Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Schaffhausen

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,646 a month against $3,125 in Schaffhausen, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,646
/mo nomad
Schaffhausen
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,125
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Buenos Aires versus $3,125 in Schaffhausen.

  • Buenos Aires $1,646
  • Schaffhausen $3,125

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,680 in Buenos Aires versus $5,038 in Schaffhausen.

  • Buenos Aires $2,680
  • Schaffhausen $5,038

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,714 in Buenos Aires versus $6,951 in Schaffhausen.

  • Buenos Aires $3,714
  • Schaffhausen $6,951

Living in Buenos Aires costs roughly 47% less than in Schaffhausen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Buenos Aires 21% above, Schaffhausen 131% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.81 ARS 27.0K
$29.70 CHF 24.46
-40.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.2 ARS 98.9K
$123 CHF 101
-46.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.12 ARS 19.9K
$18.03 CHF 14.85
-27.23%
Cappuccino
$3.86 ARS 5,863
$5.64 CHF 4.65
-31.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ARS 3,133
$5.52 CHF 4.55
-62.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ARS 2,542
$4.78 CHF 3.94
-64.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.10 ARS 6,218
$8.22 CHF 6.77
-50.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73 ARS 7,181
$7.47 CHF 6.16
-36.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ARS 2,285
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-30.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.60 ARS 3,950
$4.06 CHF 3.35
-35.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 ARS 2,380
$4.12 CHF 3.40
-61.89%
Eggs
$2.73 ARS 4,144
$7.94 CHF 6.54
-65.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.86 ARS 16.5K
$28.10 CHF 23.14
-61.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.07 ARS 15.3K
$30.57 CHF 25.18
-67.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ARS 20.1K
$42.49 CHF 34.99
-68.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.80 ARS 4,255
$3.85 CHF 3.17
-27.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 ARS 3,170
$2.04 CHF 1.68
2.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,194
$3.21 CHF 2.65
-54.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 ARS 3,040
$5.54 CHF 4.57
-63.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 ARS 1,826
$2.41 CHF 1.98
-50.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 ARS 1,821
$2.14 CHF 1.77
-43.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 ARS 2,569
$2.37 CHF 1.96
-28.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ARS 2,711
$1.18 CHF 0.97
51.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00 ARS 6,074
$10.75 CHF 8.85
-62.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.53 ARS 8,388
$12.87 CHF 10.60
-57.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 ARS 3,219
$2.91 CHF 2.40
-27.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ARS 4,212
$3.84 CHF 3.16
-27.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 ARS 1,049
$4.04 CHF 3.33
-82.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.90 ARS 42.3K
$96.6 CHF 79.5
-71.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 ARS 2,471
$6.02 CHF 4.95
-72.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ARS 1,478
$3.72 CHF 3.07
-73.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 ARS 12.0K
$61.4 CHF 50.5
-87.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ARS 2,156
$2.30 CHF 1.89
-38.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K ARS 35.4M
$43.0K CHF 35.4K
-45.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K ARS 48.5M
$39.6K CHF 32.6K
-19.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 ARS 302.7K
$234 CHF 193
-14.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.36 ARS 35.4K
$31.93 CHF 26.30
-26.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.44 ARS 47.7K
$62.9 CHF 51.8
-49.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.81 ARS 75.6K
$107 CHF 88.5
-53.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.63 ARS 25.2K
$47.27 CHF 38.93
-64.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.80 ARS 16.4K
$23.65 CHF 19.48
-54.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ARS 701.7K
$3,112 CHF 2,563
-85.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,790 ARS 13.3M
$32.1K CHF 26.5K
-72.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 ARS 181.6K
$167 CHF 137
-28.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$94.6 ARS 143.6K
$54.3 CHF 44.73
74.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ARS 176.4K
$190 CHF 156
-38.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 ARS 208.6K
$149 CHF 122
-7.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 ARS 1.1M
$1,285 CHF 1,058
-41.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$514 ARS 780.5K
$1,165 CHF 960
-55.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,567 ARS 2.4M
$2,705 CHF 2,228
-42.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 ARS 1.8M
$2,362 CHF 1,946
-49.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,632 ARS 4.0M
$8,026 CHF 6,610
-67.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,874 ARS 2.8M
$8,459 CHF 6,967
-77.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Schaffhausen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$924 ARS 1.4M
$7,212 CHF 5,940
-87.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
2.48
2208.47%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 19, 2026

Last update for Schaffhausen: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$514
Schaffhausen
$1.2K 127% $651
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$285
Schaffhausen
$630 121% $346
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$273
Schaffhausen
$457 67.2% $184
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$254
Schaffhausen
$329 29.3% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$211
Schaffhausen
$252 19.5% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Schaffhausen
$155 117% $83
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Schaffhausen
$137 270% $100

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $750 in Buenos Aires and $1,285 in Schaffhausen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Schaffhausen pays 680% 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: $65.0 in Buenos Aires vs $123 in Schaffhausen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $630 per month, with Buenos Aires cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇨🇭 Schaffhausen
🕒 Local time
19:04 7:04 PM
00:04 12:04 AM
5 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
35,927
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Schaffhausen 11,320 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Schaffhausen

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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Schaffhausen?
Buenos Aires and Schaffhausen differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $3,125 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 680% lower in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen?
Rent for a central apartment: $750 in Buenos Aires versus $1,285 in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen?
Childcare runs $462 in Buenos Aires versus $3,112 in Schaffhausen. 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 121% higher in Schaffhausen. 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 $1,646 in Buenos Aires versus $3,125 in Schaffhausen, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen?
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 Schaffhausen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Schaffhausen 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 Schaffhausen?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Schaffhausen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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