Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Elizabeth, NJ and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,646 a month against $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $18,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Elizabeth, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$3,186
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,646
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Elizabeth, NJ and in Buenos Aires

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $1,646 in Buenos Aires.

  • Elizabeth, NJ $3,186
  • Buenos Aires $1,646

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,453 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $2,680 in Buenos Aires.

  • Elizabeth, NJ $4,453
  • Buenos Aires $2,680

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,720 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $3,714 in Buenos Aires.

  • Elizabeth, NJ $5,720
  • Buenos Aires $3,714

Living in Elizabeth, NJ is roughly 94% more expensive than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Elizabeth, NJ 135% above, Buenos Aires 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.71 $19.71
$17.81 ARS 27.0K
10.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$65.2 ARS 98.9K
23.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.89 $11.89
$13.12 ARS 19.9K
-9.37%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$3.86 ARS 5,863
41.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.06 ARS 3,133
17.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.68 ARS 2,542
-11.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.78 $7.78
$4.10 ARS 6,218
89.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$4.73 ARS 7,181
51.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.51 ARS 2,285
-15.89%
White Bread (500g)
$4.50 $4.50
$2.60 ARS 3,950
73.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.96 $5.96
$1.57 ARS 2,380
279.62%
Eggs
$6.52 $6.52
$2.73 ARS 4,144
138.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.31 $15.31
$10.86 ARS 16.5K
40.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.83 $11.83
$10.07 ARS 15.3K
17.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.73 $19.73
$13.22 ARS 20.1K
49.24%
Apples (1kg)
$5.95 $5.95
$2.80 ARS 4,255
112.50%
Banana (1kg)
$3.55 $3.55
$2.09 ARS 3,170
69.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$1.45 ARS 2,194
189.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$2.00 ARS 3,040
171.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$1.20 ARS 1,826
149.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$1.20 ARS 1,821
145.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.69 ARS 2,569
77.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.79 ARS 2,711
40.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.62 $14.62
$4.00 ARS 6,074
265.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$5.53 ARS 8,388
176.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.12 ARS 3,219
27.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.78 ARS 4,212
22.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 $2.88
$0.69 ARS 1,049
317.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.0 $76.0
$27.90 ARS 42.3K
172.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.63 ARS 2,471
79.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.97 ARS 1,478
117.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.39 $42.39
$7.89 ARS 12.0K
437.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.42 ARS 2,156
-23.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$23.3K ARS 35.4M
19.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$31.9K ARS 48.5M
-17.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 $247
$199 ARS 302.7K
24.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.0 $51.0
$23.36 ARS 35.4K
118.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1 $50.1
$31.44 ARS 47.7K
59.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.78 $24.78
$49.81 ARS 75.6K
-50.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.63 ARS 25.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.03 $20.03
$10.80 ARS 16.4K
85.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,012 $2,012
$462 ARS 701.7K
335.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$8,790 ARS 13.3M
84.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.63 $49.63
$120 ARS 181.6K
-58.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.6 $77.6
$94.6 ARS 143.6K
-17.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 $87.9
$116 ARS 176.4K
-24.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 $122
$137 ARS 208.6K
-11.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,181 $2,181
$750 ARS 1.1M
190.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,718 $1,718
$514 ARS 780.5K
233.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,668 $2,668
$1,567 ARS 2.4M
70.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,492 $2,492
$1,196 ARS 1.8M
108.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,297 $1,297
$2,632 ARS 4.0M
-50.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,143 $1,143
$1,874 ARS 2.8M
-39.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elizabeth, NJ
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,997 $3,997
$924 ARS 1.4M
332.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
57.25
-88.35%

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

Last update for Elizabeth, NJ: October 18, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Elizabeth, NJ
$1.7K
Buenos Aires
$514 70.1% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Elizabeth, NJ
$475
Buenos Aires
$285 40.1% $190
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elizabeth, NJ
$348
Buenos Aires
$254 27% $94
Eating Out
Elizabeth, NJ
$328
Buenos Aires
$273 16.6% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Elizabeth, NJ
$152
Buenos Aires
$211 39% $59
Getting Around
Elizabeth, NJ
$101
Buenos Aires
$37 63.2% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Elizabeth, NJ
$65
Buenos Aires
$71 10.1% $6.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,181 in Elizabeth, NJ and $750 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elizabeth, NJ pays 332% 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: $80.0 in Elizabeth, NJ vs $65.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $475 vs $285 per month, with Buenos Aires cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Elizabeth, NJ
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
18:45 6:45 PM
19:45 7:45 PM
1 h ahead of Elizabeth, NJ
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
126,179
2,891,082 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Elizabeth, NJ Buenos Aires 8,520 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Elizabeth, NJ
  • Buenos Aires

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
Elizabeth, NJ vs Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Elizabeth, NJ and in Buenos Aires?
Elizabeth, NJ and Buenos Aires differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($3,186 vs $1,646 including rent). Buenos Aires is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Elizabeth, NJ or Buenos Aires?
Average pay runs 332% higher in Elizabeth, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Elizabeth, NJ and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,181 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $750 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Elizabeth, NJ and Buenos Aires?
Childcare runs $2,012 in Elizabeth, NJ versus $462 in Buenos Aires. 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 67% higher in Elizabeth, NJ. 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 $3,186 in Elizabeth, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Elizabeth, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Elizabeth, NJ and Buenos Aires?
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 Elizabeth, NJ or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Elizabeth, NJ and Buenos Aires 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: Elizabeth, NJ or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Elizabeth, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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