Argentina
How much does a trip to Buenos Aires cost?
Plan €1732 for 7 nights in Buenos Aires, return flight from London included, or €870 travelling cheap. On the ground that works out at €160 per person per day.
Buenos Aires - estimate transport, lodging, and meals before you book.
- From
- €50/day
- vs. London
- 72%
- Best month
- Dec
Your trip to Buenos Aires
Set the length, the number of travellers and the comfort level: the figures recompute here.
€1,732
per person, flight included
- on the ground
- €1,120
- flight from London
- €612
- per person per day, on the ground
- €160
InstantTripCost estimate
Full 7-night budget breakdown
Per-person estimate including flights from London, split across the six expense categories.
per person · Comfort
| Category | Budget | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | €520 | €612 | €918 |
| Hotel | €91 | €434 | €581 |
| Food | €168 | €378 | €945 |
| Transport | €56 | €126 | €315 |
| Activities | €21 | €98 | €378 |
| Misc | €14 | €84 | €266 |
| 7-night total | €870 | €1732 | €3403 |
Flight from London (annual median).
Unit prices
comfort
Enough to check the total yourself, line by line, at the comfort level you picked.
- €8
- Breakfast
- €15
- Lunch
- €31
- Dinner
- €6
- City ride
- €14
- Site admission
- €160
- A full day
Orders of magnitude derived from our measured ranges, not surveyed venue by venue. Prices vary by neighbourhood and season.
Why go
Why visit Buenos Aires
People come to Buenos Aires for the atmosphere, food, and heritage, but budget is the least-anticipated dimension of any trip: from €50 to €355 per day depending on travel style, the gap between budget and premium is easy to measure.
Buenos Aires is one of the rare destinations whose winter average stays above 18 °C, making it a credible escape during the grayest European months.
Real budget
What a trip to Buenos Aires actually costs
Let's break it down. Lodging: a hostel dorm or entry-level hotel runs around €13 per night, a well-rated 3-star around €62, and 4 to 5-star around €83. Food: around €8 a day eating local, €18 mixing canteens and restaurants, €45 if you sit down for dinner every evening.
Local transport: roughly €8 a day on public transit, €18 adding a few taxi rides. Activities: about €18 a day at a normal sightseeing pace, €45 if you stack paid entries and day trips.
On a 5-to-7-day trip, lodging accounts for roughly 35-45 % of total budget, food 15-20 %, flights 20-30 % depending on the booking window, with the remainder split between local transport, activities, and miscellaneous (visa, insurance, tipping, SIM card). A Buenos Aires trip that goes over budget is almost always because the hotel is oversized for the rest, rarely because of activities.
Seasonality
When to go and what it costs
The best price-weather compromise is December: temperatures in the 18-25 °C sweet spot, crowds still manageable, and airfares near the annual median. If budget is the priority, September delivers the cheapest flight of the year (€501 round-trip from London in median), at the cost of generally less pleasant weather.
Money saving
How to cut the Buenos Aires budget
Moving dates to a shoulder-season month remains the easiest saving: 10-20 % off the flight, 15-25 % off the hotel, with nothing else about the trip changing. For the hotel, booking 6 to 8 weeks out beats both last-minute and extreme anticipation.
Two more habits round it out. First, stay one or two metro stops away from the center: hotel rates often drop by half for identical comfort. Second, cap paid activities at one per day. A good guided tour or workshop beats four back-to-back tickets every time.
Practical info
Language, currency, and logistics in Buenos Aires
Language: Spanish, English is understood in most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Currency: Argentine Peso ($) - plan €50-100 in cash for the first days and use a fee-free card for the rest.
The three tiers
What a budget traveller, a comfort traveller and a premium traveller typically spend.
Budget
€45
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €13
- Meal
- €8
- Transit / day
- €8
Comfort
€134
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €62
- Meal
- €18
- Transit / day
- €18
Luxury
€263
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €83
- Meal
- €45
- Transit / day
- €45
Weather & best time to visit
Average temperatures and conditions by month in Buenos Aires.
Best month to visitDecember
Where to sleep in Buenos Aires
The hotels we measured
Accommodation picks by price range.
La Casa del Loro, San Telmo - 8 habitaciones
guesthouse, decent (7.8/10) from 148 reviews.
Hostel Miraflores
Hostel, decent (7.3/10) from 813 reviews.
ViaVia BsAs GuestHouse
guesthouse, very well rated (8.5/10) from 458 reviews.
El Misti Hotel Buenos Aires Centro
Hotel, well rated (8.3/10) from 2,339 reviews.
Gran Hotel Argentino
Hotel, decent (7.6/10) from 10,517 reviews.
Pasaje Solar
Hotel, well rated (8.2/10) from 358 reviews.
Grand King Hotel
Hotel, well rated (8.2/10) from 7,359 reviews.
Premium Polo de Bs.As
Hotel, rated excellent (9.7/10) from 97 reviews.
All observed hotels in Buenos Aires
24 properties, nightly rate for a 2-night stay arriving 15 October 2026.
| Hotel | Category | Rating | From / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Casa del Loro, San Telmo - 8 habitaciones | Budget | ★ 7.8 | €1 |
| Hostel Miraflores | Budget | ★ 7.3 | €9 |
| Blue hostel | Budget | ★ 4.5 | €9 |
| Blue hostel | Budget | ★ 1 | €10 |
| Hospedaje La Rana | Budget | ★ 6.3 | €11 |
| Lead Hostel | Budget | ★ 8.5 | €11 |
| Quinba Hostel | Budget | ★ 7.2 | €11 |
| IDEAL CENTER | Budget | ★ 7.5 | €12 |
| ViaVia BsAs GuestHouse | Mid-range | ★ 8.5 | €37 |
| El Misti Hotel Buenos Aires Centro | Mid-range | ★ 8.3 | €38 |
| Gran Hotel Argentino | Mid-range | ★ 7.6 | €39 |
| Urbe Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.8 | €40 |
| A Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.3 | €44 |
| Up Central Córdoba | Mid-range | ★ 8.4 | €45 |
| Pasaje Solar | Luxury | ★ 8.2 | €49 |
| Grand King Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.2 | €51 |
| Premium Polo de Bs.As | Luxury | ★ 9.7 | €51 |
| Up Barrio Norte | Mid-range | ★ 8.5 | €52 |
| HTL Urbano | Luxury | ★ 8.5 | €52 |
| Hotel UTHGRA de las Luces | Mid-range | ★ 8 | €54 |
| Acevedo 716 - Apart Hotel - New opening | Luxury | ★ 9 | €55 |
| M Concept Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.1 | €59 |
| Believe Madero Hotel | Luxury | ★ 7.8 | €65 |
| Bristol Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.3 | €66 |
Things to do in Buenos Aires
Recommended activities and tours.
Plaza de Mayo
The Plaza de Mayo (Latin American Spanish pronunciation: [ˈplasa ðe ˈmaʝo], Rioplatense: [- ˈmaʒo, - ˈmaʃo]; English: May Square) is the main city square of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was formed in 1884 after the demolition of the Recova building, unifying the city's Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Armas, by that time known as Plaza de la Victoria and Plaza 25 de Mayo, respectively.
Square
National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
The National Museum of Fine Arts (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes) is an Argentine art museum in Buenos Aires, located in the Recoleta section of the city. The Museum inaugurated a branch in Neuquén in 2004.
Art museum
Torre Monumental
Torre Monumental (Spanish for "Monumental Tower"), formerly known as Torre de los Ingleses ("Tower of the English"), is a clock tower located in the barrio (district) of Retiro in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is situated in the Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina (formerly Plaza Británica) by Avenida San Martín and Avenida del Libertador.
Monument
National Museum of Decorative Arts
The National Museum of Decorative Arts is an art museum in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Art museum
National Historical Museum
The National Historical Museum (Spanish: Museo Histórico Nacional) is a museum located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is a museum dedicated to the history of Argentina, exhibiting objects relating to the May Revolution and the Argentine War of Independence. The museum is under the guidance of the Secretariat of Culture.
History museum
Parque Tres de Febrero
Parque Tres de Febrero, popularly known as Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods), is an urban park of approximately 400 hectares (about 989 acres) located in the neighborhood of Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located between Libertador and Figueroa Alcorta Avenues, it is known for its groves, lakes, and rose gardens (El Rosedal).
Park
Plaza San Martín
Plaza San Martín (English: San Martín Square) is a park located in the Retiro neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Situated at the northern end of pedestrianized Florida Street, the park is bounded by Libertador Ave. (N), Maipú St. (W), Santa Fe Avenue (S), and Leandro Alem Av. (E).
Square
El Faro Towers
The El Faro Towers (Spanish: Torres El Faro "Lighthouse Towers"), also known as El Faro I/II, when referring to the complex individually, or El Faro Complex, when referring to the pair as a whole, are a highrise residential complex of two, twin interconnected skyscrapers located in the neighborhood of Puerto Madero, in Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina. The El Faro Towers are made of glass, most specially used for the skyscraper's windows, and reinforced concrete.
Tower
Our Lady of Mercy Church
Our Lady of Mercy Church of Buenos Aires (Spanish: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced de Buenos Aires) is an Argentine Catholic church. It is located on Calle Reconquista corner of Tte.
Church
Cabildo of Buenos Aires
The Cabildo of Buenos Aires (Spanish: Cabildo de Buenos Aires) is the public building in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, that was used as a seat of the town council during the colonial era and the government house of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. The building was also seat of other institutions such as the Royal Audience of Buenos Aires, the highest court for appeal of second instance in the territory, operated from April 6, 1661 to January 23, 1812, when it was replaced by an Appeals Chamber.
Museum
Places referenced on Wikidata. Admission prices vary by season - check each venue's official site.
Paying less in Buenos Aires
What moves the needle
What each decision takes off the €1714 total, strongest lever first.
- − €770
Travel cheap rather than mid-range
Hostel or entry-level hotel, local canteens, public transport. Accommodation is where the gap opens up.
- − €320
Stay five nights instead of seven
Two fewer nights also removes two days of meals, transport and sightseeing.
- − €217
Travel as a pair
The room is shared, nothing else is. Travellers themselves name this as the strongest lever.
Differences computed from our own measurements, for a 7-night mid-range stay, excluding flights.
FAQ
FAQ - Buenos Aires
- How much should I budget for a trip to Buenos Aires?
- For a 7-day trip to Buenos Aires, expect roughly €870 - €3403 per person depending on your travel style, flights included. The budget profile (hostels, local food, public transit) sits at the lower end ; mid-range comfort sits in the middle ; luxury (premium hotel, fine dining) approaches the top.
- When is the best time to visit Buenos Aires?
- The best value is in December, with pleasant temperatures and usually cheaper flights than during peak tourist season. This window combines moderate crowds and lower airfare.
- How do I get around in Buenos Aires?
- Local transport (metro, bus, taxi) costs an average of €8 - €45 per day depending on your style. Public transit stays the cheapest option ; a day or weekly pass usually pays off after just two rides per day.
- How can I do Buenos Aires on a budget?
- For a cheap trip to Buenos Aires, target around €50 - €160 per day per person excluding flights: a hostel or budget hotel, meals at local eateries, public transit, and 1-2 free activities per day. Across a week, plan to land below the lower bound of the global range.
- What's the budget for a weekend in Buenos Aires?
- For a 3-day / 2-night weekend in Buenos Aires, plan around €655 - €1074 per person, flights included. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead and flying out Thursday evening / back Sunday evening cuts the total by 10-20 % on average.
- Is Buenos Aires an expensive or affordable destination?
- At 56 % of our reference index, Buenos Aires ranks among the most affordable destinations we track. In practice, a daily budget about 44 % below the average destination we track.
- How many days do you need in Buenos Aires?
- Plan 4 days for the essentials. A full week lets you add the surroundings without rushing, for roughly €480 more per person. Beyond ten days the cost grows linearly: each extra night adds about €160, lodging and daily spending included.
- Do you need a car in Buenos Aires?
- Our estimates assume public transport, which covers the centre and its near surroundings. Rental, fuel, parking and tolls are not included: if your route leaves the served area, add them as a separate line.
- How much cash should you bring to Buenos Aires?
- Bring €50 to €100 for the first days, until you see where cards work. When paying or withdrawing, decline the conversion into your home currency that terminals offer: it applies its own rate, consistently worse than your bank's.
At a glance
Wikidata, Wikipedia and Open-Meteo data
- Population
- 3.1M
- Area
- 203 km²
- Elevation
- 25 m
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- $
- Time zone
- UTC−03:00
- Founded
- 1580
- Avg. July temp.
- 10°
- Avg. Jan. temp.
- 24°
- Rainy days / year
- 93
inhabitants
Argentine Peso
8° - 13°
20° - 28°
About
Buenos Aires in brief
Buenos Aires, officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− global city, according to the GaWC 2024 ranking. The city proper has a population of 3.1 million and its urban area has a population of 16.7 million, making it the 21st most populous metropolitan area in the world.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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