Banking Credit Card real-world rate "MEP" transaction repo (Dec2023)

[Blockchain]

MEP is still 7% less Pesos per Dollar than the posted rate...no change so far in 2025. and today's real-world MEP is 1,152.15 ARS/USD with Visa. the Ambito website shows 1,228.31 right now, so about 6.2% less than advertised. i'll catch-up on many months of data next week.

My American friend that is in BA now said she did a lot better just exchanging cash she brought down. I didn't think the prices were all that much using my credit card but I didn't factor in the cash discounts. She said many places are giving 10% to 15% cash discounts. I guess that adds up if you're going out to eat all the time which she is. She said between the difference in exchange rates for using a credit card and the cash discounts she is saving over 20% each time!

 

[StatusNomadicus]

@Blockchain absolutely, you get 1,210 pesos per dollar now: https://www.ambito.com/contenidos/dolar.html

...and MEP with Visa real-world rate is 1,152, so using a card without discounts is already 5% ahead if you don't mind the risk of walking with $100 bills, the possible scams, the possible commission costs (what is your friend paying, 3% total?), and with a 10% cash discount (i don't see much 15% ones here in Mendoza) you're ahead 15% already at least, if you have some Blue Dollar time under your belt 🙂

but having a MODO app with a DNI number/residency means 15-40% discounts, no cash needed, and real easy to track your budget. and my Santander app gives me 1,221.36 ARS/USD right now, and only takes less than an hour after i click the Sell button. so i am WAY ahead of the tourist-paying-cash rate. and i already have paid 3 different businesses in Mendoza with USD (hardware shop, health food store, accountant office), so it looks like the worry of illegally using Dollars is going away. even my fruit stand family had USD in their cash register, so i'm going to ask them if they'll take Dollars for a good discount!

@MikeYoung yeah i've been doing other stuff, but i do enjoy this forum. keep sharing it when you talk to people!

@Uncle Wong let's chat on this thread about living experiences, so we can keep this MEP thread on-topic...see ya there! https://www.expatsba.com/threads/li...asia-insights-from-an-expat-perspective.5122/

 

[Vero]

@Blockchain absolutely, you get 1,210 pesos per dollar now: https://www.ambito.com/contenidos/dolar.html

...and MEP with Visa real-world rate is 1,152, so using a card without discounts is already 5% ahead if you don't mind the risk of walking with $100 bills, the possible scams, the possible commission costs (what is your friend paying, 3% total?), and with a 10% cash discount (i don't see much 15% ones here in Mendoza) you're ahead 15% already at least, if you have some Blue Dollar time under your belt 🙂

but having a MODO app with a DNI number/residency means 15-40% discounts, no cash needed, and real easy to track your budget. and my Santander app gives me 1,221.36 ARS/USD right now, and only takes less than an hour after i click the Sell button. so i am WAY ahead of the tourist-paying-cash rate. and i already have paid 3 different businesses in Mendoza with USD (hardware shop, health food store, accountant office), so it looks like the worry of illegally using Dollars is going away. even my fruit stand family had USD in their cash register, so i'm going to ask them if they'll take Dollars for a good discount!

@MikeYoung yeah i've been doing other stuff, but i do enjoy this forum. keep sharing it when you talk to people!

@Uncle Wong let's chat on this thread about living experiences, so we can keep this MEP thread on-topic...see ya there! https://www.expatsba.com/threads/li...asia-insights-from-an-expat-perspective.5122/

Modo savings add up. Not only that but also Mercado Pago or Club La Nacion. All can save you money but many people with no DNI can't open accounts too easily.

 

[Larry]

@Blockchain absolutely, you get 1,210 pesos per dollar now: https://www.ambito.com/contenidos/dolar.html

...and MEP with Visa real-world rate is 1,152, so using a card without discounts is already 5% ahead if you don't mind the risk of walking with $100 bills, the possible scams, the possible commission costs (what is your friend paying, 3% total?), and with a 10% cash discount (i don't see much 15% ones here in Mendoza) you're ahead 15% already at least, if you have some Blue Dollar time under your belt 🙂

but having a MODO app with a DNI number/residency means 15-40% discounts, no cash needed, and real easy to track your budget. and my Santander app gives me 1,221.36 ARS/USD right now, and only takes less than an hour after i click the Sell button. so i am WAY ahead of the tourist-paying-cash rate. and i already have paid 3 different businesses in Mendoza with USD (hardware shop, health food store, accountant office), so it looks like the worry of illegally using Dollars is going away. even my fruit stand family had USD in their cash register, so i'm going to ask them if they'll take Dollars for a good discount!

@MikeYoung yeah i've been doing other stuff, but i do enjoy this forum. keep sharing it when you talk to people!

@Uncle Wong let's chat on this thread about living experiences, so we can keep this MEP thread on-topic...see ya there! https://www.expatsba.com/threads/li...asia-insights-from-an-expat-perspective.5122/

Paying cash saves a lot of money and once the blue dollar is devalued we will have a big spread again.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

people with no DNI can't open accounts

this for sure is the correct wording...no DNI, no Santander/etc. accounts, no Dollar account, no MODO, no MercadoPago/Libre, nada.

Paying cash saves a lot of money

maybe 10% most of the time, but getting a Dollar MEP good rate on Santander, then using those Pesos linked to MODO can get 15-25-40% discounts with Santander/BNA+ MODO, so i have actually NOT been using cash recently because the discounts aren't as good. and i've been paying $100 USD bills sometimes for big mayorista purchases at shops that will give me the middle-spread Blue Dollar rate. Larry, i automatically hate everything you write after over a year of reading your stupidity and political NPC zealotry, but do you not use the MODO app???

 

[MikeYoung]

this for sure is the correct wording...no DNI, no Santander/etc. accounts, no Dollar account, no MODO, no MercadoPago/Libre, nada.


maybe 10% most of the time, but getting a Dollar MEP good rate on Santander, then using those Pesos linked to MODO can get 15-25-40% discounts with Santander/BNA+ MODO, so i have actually NOT been using cash recently because the discounts aren't as good. and i've been paying $100 USD bills sometimes for big mayorista purchases at shops that will give me the middle-spread Blue Dollar rate. Larry, i automatically hate everything you write after over a year of reading your stupidity and political NPC zealotry, but do you not use the MODO app???

Unfortunately it sounds like no way to utilize Modo without having residency here. Darn. @StatusNomadicus any way you know of for me to somehow use the Modo App? Is it only linked to a bank account or could I use this if a friend let me log in to their Modo account? I have never used it so don't know the set up. Or is this linked to a bank account? If so I'm sure no friend would allow me to use it.

 

[Avocado]

maybe 10% most of the time, but getting a Dollar MEP good rate on Santander, then using those Pesos linked to MODO can get 15-25-40% discounts with Santander/BNA+ MODO, so i have actually NOT been using cash recently because the discounts aren't as good. and i've been paying $100 USD bills sometimes for big mayorista purchases at shops that will give me the middle-spread Blue Dollar rate. Larry, i automatically hate everything you write after over a year of reading your stupidity and political NPC zealotry, but do you not use the MODO app???

I agree with you on this. You right. I always use this method. Always there is some discount. Before a big spread but now I do the same way you do StatusN. The discount add up for MODO!

 

[Avocado]

Unfortunately it sounds like no way to utilize Modo without having residency here. Darn. @StatusNomadicus any way you know of for me to somehow use the Modo App? Is it only linked to a bank account or could I use this if a friend let me log in to their Modo account? I have never used it so don't know the set up. Or is this linked to a bank account? If so I'm sure no friend would allow me to use it.

No when you pay it linked to your bank account. I don't know anyone that will trust their friend to charge anything to their bank account!

 

[earlyretirement]

this for sure is the correct wording...no DNI, no Santander/etc. accounts, no Dollar account, no MODO, no MercadoPago/Libre, nada.


maybe 10% most of the time, but getting a Dollar MEP good rate on Santander, then using those Pesos linked to MODO can get 15-25-40% discounts with Santander/BNA+ MODO, so i have actually NOT been using cash recently because the discounts aren't as good. and i've been paying $100 USD bills sometimes for big mayorista purchases at shops that will give me the middle-spread Blue Dollar rate. Larry, i automatically hate everything you write after over a year of reading your stupidity and political NPC zealotry, but do you not use the MODO app???

Yes it just depends on the stores so it depends. Cash can be great on big purchases. For example, Simmons gave us 30% off if we paid in cash. Some places it is worth it. MODO discounts do add up but many of them are capped on the limit but everything adds up. At Coto I was getting discounts for Modo, Mercado Pago some days.

You will find that many locals are in the "black" and flying under the radar on many purchases. Not so much with groceries but many people just like paying cash for everything. All these purchases get tracked by ARCA (Argentina IRS) so many just would rather use cash for everything. Adoption of electronic payments is good amongst the young but the reason there are huge discounts is trying to get adoption. But many old timers are still strictly cash.

 

[Uncle Wong]

this for sure is the correct wording...no DNI, no Santander/etc. accounts, no Dollar account, no MODO, no MercadoPago/Libre, nada.


maybe 10% most of the time, but getting a Dollar MEP good rate on Santander, then using those Pesos linked to MODO can get 15-25-40% discounts with Santander/BNA+ MODO, so i have actually NOT been using cash recently because the discounts aren't as good. and i've been paying $100 USD bills sometimes for big mayorista purchases at shops that will give me the middle-spread Blue Dollar rate. Larry, i automatically hate everything you write after over a year of reading your stupidity and political NPC zealotry, but do you not use the MODO app???

It sounds like I need to get residency ASAP! People told me I can't use Mercado Libre at all either without it and that would be essential. @StatusNomadicus I haven't read any posts from you on Amazon? Or maybe I missed it. What is your experience so far ordering stuff on Amazon? Does it work well? Do you order much from it? Good luck ordering and having the stuff show up? I read posts where it never arrived or people saying stuff was used or broken and a nightmare sending it back.

Would appreciate your experiences with Amazon. Thanks.

 

[Avocado]

It sounds like I need to get residency ASAP! People told me I can't use Mercado Libre at all either without it and that would be essential. @StatusNomadicus I haven't read any posts from you on Amazon? Or maybe I missed it. What is your experience so far ordering stuff on Amazon? Does it work well? Do you order much from it? Good luck ordering and having the stuff show up? I read posts where it never arrived or people saying stuff was used or broken and a nightmare sending it back.

Would appreciate your experiences with Amazon. Thanks.

No you can't use ML without DNI. They require it. I order from Amazon sometimes but always have problem. One time it get stuck in aduana. Another time they sent me used sheet for my bed. I tried to return but they want more in shipping than item! Never again. I use ML.

 

[StatusNomadicus]

still behind on data entry, but wanted to share current rates as of 03Apr2025 on the evening of Trump's communist tariffs:

MEP 1,320 (real-world likely ~1,228 for Visa/Mastercard)
Blue 1,290 Compra / 1,310 Venta
Crypto 1,325
Santander "MEP" instant Dollars-to-Pesos "Venta" 1,306-1,312 range today
WesternUnion 1,314-1,315 range today (assuming fee-free)

PS - i hate how Santander quotes me something like 1,310 this morning, then when my trade posts it gives a rate of 1,296. assholes.

also, any idea why selling Dollars for Pesos is "Venta" with Santander, yet (as far as i understand) the Blue rate lower value is what amount of Pesos you get from your Dollar (ignoring commission fees) exactly??

i have never used a Cueva so i never understood Blue rates (usually businesses here in Mendoza give me Pesos for the middle number, so if 1,290 and 1,310 then i get 1,300 exactly). why is Compra and Venta so weird? do i need to re-learn this??

no friend would allow me to use it.

need Residency (DNI number), no way around it that i've heard of so far, and for sure no one would let someone else have unlimited access to their digital wallet.

Simmons gave us 30% off

huge! never seen consistent cash discounts that good. maybe 15% max when i was in BsAs during the end of Peronism. but nowadays 10% only in Mendoza, and not that any cash discounts. LOTS of MercadoPago and MODO and things i can't access (credit card CencoPay, Carrefour Credit, Visa credit cards issued in Argentina, AmEx Argentina credit, etc. - all of these and mortgages you need Permanent Residency).

residency ASAP! People told me I can't use Mercado Libre at all either

yes, a DNI opens up 50% of Argentina that we can't access otherwise.

Amazon

i've gotten 2 boxes total, a year ago and now early 2025. it takes 3 weeks and you have to pay Amazon the 30% or so tariff fees (cue the Republican Trump cultists saying tariffs aren't a tax, lol), and i've never gotten a refund on these, and CorreoArgentino is fucking horrible at everything. ideally DHL or Andreani deliver the package, but i hate Andreani next most. thieves and scammers.



Amazon is good for over 100 bucks and waiting 3 weeks. i ordered a massive box of dog-poop bags that would have cost me WAY more to buy locally (yes, i'm one of the 15% of people here who pick-up every single thing my dog drops....looking at you, peronists! the park is not a big toilet for your lazy asses)

but overall now that i have MercadoLibre and i'm not buying much stuff with a furnished house, i haven't needed to order things. just got a new LG mini-split A/C unit for $725 USD shipped to me in Mendoza...this would have been 2,000 USD in the States.

aduana

this is the result of voting for a massive federal government that has sticky fingers in all aspects of our lives. why does Customs get to decide what i can buy from abroad? i just bought a vaporizer from a US retailer and now Aduanas has seized it at CorreoArgentino and demanding i pay 30% more AND a delivery fee of 7,000 Pesos - i hate communists. still don't have my vape a month later...and Argies wonder how their "Paris of Latin America" became a shithole so fast, on the way to Venezuela. these things are why; it's not complicated...let us peasants buy products without being hassled and extorted every step of the way. the USA is about to see this in real-time while libertarian Argies sit back and laugh at the stupidity. and a HUGE black market just got created in the USA today from Commie Trump's tariffs

 

[Betsy Ross]

but overall now that i have MercadoLibre and i'm not buying much stuff with a furnished house, i haven't needed to order things. just got a new LG mini-split A/C unit for $725 USD shipped to me in Mendoza...this would have been 2,000 USD in the States.

How did you get your AC so cheap? Was it on some special promotion? I don't see AC so cheap in BA. Did you find that on Mercado Libre? That seems like a great deal. I bought an AC last year and paid much more than that. What size was it?

this is the result of voting for a massive federal government that has sticky fingers in all aspects of our lives. why does Customs get to decide what i can buy from abroad? i just bought a vaporizer from a US retailer and now Aduanas has seized it at CorreoArgentino and demanding i pay 30% more AND a delivery fee of 7,000 Pesos - i hate communists. still don't have my vape a month later...and Argies wonder how their "Paris of Latin America" became a shithole so fast, on the way to Venezuela. these things are why; it's not complicated...let us peasants buy products without being hassled and extorted every step of the way. the USA is about to see this in real-time while libertarian Argies sit back and laugh at the stupidity. and a HUGE black market just got created in the USA today from Commie Trump's tariffs

Never buy anything that has to go through CorreoArgentino. They always do this. Every time I have tried to order something from a direct retailer I had aduana want a bribe. Unfortunately the US is probably going to experience high prices. I still can't believe it and would think Trump will have to back down but now I am not so sure. I believe now he thinks this will work. I feel so happy to have dumped all my stocks.