Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Ajman

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,685 a month against $2,417 in Ajman, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ajman outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Ajman
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,417
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Ajman

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Buenos Aires and in Ajman actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $2,417 in Ajman.

  • Buenos Aires $1,685
  • Ajman $2,417

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,742 in Buenos Aires versus $4,520 in Ajman.

  • Buenos Aires $2,742
  • Ajman $4,520

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,799 in Buenos Aires versus $6,623 in Ajman.

  • Buenos Aires $3,799
  • Ajman $6,623

Living in Buenos Aires costs roughly 30% less than in Ajman, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buenos Aires 26% above, Ajman 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
$5.88 AED 21.59
218.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
$27.68 AED 102
132.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
$8.27 AED 30.37
55.74%
Cappuccino
$3.98 ARS 6,029
$3.82 AED 14.02
4.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,103
$0.78 AED 2.88
162.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,349
$0.37 AED 1.36
318.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 ARS 5,830
$10.84 AED 39.82
-64.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 ARS 6,970
$12.41 AED 45.59
-62.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ARS 2,181
$1.99 AED 7.32
-27.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 ARS 3,738
$1.35 AED 4.94
82.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ARS 2,467
$1.51 AED 5.55
7.95%
Eggs
$2.89 ARS 4,385
$2.06 AED 7.56
40.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
$7.91 AED 29.05
34.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$5.67 AED 20.83
76.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
$8.27 AED 30.38
66.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ARS 4,166
$1.87 AED 6.87
47.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ARS 3,300
$1.27 AED 4.65
71.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,205
$1.51 AED 5.54
-3.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ARS 3,013
$0.88 AED 3.22
126.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,885
$1.04 AED 3.82
19.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ARS 1,921
$1.07 AED 3.93
18.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 ARS 2,575
$0.82 AED 3.00
107.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ARS 2,617
$0.55 AED 2.02
214.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ARS 6,337
$6.15 AED 22.60
-32.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 ARS 8,790
$10.77 AED 39.57
-46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ARS 3,163
$1.61 AED 5.91
29.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ARS 4,198
$2.22 AED 8.15
24.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,132
$4.14 AED 15.21
-81.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
$67.7 AED 249
-59.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ARS 2,451
$3.53 AED 12.96
-54.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,481
$0.70 AED 2.56
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
$8.02 AED 29.44
-3.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 2,058
$0.84 AED 3.07
61.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
$46.1K AED 169.3K
-39.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
$22.4K AED 82.2K
54.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 ARS 326.9K
$151 AED 553
43.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
$50.1 AED 184
-48.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
$85.1 AED 313
-63.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
$76.8 AED 282
-35.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
$9.87 AED 36.25
72.85%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
$13.42 AED 49.30
-22.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$466 ARS 706.7K
$491 AED 1,802
-5.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
$5,675 AED 20.8K
59.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 ARS 185.2K
$57.8 AED 212
111.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
$62.4 AED 229
56.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ARS 177.4K
$84.2 AED 309
38.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 ARS 211.9K
$94.7 AED 348
47.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 ARS 1.2M
$2,529 AED 9,288
-69.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 ARS 766.1K
$1,381 AED 5,073
-63.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
$1,788 AED 6,568
-10.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
$4,632 AED 17.0K
-74.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
$2,249 AED 8,259
19.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
$1,412 AED 5,186
31.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Ajman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$954 ARS 1.4M
$2,279 AED 8,372
-58.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
5
1045.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Last update for Ajman: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$505
Ajman
$1.4K 173% $876
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$284
Ajman
$201 29.2% $83
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$279
Ajman
$201 27.8% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$273
Ajman
$286 4.8% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$214
Ajman
$135 37.2% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Ajman
$104 46.6% $33
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Ajman
$91 149% $55

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Buenos Aires and $2,529 in Ajman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ajman pays 139% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Buenos Aires vs $28.00 in Ajman for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $201 per month, with Ajman cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇦🇪 Ajman
🕒 Local time
03:07 3:07 AM
10:07 10:07 AM
7 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
238,119
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

AED, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.12 AED (1 AED = 0.243 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Ajman 13,680 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Ajman

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Buenos Aires vs Ajman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Buenos Aires or Ajman?
Buenos Aires wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Ajman. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Buenos Aires the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Buenos Aires or in Ajman?
On paper, salaries run 139% lower in Ajman. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Buenos Aires compared to Ajman?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Buenos Aires versus $2,529 in Ajman. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Buenos Aires and in Ajman?
Childcare runs $466 in Buenos Aires versus $491 in Ajman. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Buenos Aires or in Ajman?
Shoppers in Ajman pay roughly 41% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Buenos Aires or in Ajman?
At $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $2,417 in Ajman, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Ajman. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Buenos Aires or Ajman?
Both work as nomad bases, but Buenos Aires delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,685 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Buenos Aires hard to pass up.
How safe is Buenos Aires compared to Ajman?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Ajman are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Ajman. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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