Where Can You Pay with Mercado Pago in Argentina?

Mercado Pago is accepted at over 1,000,000 merchants across Argentina, from major supermarket chains to corner kiosks. If a shop has a Mercado Pago QR code at the register, you can pay with Peanut. The merchant sees a normal Mercado Pago payment in pesos, and you pay from your digital dollar balance through the app.

Merchant Categories

Mercado Pago QR codes are everywhere in Argentina. Here are the main categories where you will find them:

Supermarkets and Grocery Stores

Major chains accept Mercado Pago QR at checkout, including Carrefour, Dia, Coto, and Jumbo. You will also find QR codes at smaller neighborhood grocery stores and minimercados. Look for the Mercado Pago sticker at the register.

Restaurants and Cafes

From sit-down restaurants to coffee shops, Mercado Pago QR is standard. Many restaurants display a static QR sticker on the table or at the counter. Some generate a dynamic QR on the bill or on a payment terminal.

Street Food and Kiosks

This is where Mercado Pago coverage is most impressive. Small kiosks selling snacks, drinks, and everyday items almost universally accept Mercado Pago QR. Street food vendors, empanada stands, and market stalls across Buenos Aires and other cities display QR stickers. Even very small vendors prefer QR payments because they avoid cash handling.

Clothing and Electronics

Retail stores for clothing, electronics, and household goods accept Mercado Pago QR at the register. This includes both large chains and independent shops.

Pharmacies

Argentine pharmacies accept Mercado Pago QR for over-the-counter purchases and prescriptions. Major pharmacy chains and neighborhood pharmacies both display QR codes.

Nationwide Coverage

Mercado Pago is not limited to Buenos Aires. It works across all of Argentina, including major cities like Cordoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Bariloche, Salta, and Ushuaia. If you are traveling outside the capital, you will find Mercado Pago QR codes at local businesses in virtually every town.

The coverage is denser in urban areas, but even in smaller towns, supermarkets, pharmacies, and kiosks typically have a Mercado Pago QR sticker.

How to Spot a Mercado Pago QR

At the point of sale, look for a printed sticker (usually blue and white with the Mercado Pago logo) near the register or on the counter. Some merchants also display the QR on a small stand or on their screen. If you are unsure, ask the merchant "¿Aceptan Mercado Pago?" (Do you accept Mercado Pago?).

Keep in mind that Peanut supports Mercado Pago QR only. If a merchant has QR codes from MODO or Cuenta DNI but not Mercado Pago, you will not be able to pay with Peanut at that location. However, this is uncommon since most merchants that accept any QR payment accept Mercado Pago.

Info

The merchant does not know you are using Peanut. They see a standard Mercado Pago payment in pesos. You do not need to explain anything at the register, and you do not need a DNI or local bank account.

What You Need

To pay at any Mercado Pago merchant with Peanut, you need:

  1. A verified Peanut account (passport or national ID from any country, verified in under 2 minutes)
  2. A funded digital dollar balance in the app
  3. The Peanut app open with the camera ready to scan

No Argentine DNI, no local bank account, and no Mercado Pago account of your own. See the verification help page for setup details.

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