Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in La Plata vs $1,341 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,736 per month in La Plata vs $2,114 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in La Plata vs $2,887 in Mendoza, rent included.

La Plata is about 29% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Plata and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – La Plata 30% lower, Mendoza 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.45 ARS 23.4K

$11.13 ARS 16.8K

38.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ARS 74.1K

$50.8 ARS 76.9K

-3.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 ARS 14.9K

$14.90 ARS 22.5K

-33.89%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ARS 5,917

$4.45 ARS 6,727

-12.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,333

$2.33 ARS 3,527

-33.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ARS 1,337

$1.97 ARS 2,976

-55.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.72 ARS 5,625

$4.09 ARS 6,179

-9.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ARS 5,534

$4.44 ARS 6,719

-17.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 ARS 1,559

$1.40 ARS 2,117

-26.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 ARS 3,136

$2.28 ARS 3,455

-9.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ARS 1,329

$2.78 ARS 4,206

-68.35%

Eggs

$2.22 ARS 3,354

$3.25 ARS 4,910

-31.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.52 ARS 12.9K

$14.47 ARS 21.9K

-41.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 ARS 8,499

$6.17 ARS 9,337

-8.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.32 ARS 14.1K

$11.00 ARS 16.6K

-15.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ARS 3,003

$2.35 ARS 3,556

-15.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 ARS 2,950

$2.17 ARS 3,281

-10.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 ARS 1,104

$1.30 ARS 1,974

-43.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,331

$3.29 ARS 4,972

-53.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ARS 836

$2.02 ARS 3,051

-72.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ARS 982

$1.51 ARS 2,288

-56.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ARS 1,593

$1.92 ARS 2,910

-45.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ARS 1,522

$2.47 ARS 3,732

-59.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ARS 4,865

$2.72 ARS 4,109

18.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.96 ARS 7,495

$4.97 ARS 7,524

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 ARS 3,297

$1.79 ARS 2,709

21.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ARS 4,073

$2.95 ARS 4,466

-8.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,110

$0.97 ARS 1,468

-24.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.55 ARS 6,889

$19.74 ARS 29.9K

-76.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 ARS 2,382

$2.05 ARS 3,097

-23.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.67 ARS 1,020

$1.02 ARS 1,540

-34.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.63 ARS 11.5K

$4.84 ARS 7,317

57.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ARS 1,695

$1.20 ARS 1,821

-6.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K ARS 34.1M

$26.6K ARS 40.2M

-15.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.6K ARS 50.8M

$32.8K ARS 49.5M

2.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.5 ARS 105.2K

$135 ARS 204.4K

-48.56%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.95 ARS 16.6K

$17.47 ARS 26.4K

-37.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 ARS 36.4K

$23.78 ARS 36.0K

1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.87 ARS 39.1K

$29.83 ARS 45.1K

-13.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.86 ARS 16.4K

$18.32 ARS 27.7K

-40.72%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 ARS 7,860

$7.27 ARS 11.0K

-28.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$137 ARS 207.5K

$176 ARS 265.9K

-21.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,072 ARS 6.2M

$4,124 ARS 6.2M

-1.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$108 ARS 163.9K

$116 ARS 175.1K

-6.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.87 ARS 31.6K

$127 ARS 191.7K

-83.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 ARS 146.6K

$140 ARS 211.7K

-30.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 ARS 84.3K

$128 ARS 192.9K

-56.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$351 ARS 530.9K

$483 ARS 729.9K

-27.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ARS 359.8K

$335 ARS 507.2K

-29.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,227 ARS 1.9M

$876 ARS 1.3M

40.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$752 ARS 1.1M

$651 ARS 984.1K

15.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,021 ARS 3.1M

$1,691 ARS 2.6M

19.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ARS 1.8M

$1,112 ARS 1.7M

7.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$719 ARS 1.1M

$780 ARS 1.2M

-7.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-28.81%

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

Last update for La Plata: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $351 in La Plata versus $483 in Mendoza. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Mendoza, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in La Plata versus $51.0 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $286 – making La Plata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

La Plata vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $958 in La Plata, $1,341 in Mendoza – roughly 40% apart. Mendoza costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in La Plata and $2,011 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Plata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in La Plata and $51.0 in Mendoza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $958 in La Plata and $1,341 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in La Plata, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Mendoza at $1,341. In La Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mendoza has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $958 in La Plata to $1,341 in Mendoza. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Plata. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendoza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.