Official, blue, MEP, CCL and card dollar in Argentina: what they are and where to check the rate
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Argentina publishes several "dollar rates": the official one (banks and licensed exchange houses), the "blue" (the informal cash market), MEP and CCL (through buying and selling bonds on the stock exchange) and the card dollar. Since currency controls on individuals were lifted in April 2025, the gap between them has been small. For exchanging cash, go by the buy and sell rates on "Rates" in ArgHub and by the final amount at the exchange house.
3Best exchanger for this amountBest rate UNION EXCHANGE1 USD = 1,540 ARS · checked 1 min ago
💱 Exchange at UNION EXCHANGEWhat kinds of dollar rate are there?
- Official (oficial, mayorista / minorista) — Banks and licensed casas de cambio; the BCRA publishes the wholesale rate as a reference (Comunicación A 3500). Used for exchange at a bank or exchange house.
- "Blue" (blue, informal) — The informal cash market: "cuevas", "arbolitos". A benchmark for private cash exchange.
- MEP (dólar bolsa) — You buy a bond with pesos and sell it for dollars on the exchange; a brokerage account is needed. For residents with a brokerage account.
- CCL (contado con liquidación) — Like MEP, but the dollars are credited abroad. For companies and investors.
- Card — Purchases with a foreign card. For tourists with a card.
- "Crypto" (USDT) — The USDT-to-peso rate on exchanges and at exchange houses. For people exchanging USDT.
What changed in the dollar rates in 2025?
From 14 April 2025 the BCRA lifted most of the restrictions on buying foreign currency for resident individuals (the "cepo", Comunicación "A" 8226): you can buy dollars for savings with no quantity limit if you pay from your own bank account; with pesos in cash, no more than the equivalent of USD 100 a month. On the same day ARCA abolished the 30% advance tax on such purchases (RG 5672/2025); it remains for card purchases abroad. The official rate floats within a band (bandas cambiarias): since 1 January 2026 the lower and upper limits move every month by the latest monthly inflation figure published by INDEC (with a two-month lag). Since then the gap between the official, "blue" and MEP rates has narrowed to a few percent; on 26.09.2026, according to ArgHub, the gap between the "blue" and the official rate is under 1% (the "money" article).
CCL and the "dólar tarjeta" in more detail. • CCL (contado con liquidación) — a way to get dollars abroad: on the Argentine stock exchange you buy securities with pesos and sell them for dollars, which are credited to an account abroad (with MEP the dollars stay in an Argentine account). A brokerage account is needed; the rules for these operations are set by the BCRA and the CNV and they change, so this rate is not a benchmark for exchanging cash. • "Dólar tarjeta" — not a separate market, but the official rate plus a 30% advance payment of income tax (Ganancias) or personal-assets tax (Bienes Personales), withheld on payments abroad and in foreign currency (RG ARCA 5617/2024). In April 2025 ARCA abolished that advance on buying currency for savings, but it stayed in place for payments abroad. This rule describes payments made through Argentine banks; how a payment on a foreign bank's card is calculated is decided by the issuing bank, so check the final amount on your statement.
Which rate is the "right" one for me?
- If you exchange cash dollars at an exchange house or bank, look at the exchange house's buy rate (compra): that is how many pesos you get for a dollar. The sell rate (venta) is for the reverse operation.
- If you exchange with a private exchanger, the benchmark is the "blue", but compare the final amount including delivery and commission.
- If you pay with a foreign card, the rate is set by the bank that issued the card, plus its fee (more in "Foreign cards in Argentina: payments, ATMs, fees and limits").
- MEP and CCL are almost irrelevant for a tourist: you need a brokerage account in Argentina.
Why are there two rates, compra and venta?
The exchange house buys dollars from you cheaper than it sells them. The difference is its earnings. They are written from the exchange house's point of view: compra means it buys (you sell dollars), venta means it sells (you buy dollars).
Where can I check the dollar rate in Argentina?
- The official and reference rate (Com. "A" 3500): on the BCRA website (bcra.gob.ar/tipo-cambio-referencia-comunicacion-a-3500-tcnpm/) and at Banco Nación (bna.com.ar).
- All rates in one place, with the update date: "Rates" in ArgHub.
- The rate of a specific exchange house: on its card in the "Currency exchange" section. We deliberately give no figures in this article: the rate changes every day.
Is the "blue" legal?
The rate itself is published by the media and websites, but exchanging outside licensed operators is informal: no protection in a dispute and a risk of counterfeit bills. Licensed operators are in the BCRA register (bcra.gob.ar/casas-de-cambio). This is information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the blue dollar still exist in 2026?
It is published, but since 2025 the gap with the official rate has been small. See the current figures on "Rates" in ArgHub.
What is MEP in simple terms?
A dollar bought through bonds on the stock exchange: you buy a bond with pesos and sell it for dollars. A brokerage account is needed.
What is the difference between compra and venta?
Compra is the rate at which the exchange house buys dollars from you; venta is the rate at which it sells them to you.
Where is the official rate?
On the BCRA and Banco Nación websites; a summary is on "Rates" in ArgHub.
Which rate is used for a foreign card?
The rate of the bank that issued the card, plus its fee.
Are there still limits on buying dollars?
For resident individuals there is no quantity limit if you pay from your own account; with pesos in cash, up to USD 100 a month (Com. "A" 8226, April 2025).
What is CCL?
Like MEP, but the dollars are credited to an account abroad: securities are bought with pesos and sold for dollars. A brokerage account is needed, and the rules are set by the BCRA and the CNV.
What is the "dólar tarjeta"?
The official rate plus a 30% advance tax withheld on payments abroad made with cards from Argentine banks (RG ARCA 5617/2024).