Money & Payments in Córdoba

Good to Know

• Avoid airport currency exchanges and ATMs—rates and fees are poorest there.
• Use MEP (Electronic Means of Payment) rate with Visa/Mastercard for better exchange rates than official rate. Visa charges at time of purchase; Mastercard charges official rate and refunds difference later.
• Bring US dollar bills (clean, large denominations $50–$100) to exchange locally for better rates than ATM withdrawals.
• Dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and terminals (paying in foreign currency instead of pesos) results in poor rates—always choose to be charged in Argentine Pesos.
• Digital wallets like Mercado Pago and MODO dominate local commerce but usually require a local bank account; foreigners cannot easily access them.
• QR payments are now standard in Cordoba for many businesses, but typically require local banking infrastructure.
• Credit card payments are not possible at outdoor seating; do not leave cash or tips on tables due to petty theft risk—hand directly to server.
• Some restaurants include a 'cubierto' (cover/cutlery fee) of 0.50–3 USD per person; this is not a tip and goes to the restaurant, not staff.
• Western Union transfers offer competitive rates and avoid high ATM fees; allows picking up cash at local branches.
• Contactless and mobile payments (Google Pay, local cards) are growing but do not all offer the same exchange rates.
• Cash remains dominant for small transactions; estimate 25–27% of in-store transactions still use cash as of 2024.
• Second-biggest concern when leaving tips on table outdoors: money may be snatched by someone other than your server.