Today's Dollar Value: What is the current exchange rate on August 19th?
Argentina's Exchange Rates: Official and Blue Dollars Diverge
As of late August 2025, the official US dollar exchange rate in Argentina stands at around 1,308 Argentine pesos per dollar, while the blue dollar rate (the informal parallel market rate) is about 10-15% higher than the official rate. This means the blue dollar is trading roughly between 1,439 and 1,505 pesos per US dollar.
This renewed gap between the official and blue dollar rates follows a period of near parity earlier in the year. The evolution of these rates over time provides insight into Argentina's economic landscape.
In early 2025, after a government change, the official exchange rate jumped overnight from around 366 to 785 pesos per US dollar. By January 2025, the official rate was reportedly near 1,008 pesos to 1 USD, with the blue dollar slightly above that at around 1,180 pesos. The gap between the official and blue dollar rates had narrowed significantly for weeks before reopening in mid-August 2025, due to fiscal uncertainty and increased demand for hard currency.
This dynamic is driven by Argentina’s persistent high inflation, government currency controls, limited availability of US dollars in the official market, and ongoing economic uncertainty—all factors that sustain demand for the blue dollar and produce a premium over the official rate.
Here's a summary of the official and blue dollar rates as of key dates in 2025:
| Date (2025) | Official Rate (ARS/USD) | Blue Dollar Rate (ARS/USD) | Blue Dollar Premium (%) | |------------------|------------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------| | January | ~1,008 | ~1,180 | ~17% | | Mid-August | ~1,308 | ~1,439 to 1,505 | 10-15% |
This gap fluctuates with government policies, market confidence, and fiscal news, signalling ongoing volatility in Argentina’s currency market.
Meanwhile, the value of the MEP dollar, or "stock exchange", is trading today at $1,299.69, with a fluctuation of less than 1 percent compared to the last business day. The official dollar, as calculated by the Central Bank, is trading today at $1,271.81 for purchase and $1,312.80 for sale. The value of the dollar at the National Bank is the lowest in the market at $1,315.00.
Individuals can now buy dollars without the previous restriction of $200. The tourist dollar or card is trading at $1,706.64, which is a 30% advance on the official price of the US currency due to the addition of income tax.
The value of the MEP dollar is determined by the most popular asset for obtaining this exchange rate. Its value is based on the quotation of the AL30 bond. A private entity like the Bank of Galicia shows the dollar at $1,199.50. The CCL dollar, or "cash with settlement", is trading today at $1,302.27, remaining stable compared to the last business day. The CCL dollar's value is accessed through the purchase and sale of financial assets that are traded in pesos and dollars.
No new information about currency exchange controls, the floating band scheme, individual buying limits, the tourist dollar, or card dollar is provided in this paragraph. The official dollar has maintained a downward trend of 1.36 percent over the last five business days, while the official dollar is trading today at similar values compared to the last business day. The blue dollar is trading at around $1,315.00 for purchase and $1,335.00 for sale, which is $1.69 percent higher than the official dollar.
