How to Avoid Insane Cash Machine Withdrawal Fees: Argentina
Argentina gets a bit of a bad rep for being an expensive country to travel in. I spent over 3 months of my time in South America in Argentina. Contrary to the critics, it's been much more affordable than I had envisaged.
So what's the big deal?!
There are two main costs that sting when you travel in Argentina.
ATM withdrawal fees
I'm not joking when I say withdrawing cash from an ATM will cost around US $10-$15 for a withdrawal of US $100-150. Ouch!!
2. Travel costs.
Getting a long-distance bus or a plane is not always cheap!
So let's tackle the first of the two:
Updated for 2026: I originally wrote this article after spending three months travelling around Argentina. I've kept many of my original experiences and observations because they're an important part of my journey, while updating the practical information to reflect how travelling in Argentina has changed over the years.
Cash Machine Withdrawal Fees
Some cash machines have relatively small withdrawal limits. Generally, international banks such as HSBC give you more but this isn't a hard and fast rule.
The best advice I can give you is to AVOID cash machine withdrawals! Unless they're necessary or you have an agreement set up with your bank where the fees are refundable.
There are usually three layers of cost:
A fee from the Argentinian ATM
A fee from your home bank
The exchange rate margin
So what are the best and cheapest ways to get cash in Argentina and reduce how much you pay for it? After spending over 3 months here, I have a few handy tips to share with you.
The main ways I managed cash in Argentina
1. Bring cash
US dollars (or other major currencies) are widely accepted in many places and often give you the best value when exchanged locally.
If you’re arriving from a neighbouring country such as Chile or Bolivia, it can sometimes make sense to withdraw cash before entering Argentina.
For USD, bring the latest notes in either US $50 or $100 as a lot of exchanges will only change the larger notes. Saying that, for EUR, some places won't exchange the €500 bill.
Sometimes you'll need your passport and the smallest amount they'll exchange is often $100.
2. Revolut (or similar travel card)
I used Revolut throughout South America to manage spending and reduce hidden exchange fees.
It also allowed me to track expenses easily and freeze my card instantly if needed, which gave extra peace of mind while travelling.
3. Western Union / money transfer services
In many cities, services like Western Union can be a practical alternative to ATMs.
They often involve a small transfer fee, but depending on the amount you’re sending, it can work out cheaper than repeated ATM withdrawals. The downside is that you may need to queue and bring ID to collect cash.
I usually found with larger sums of money, the fee can be cheaper.
4. Pay by card where possible
Card payments are common, especially in larger cities and hotels.
When available, I tried to use card payments to reduce the need for cash withdrawals altogether.
Paying for your accommodation by card is a huge money saver. But, some places will only accept cash, even though they're obliged to accept credit card.
5. Set up an agreement with your bank.
Some banks will refund your cash machine withdrawal fees abroad.
Check with your bank if they have one of these programs.
Long-distance buses and planes
Getting from one city to another in Argentina is never a short distance. If you're heading to Iguazu, Salta, Mendoza, Bariloche, El Calafate (to name a few!) you'll more than likely need to hop on a bus or a plane.
When travelling in Argentina, keep in mind that flying can often save you time AND money!! It's not uncommon for flights to be cheaper than the equivalent bus journey.
Useful websites for bus timetables:
Busbud: You can pay by card! Be sure to print off your bus ticket if it asks you to!
Platform 10: It's a widely used website in Argentina for reserving your bus ticket. You can often find more availability than on Busbud.
If you choose to fly, there are many low-cost options available including:
Aerolíneas Argentinas
JetSMART Argentina
Flybondi
Travelling in Argentina
Argentina isn't the cheapest South American country but it certainly wasn’t the most expensive (enter Chile + Uruguay!)
What surprised me most was how far my money could sometimes stretch once I settled into a rhythm of travelling there.
For example, in Patagonia I spent several days in El Chaltén where my daily costs were relatively low for the area, covering accommodation and food. I still treated myself to the occasional splurge meal, including some incredible Patagonian lamb, which was soooo delicious.
Compared to the W Circuit in Chile, Patagonia on the Argentine side felt noticeably more manageable financially, especially for longer stays.
Further north in Salta, I also found costs to be reasonable for solo travel. It’s one of those places where it’s easy to slow down, stay longer than planned, and not feel like you’re constantly overspending.
Overall, Argentina felt like a country where you could adjust your travel style depending on your budget. You can keep things affordable if you need to, but there are also plenty of opportunities to spend more when you want to splash out on something.
Taking a moment after climbing to the top of Laguna de Los Tres in El Chalten
So there you have it! I hope this post saves you pulling your hair out every time you enter that pin number into an ATM machine. Or even a few dollars here and there :).
Happy traveling!!
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