Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Leeuwarden

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,656 a month against $2,569 in Leeuwarden, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,656
/mo nomad
Leeuwarden
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,569
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $2,569 in Leeuwarden.

  • Buenos Aires $1,656
  • Leeuwarden $2,569

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,697 in Buenos Aires versus $3,793 in Leeuwarden.

  • Buenos Aires $2,697
  • Leeuwarden $3,793

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Buenos Aires versus $5,018 in Leeuwarden.

  • Buenos Aires $3,737
  • Leeuwarden $5,018

Living in Buenos Aires costs roughly 36% less than in Leeuwarden, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buenos Aires 23% above, Leeuwarden 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.09 ARS 29.0K
$21.90 €19.48
-12.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 ARS 99.9K
$113 €101
-42.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 ARS 20.0K
$15.35 €13.66
-14.01%
Cappuccino
$3.85 ARS 5,841
$3.85 €3.42
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ARS 3,020
$3.64 €3.24
-45.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ARS 2,430
$2.93 €2.61
-45.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 ARS 5,959
$6.73 €5.99
-41.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 ARS 7,003
$5.24 €4.66
-12.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ARS 2,272
$1.17 €1.04
28.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 ARS 3,837
$1.86 €1.65
36.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ARS 2,445
$2.42 €2.16
-33.47%
Eggs
$2.84 ARS 4,316
$4.26 €3.79
-33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 ARS 15.6K
$12.58 €11.19
-18.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$14.26 €12.69
-29.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
$15.76 €14.02
-15.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 ARS 4,366
$2.29 €2.04
25.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 ARS 3,334
$2.48 €2.20
-11.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ARS 2,120
$1.91 €1.70
-26.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ARS 3,004
$5.12 €4.55
-61.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ARS 1,835
$1.76 €1.57
-31.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,910
$1.91 €1.69
-34.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 ARS 2,592
$1.17 €1.04
46.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,603
$0.97 €0.86
77.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 ARS 6,505
$13.98 €12.44
-69.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 ARS 8,645
$7.20 €6.40
-20.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ARS 3,288
$1.85 €1.65
17.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ARS 4,188
$1.73 €1.54
59.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,141
$3.40 €3.02
-77.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.27 ARS 41.4K
$129 €114
-78.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 ARS 2,375
$8.81 €7.83
-82.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ARS 1,558
$3.83 €3.41
-73.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ARS 12.0K
$49.76 €44.27
-84.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,160
$2.45 €2.18
-42.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 42.4M
$41.7K €37.1K
-33.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
$39.2K €34.9K
-10.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ARS 296.2K
$365 €325
-46.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 ARS 38.2K
$43.62 €38.80
-42.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54 ARS 47.9K
$45.88 €40.81
-31.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 ARS 77.3K
$37.11 €33.01
37.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 ARS 25.4K
$18.37 €16.34
-8.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 ARS 15.7K
$16.79 €14.93
-38.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 ARS 703.2K
$1,330 €1,183
-65.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,793 ARS 13.3M
$22.7K €20.2K
-61.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.8K
$114 €101
5.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$95.5 ARS 144.9K
$39.36 €35.01
142.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ARS 173.1K
$129 €115
-11.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 ARS 211.4K
$135 €120
3.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ARS 1.1M
$1,380 €1,228
-45.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 ARS 788.8K
$1,022 €909
-49.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 ARS 2.4M
$3,779 €3,361
-57.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 ARS 1.8M
$1,582 €1,407
-24.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,713 ARS 4.1M
$3,620 €3,220
-25.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,901 ARS 2.9M
$3,276 €2,914
-41.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Leeuwarden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$938 ARS 1.4M
$3,004 €2,672
-68.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
4.38
1207.08%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 11, 2026

Last update for Leeuwarden: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$520
Leeuwarden
$1K 96.6% $502
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$283
Leeuwarden
$325 14.9% $42
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$282
Leeuwarden
$338 19.9% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$252
Leeuwarden
$455 80.6% $203
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Leeuwarden
$188 11.1% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$72
Leeuwarden
$71 1.3% $0.9
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Leeuwarden
$170 360% $133

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Buenos Aires and $1,380 in Leeuwarden. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Leeuwarden pays 220% 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: $66.0 in Buenos Aires vs $113 in Leeuwarden for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $325 per month, with Buenos Aires cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇳🇱 Leeuwarden
🕒 Local time
05:29 5:29 AM
10:29 10:29 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
91,992
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Leeuwarden 11,550 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Leeuwarden

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 Leeuwarden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Leeuwarden?
Buenos Aires and Leeuwarden differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,656 vs $2,569 including rent). Buenos Aires 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 220% lower in Leeuwarden. 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 Leeuwarden?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Buenos Aires versus $1,380 in Leeuwarden. 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 Leeuwarden?
Childcare runs $463 in Buenos Aires versus $1,330 in Leeuwarden. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Leeuwarden. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $2,569 in Leeuwarden, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Leeuwarden. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Leeuwarden?
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 Leeuwarden safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Leeuwarden 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 Leeuwarden?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Leeuwarden. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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