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Argentina on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, though Argentina now needs more care than it did a few years ago. Allow about ARS 72,000 a day per person for a hostel or shared double, simple meals, one paid sight and local transport, plus domestic flights.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ARS30,000 | ARS70,000 | ARS180,000 |
| Food & drink | ARS25,000 | ARS50,000 | ARS100,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ARS12,000 | ARS30,000 | ARS60,000 |
| Local transport | ARS5,000 | ARS15,000 | ARS40,000 |
| Per person, per day | ARS72,000 | ARS165,000 | ARS380,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Argentina day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Sunday Feria de San Telmo along Calle Defensa, with antiques and street tango
- Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada facade and the Metropolitan Cathedral with San Martín's tomb
- Palermo's parks and the Rosedal rose garden
- Caminito's painted houses in La Boca by day
- Free milongas and tango in the plazas, such as Plaza Dorrego on Sunday evenings
- Hiking from El Chaltén to Laguna Capri and Mirador Fitz Roy (no park fee on the El Chaltén side, check on arrival)
Cheap eats
- Choripán at a market or costanera stall: roughly ARS 4,000–7,000
- Empanadas by the dozen from a neighbourhood shop: roughly ARS 1,000–2,000 each
- Pizza by the slice (porción) at a classic pizzería on Avenida Corrientes
- Menú ejecutivo lunch with main and drink: roughly ARS 10,000–18,000
- Medialunas and coffee at a corner bakery-café for breakfast
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in San Telmo and Palermo in Buenos Aires, where hostel dorms cost very roughly ARS 15,000–30,000 and guesthouse doubles ARS 40,000–80,000. El Chaltén and El Calafate have good hostels, but book them early for December–February.
Getting around cheaply
In Buenos Aires use the Subte and colectivos with a SUBE card. From Ezeiza, shared Tienda León buses into the centre are much cheaper than a taxi, and city bus 8 is the cheapest of all but slow. For long distances, compare overnight buses with low-cost flights: on big hops like Buenos Aires–El Calafate, a JetSMART or Flybondi fare booked early is often only a little more than the bus.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Plaza de Mayo, Cathedral and a walk down Avenida de Mayo (free)
- Lunch: menú ejecutivo near San Telmo, about ARS 15,000
- Afternoon: Recoleta Cemetery (about US$14 in pesos) and Palermo parks by colectivo
- Evening: empanadas and a bottle of shop Malbec at the hostel, about ARS 10,000
- Total: about ARS 70,000 including a dorm bed
More ways to save
- Bring a few clean US$100 notes as a backup; Western Union transfers can still give a slightly better rate than cards.
- Withdraw larger amounts at once, since each ATM withdrawal carries a high fixed fee.
- Self-cater in Patagonia, where restaurant meals cost much more than in the north.
- Hike the free trails around El Chaltén instead of paying for organised excursions.
- Visit Iguazú's Brazilian side on the same day you cross for a cheaper rodízio in Foz, rather than a separate trip.
- Look for 'precio de contado' or cash discounts in small shops and guesthouses, and ask before you pay.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day in Argentina on a budget?
About ARS 72,000 per person: roughly ARS 30,000 for a bed, 25,000 for food, 12,000 for sights and 5,000 for local transport. Domestic flights and long buses are extra.
Is the bus cheaper than flying in Argentina?
On short and medium routes, yes. On very long hops such as Buenos Aires to El Calafate, a low-cost flight booked early can cost only a little more than a 40-hour bus ride, so compare both.
Where can budget travellers stay in Buenos Aires?
San Telmo has hostels and guesthouses in old townhouses near Plaza de Mayo; Palermo has more hostels close to restaurants and nightlife. Both are well connected by Subte and bus.