Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Fourways

For one person, living is cheaper in Fourways: $1,049 a month against $1,656 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,656
/mo nomad
Fourways
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,049
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Fourways actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $1,049 in Fourways.

  • Buenos Aires $1,656
  • Fourways $1,049

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,697 in Buenos Aires versus $1,600 in Fourways.

  • Buenos Aires $2,697
  • Fourways $1,600

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Buenos Aires versus $2,152 in Fourways.

  • Buenos Aires $3,737
  • Fourways $2,152

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 58% more expensive than in Fourways, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buenos Aires is 23% above, Fourways is 22% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.09 ARS 29.0K
$8.81 R 145
116.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 ARS 99.9K
$37.13 R 612
77.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 ARS 20.0K
$5.49 R 90.5
140.44%
Cappuccino
$3.85 ARS 5,841
$2.30 R 37.90
67.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ARS 3,020
$1.10 R 18.13
80.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ARS 2,430
$0.82 R 13.50
95.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 ARS 5,959
$2.44 R 40.17
61.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 ARS 7,003
$2.70 R 44.42
70.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ARS 2,272
$1.16 R 19.15
29.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 ARS 3,837
$1.14 R 18.82
121.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ARS 2,445
$1.72 R 28.35
-6.40%
Eggs
$2.84 ARS 4,316
$2.52 R 41.50
12.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 ARS 15.6K
$7.74 R 128
33.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$4.53 R 74.6
120.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
$7.46 R 123
78.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 ARS 4,366
$1.44 R 23.73
100.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 ARS 3,334
$1.59 R 26.27
38.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ARS 2,120
$1.79 R 29.55
-21.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ARS 3,004
$1.56 R 25.75
26.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ARS 1,835
$1.08 R 17.79
12.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,910
$1.22 R 20.15
3.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 ARS 2,592
$1.23 R 20.31
39.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,603
$1.04 R 17.12
65.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 ARS 6,505
$3.26 R 53.7
31.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 ARS 8,645
$5.17 R 85.1
10.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ARS 3,288
$1.51 R 24.80
43.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ARS 4,188
$1.99 R 32.72
38.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,141
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.27 ARS 41.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 ARS 2,375
$0.31 R 5.14
406.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ARS 1,558
$0.78 R 12.84
32.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ARS 12.0K
$14.47 R 238
-45.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,160
$1.56 R 25.76
-8.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 42.4M
$28.7K R 473.3K
-2.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
$27.6K R 454.2K
26.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ARS 296.2K
$88.4 R 1,456
120.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 ARS 38.2K
$36.56 R 602
-31.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54 ARS 47.9K
$37.70 R 621
-16.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 ARS 77.3K
$32.69 R 539
55.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 ARS 25.4K
$16.67 R 275
0.36%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 ARS 15.7K
$7.22 R 119
43.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 ARS 703.2K
$257 R 4,239
80.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,793 ARS 13.3M
$7,930 R 130.7K
10.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.8K
$52.8 R 870
126.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$95.5 ARS 144.9K
$31.74 R 523
200.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ARS 173.1K
$78.6 R 1,295
45.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 ARS 211.4K
$84.8 R 1,398
64.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ARS 1.1M
$390 R 6,432
93.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 ARS 788.8K
$399 R 6,569
30.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 ARS 2.4M
$750 R 12.4K
111.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 ARS 1.8M
$691 R 11.4K
73.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,713 ARS 4.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,901 ARS 2.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Fourways
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$938 ARS 1.4M
$1,603 R 26.4K
-41.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
11.34
404.85%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 11, 2026

Last update for Fourways: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$520
Fourways
$399 23.3% $121
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$283
Fourways
$185 34.7% $98
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$282
Fourways
$140 50.4% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$252
Fourways
$163 35.4% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Fourways
$112 47.1% $99
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$72
Fourways
$47 34.2% $24
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Fourways
$4.2 * 88.6% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Buenos Aires and $390 in Fourways. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fourways pays 71% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66.0 in Buenos Aires vs $37.00 in Fourways for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $185 per month, with Fourways cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇿🇦 Fourways
🕒 Local time
04:40 4:40 AM
09:40 9:40 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Fourways 8,100 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Fourways

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 Fourways: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Fourways?
Buenos Aires and Fourways differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,656 vs $1,049 including rent). Fourways is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 71% lower in Fourways. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Fourways?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Buenos Aires versus $390 in Fourways. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Fourways?
Childcare runs $463 in Buenos Aires versus $257 in Fourways. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Fourways – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $66.0 in Buenos Aires. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,049 in Fourways versus $1,656 in Buenos Aires, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fourways but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Fourways the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Fourways?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buenos Aires or Fourways safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Fourways are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Fourways?
Expats usually find Fourways gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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