---
title: Is tipping expected?
description: "[Home](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com) | [Docs](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com/docs/) | [Money and Payments](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com/docs-category/money-and-payments/) Great practical question 👍 because tipping culture in Argentina (and especially Buenos Aires) is [**different from the US/Europe**](https://solsalute.com/blog/tipping-in-argentina/), and many travelers aren’t sure what’s polite or expected. ## 💰 Tipping in Buenos Aires…"
url: "https://allaboutbuenosaires.com/docs/is-tipping-expected/"
updated: "2025-08-21"
category: Money and Payments
---

# Is tipping expected?

[Home](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com) | [Docs](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com/docs/) | [Money and Payments](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com/docs-category/money-and-payments/)

Great practical question 👍 because tipping culture in Argentina (and especially Buenos Aires) is [**different from the US/Europe**](https://solsalute.com/blog/tipping-in-argentina/), and many travelers aren’t sure what’s polite or expected.

## 💰 Tipping in Buenos Aires

### **Restaurants & Cafés**

- **Expected, but modest.**
- Standard: **10% of the bill** (in cash, even if you pay the bill by card).
- Rounding up small café bills is also fine.
- Example: Bill ARS 10,000 → leave ARS 1,000 tip.

### Bars

- Not strictly expected, but rounding up or leaving **a few hundred pesos** is appreciated.

### Taxis / Rideshares (Uber, Cabify, Didi)

- **Not expected.**
- Locals usually round up to the nearest 500 or 1,000 pesos.
- Apps don’t always make tipping easy, but a small extra cash tip is appreciated.

### Hotels

- **Porters**: ARS 1,000–2,000 per bag.
- **Housekeeping**: ARS 2,000–3,000 per night left in the room.
- **Concierge**: Small tip if they secure hard-to-get reservations or tickets.

### Tour Guides / Excursions

- **Group tours**: ARS 3,000–5,000 per person.
- **Private tours**: 10% of the tour price.
- **Free [walking tours](https://allaboutbuenosaires.com/item/buenos-aires-walking-tour/)**: Expect to tip ARS 10,000–15,000 (≈ $10–15 USD at the tourist rate).

### Hairdressers / Spas

- About **10% of the service cost**.

## ✅ Quick Tips

- **Cash is king for tips** — many places don’t allow tips on cards.
- Locals tip **less generously than in the US**, but **more consistently than in Europe**.
- Not tipping at all in restaurants is considered **rude** if service was good.