vibrant capital city.