Great practical question 👍 because tipping culture in Argentina (and especially Buenos Aires) is different from the US/Europe, and many travelers aren’t sure what’s polite or expected.
💰 Tipping in Buenos Aires #
Restaurants & Cafés #
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Expected, but modest.
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Standard: 10% of the bill (in cash, even if you pay the bill by card).
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Rounding up small café bills is also fine.
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Example: Bill ARS 10,000 → leave ARS 1,000 tip.
Bars #
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Not strictly expected, but rounding up or leaving a few hundred pesos is appreciated.
Taxis / Rideshares (Uber, Cabify, Didi) #
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Not expected.
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Locals usually round up to the nearest 500 or 1,000 pesos.
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Apps don’t always make tipping easy, but a small extra cash tip is appreciated.
Hotels #
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Porters: ARS 1,000–2,000 per bag.
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Housekeeping: ARS 2,000–3,000 per night left in the room.
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Concierge: Small tip if they secure hard-to-get reservations or tickets.
Tour Guides / Excursions #
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Group tours: ARS 3,000–5,000 per person.
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Private tours: 10% of the tour price.
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Free walking tours: Expect to tip ARS 10,000–15,000 (≈ $10–15 USD at the tourist rate).
Hairdressers / Spas #
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About 10% of the service cost.
✅ Quick Tips #
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Cash is king for tips — many places don’t allow tips on cards.
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Locals tip less generously than in the US, but more consistently than in Europe.
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Not tipping at all in restaurants is considered rude if service was good.
