Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Freetown and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Buenos Aires: $1,685 a month against $1,818 in Freetown, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Freetown outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Freetown
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
$1,818
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Freetown 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 Freetown and in Buenos Aires actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,818 in Freetown versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires.

  • Freetown $1,818
  • Buenos Aires $1,685

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,527 in Freetown versus $2,742 in Buenos Aires.

  • Freetown $1,527
  • Buenos Aires $2,742

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,235 in Freetown versus $3,799 in Buenos Aires.

  • Freetown $1,235
  • Buenos Aires $3,799

Living in Freetown is roughly 8% more expensive than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Freetown 36% above, Buenos Aires 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 SLL 46.9K
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
-89.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.07 SLL 915.6K
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
-37.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 SLL 251.7K
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
-14.44%
Cappuccino
$2.82 SLL 64.5K
$3.98 ARS 6,029
-29.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 SLL 42.9K
$2.05 ARS 3,103
-8.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 SLL 19.8K
$1.55 ARS 2,349
-43.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 SLL 52.5K
$3.84 ARS 5,830
-40.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 SLL 79.3K
$4.60 ARS 6,970
-24.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.49 SLL 56.9K
$1.44 ARS 2,181
72.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 SLL 14.7K
$2.46 ARS 3,738
-73.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 SLL 30.3K
$1.63 ARS 2,467
-18.40%
Eggs
$1.80 SLL 41.0K
$2.89 ARS 4,385
-37.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.99 SLL 159.7K
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
-34.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.13 SLL 231.4K
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
1.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.34 SLL 122.0K
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
-61.14%
Apples (1kg)
$7.05 SLL 161.1K
$2.75 ARS 4,166
156.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 SLL 67.3K
$2.18 ARS 3,300
35.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.69 SLL 15.8K
$1.45 ARS 2,205
-52.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.90 SLL 112.0K
$1.99 ARS 3,013
146.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 SLL 46.7K
$1.24 ARS 1,885
65.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 SLL 38.1K
$1.27 ARS 1,921
31.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.70 ARS 2,575
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 SLL 26.3K
$1.73 ARS 2,617
-33.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 SLL 69.9K
$4.18 ARS 6,337
-26.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.83 SLL 179.0K
$5.80 ARS 8,790
35.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 SLL 36.7K
$2.09 ARS 3,163
-23.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 SLL 44.2K
$2.77 ARS 4,198
-30.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 SLL 10.3K
$0.75 ARS 1,132
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 SLL 12.0K
$1.62 ARS 2,451
-67.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 SLL 11.2K
$0.98 ARS 1,481
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 SLL 30.7K
$1.36 ARS 2,058
-1.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.1K SLL 276.2M
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
-56.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K SLL 571.5M
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
-27.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.9 SLL 1.3M
$216 ARS 326.9K
-72.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.88 SLL 225.8K
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
-61.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.4 SLL 1.2M
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
73.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$466 ARS 706.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.90 SLL 226.2K
$122 ARS 185.2K
-91.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$19.77 SLL 451.7K
$117 ARS 177.4K
-83.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.66 SLL 1.1M
$140 ARS 211.9K
-64.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 SLL 21.0M
$763 ARS 1.2M
20.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 SLL 28.6M
$505 ARS 766.1K
148.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,520 SLL 80.4M
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
120.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Freetown
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,349 SLL 30.8M
$954 ARS 1.4M
41.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
57.25
-

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

Last update for Freetown: October 5, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Freetown
$1.3K
Buenos Aires
$505 59.7% $748
Groceries & Markets
Freetown
$263 *
Buenos Aires
$284 8.2% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Freetown
$123
Buenos Aires
$273 121% $149
Eating Out
Freetown
$113
Buenos Aires
$279 147% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Freetown
$36 *
Buenos Aires
$214 500% $179
Getting Around
Freetown
$4.8 *
Buenos Aires
$37 670% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Freetown
- *
Buenos Aires
$71

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 $919 in Freetown and $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Freetown pays 41% 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: $40.00 in Freetown vs $64.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $284 per month, with Freetown cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇱 Freetown
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
05:14 5:14 AM
02:14 2:14 AM
3 h behind Freetown
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
951,000 Capital
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to SLL – Sierra Leonean Leone Converter

Sierra Leonean Leone exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 22,848 SLL (100,000 SLL = 4.38 USD). 1 EUR = 25,626 SLL (100,000 SLL = 3.9 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Freetown Buenos Aires 6,740 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Freetown
  • 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
Freetown vs Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Freetown and in Buenos Aires?
Freetown and Buenos Aires differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,818 vs $1,685 including rent). Buenos Aires is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Freetown or Buenos Aires?
Average pay runs 41% higher in Freetown, 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 Freetown and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $919 in Freetown versus $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buenos Aires – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $40.00 in Freetown. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Freetown or Buenos Aires?
All in, you'll spend $1,818 per month in Freetown versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $1,818 in Freetown, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Freetown. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Freetown 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 Freetown or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Freetown 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: Freetown or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Freetown. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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