Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Novara

For one person, living is cheaper in Novara: $1,475 a month against $1,656 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,656
/mo nomad
Novara
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,475
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,656 in Buenos Aires versus $1,475 in Novara.

  • Buenos Aires $1,656
  • Novara $1,475

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,697 in Buenos Aires versus $2,279 in Novara.

  • Buenos Aires $2,697
  • Novara $2,279

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,737 in Buenos Aires versus $3,083 in Novara.

  • Buenos Aires $3,737
  • Novara $3,083

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 12% more expensive than in Novara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buenos Aires 23% above, Novara 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.09 ARS 29.0K
$16.56 €14.73
15.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 ARS 99.9K
$55.2 €49.09
19.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 ARS 20.0K
$10.24 €9.11
28.91%
Cappuccino
$3.85 ARS 5,841
$1.75 €1.56
120.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ARS 3,020
$3.32 €2.95
-40.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ARS 2,430
$1.64 €1.46
-2.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 ARS 5,959
$5.72 €5.09
-31.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 ARS 7,003
$5.17 €4.60
-10.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 ARS 2,272
$1.39 €1.24
7.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 ARS 3,837
$1.95 €1.74
29.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 ARS 2,445
$2.87 €2.55
-43.90%
Eggs
$2.84 ARS 4,316
$3.19 €2.84
-10.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 ARS 15.6K
$11.10 €9.87
-7.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$8.87 €7.89
12.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
$13.44 €11.95
-1.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 ARS 4,366
$2.48 €2.21
16.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 ARS 3,334
$1.70 €1.51
29.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 ARS 2,120
$3.27 €2.91
-57.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ARS 3,004
$2.14 €1.91
-7.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 ARS 1,835
$1.97 €1.75
-38.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,910
$1.07 €0.95
17.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 ARS 2,592
$1.02 €0.91
67.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,603
$0.71 €0.63
142.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 ARS 6,505
$6.19 €5.51
-30.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.70 ARS 8,645
$5.70 €5.07
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 ARS 3,288
$1.88 €1.67
15.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ARS 4,188
$2.24 €1.99
23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,141
$1.66 €1.47
-54.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.27 ARS 41.4K
$37.99 €33.79
-28.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 ARS 2,375
$4.43 €3.94
-64.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ARS 1,558
$1.20 €1.06
-14.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.90 ARS 12.0K
$34.60 €30.78
-77.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,160
$2.02 €1.80
-29.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 42.4M
$27.6K €24.5K
1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
$32.5K €28.9K
7.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ARS 296.2K
$176 €156
11.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.16 ARS 38.2K
$10.37 €9.23
142.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54 ARS 47.9K
$29.75 €26.47
6.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 ARS 77.3K
$78.0 €69.3
-34.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.73 ARS 25.4K
$18.88 €16.79
-11.39%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34 ARS 15.7K
$11.38 €10.12
-9.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 ARS 703.2K
$500 €445
-7.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,793 ARS 13.3M
$9,957 €8,856
-11.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.8K
$125 €112
-4.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$95.5 ARS 144.9K
$33.17 €29.51
187.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 ARS 173.1K
$55.8 €49.61
104.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 ARS 211.4K
$142 €126
-1.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ARS 1.1M
$638 €568
18.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$520 ARS 788.8K
$433 €385
20.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 ARS 2.4M
$1,063 €945
49.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 ARS 1.8M
$777 €691
54.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,713 ARS 4.1M
$2,806 €2,496
-3.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,901 ARS 2.9M
$1,923 €1,711
-1.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Novara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$938 ARS 1.4M
$2,090 €1,859
-55.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
3.62
1481.49%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 11, 2026

Last update for Novara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$520
Novara
$433 16.7% $87
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$283
Novara
$268 5.4% $15
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$282
Novara
$243 13.8% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$252
Novara
$216 14.4% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Novara
$160 24% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$72
Novara
$101 40.7% $29
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Novara
$55 48.8% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Buenos Aires and $638 in Novara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novara pays 123% 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 $55.0 in Novara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $268 per month, with Novara cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇮🇹 Novara
🕒 Local time
01:03 1:03 AM
06:03 6:03 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
100,910
💱 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 Novara 11,160 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Novara

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 Novara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Novara?
Buenos Aires and Novara differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,656 vs $1,475 including rent). Novara 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 123% lower in Novara. 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 Novara?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Buenos Aires versus $638 in Novara. 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 Novara?
Childcare runs $463 in Buenos Aires versus $500 in Novara. 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 6% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,475 in Novara versus $1,656 in Buenos Aires, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Novara but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Novara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Novara?
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 Novara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Novara 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 Novara?
Expats usually find Novara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% 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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