How are foreigners handling everyday payments in Buenos Aires?

[simongs]

Depends on how long you are here for. QR code-based payment is only available to persons with a DNI. So that excludes a lot of expats anyway.

Now, for others, if you apply for temporary residence, you can open a bank account and get a local ATM/debit card, and that, combined with a little bit of cash, takes care of almost all the places where you would need to pay.

If you are here just as a tourist, a combination of cash and your foreign credit card is the solution. Most cafes accept credit cards, Apple Pay, or NFC-based or physical cards.

Thanks! Yes I will be the for a month only

 

[simongs]

To add to what Sr. @Rich One wrote:

There is less acceptance of credit cards by retailers (I understand this is because of the time it takes for the retailer to get the money). The exception to this is online purchases, e.g. bus / ferry / plane tickets, where debit cards are often not accepted. I've also seen that foreign debit cards are treated as credit cards for local transactions (don't know how this happens, but it does).

People send themselves money via Western Union and Moneygram, paid out in Pesos. Some cuevas can also receive funds and pay out in either USD or Pesos. Lots of info in the forum, entire threads, even. Always have a backup method of getting cash.

Great thanks!!!!

 

[simongs]

I think one of the apps discussed was Peanut pay app

You wouldn't need to be a resident or have a DNI to use it I believe.

I check it out but is only web right? I dont see the app to download

 

[simongs]

Howdy Simon,

You are going to get different answers, because you stating "foreigners and expats" doesn't implicitly state what their access is to the local banking system. Some foreigners or expats have access, others don't.

It sounds like you are going to be a "tourist", with no access to a local bank. In which case, the solution is going to be the same as visiting any other developed country.

I want Pesos and I have no Dollars on me:

Western Union or Moneygram to send funds to yourself
Debit Cards for ATM cash withdrawals

I want Pesos and I have dollars to trade:

Exchange houses for physical cash currency change

I have no Pesos but I want to buy something:

Credit Cards for purchases

Great thanks! Have you tried the apps mentioned like peanut? I like the idea of load it with USDC

 

[LuckyLuke]

Great thanks! Have you tried the apps mentioned like peanut? I like the idea of load it with USDC

Personally, no. I've never touched crypto as an investment or currency, though the "Dólar Cripto" rate tends to have the highest peso exchange rate.

IMO the whole "Digital Wallet" app ecosystem down here is a pain in the ass. There are dozens upon dozens of apps down here. Everybody claims to have the next hottest one that has the highest rate. At the end of the day though when you factor in commissions to transfer USD to USDT or USDC then commissions to transfer to your wallet, transactions fees, withdrawal fees, etc. the savings seem to be fairly meager compared to traditional methods. They are also rife with fraud if you don't understand the ins/outs. If you have a good head for apps and want to squeeze a few % of exchange rate savings, have at it.

 

[Rich One]

As long as your bank allows it, you can add any of your cards on Apple pay and you choose which one you want to use to pay in each case. It's very convenient and I've been using it all over the world where they have the contactless option. You don't need to say you pay with "Apple Pay" but only "contactless". To my knowledge this bypasses ARCA, at least most of the times.

A basic question? Apple pay works only on Iphones?

 

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

A basic question? Apple pay works only on Iphones?

Google pay works on android phones

 

[SlowWalker]

A basic question? Apple pay works only on Iphones?

Yes. Google pay is available on Android and finding in similar manner

 

[SlowWalker]

I check it out but is only web right? I dont see the app to download

It's an app. I know someone that used it. That was in December.

Maybe try signing up in the website and they send you the link?

 

[Silvie]

A basic question? Apple pay works only on Iphones?

It seems to me that it's only for iphone.