Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata and Mendoza

For one person, living is cheaper in La Plata: $959 a month against $1,387 in Mendoza, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

La Plata
🇦🇷 Argentina
$959
/mo nomad
Mendoza
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,387
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in La Plata and in Mendoza

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

A single person spends $959 per month in La Plata vs $1,387 in Mendoza, rent included.

  • La Plata $959
  • Mendoza $1,387

A couple spends around $1,711 per month in La Plata vs $2,185 in Mendoza, rent included.

  • La Plata $1,711
  • Mendoza $2,185

A family of three spends $2,464 per month in La Plata vs $2,984 in Mendoza, rent included.

  • La Plata $2,464
  • Mendoza $2,984

La Plata is about 31% cheaper than Mendoza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

La Plata sits 29% below the global median, while Mendoza is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.43 ARS 23.4K
$10.98 ARS 16.7K
40.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.89 ARS 75.7K
$49.80 ARS 75.6K
0.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.82 ARS 14.9K
$14.36 ARS 21.8K
-31.62%
Cappuccino
$3.84 ARS 5,829
$4.54 ARS 6,896
-15.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ARS 2,344
$2.32 ARS 3,517
-33.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ARS 1,386
$1.94 ARS 2,949
-53.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.04 ARS 6,125
$4.08 ARS 6,191
-0.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 ARS 5,459
$4.46 ARS 6,775
-19.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 ARS 1,580
$1.38 ARS 2,102
-24.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.18 ARS 3,303
$2.21 ARS 3,358
-1.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 ARS 1,328
$2.66 ARS 4,034
-66.92%
Eggs
$2.23 ARS 3,387
$3.19 ARS 4,836
-30.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.00 ARS 13.7K
$14.72 ARS 22.3K
-38.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.40 ARS 8,187
$6.23 ARS 9,447
-13.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.44 ARS 14.3K
$11.05 ARS 16.8K
-14.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 ARS 3,157
$2.29 ARS 3,478
-9.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 ARS 2,943
$2.23 ARS 3,386
-13.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.74 ARS 1,122
$1.34 ARS 2,036
-44.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ARS 2,357
$3.28 ARS 4,974
-52.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 ARS 789
$2.02 ARS 3,067
-74.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 ARS 917
$1.49 ARS 2,268
-59.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ARS 1,535
$2.03 ARS 3,074
-50.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ARS 1,538
$2.47 ARS 3,743
-59.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 ARS 4,903
$2.82 ARS 4,275
14.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.99 ARS 7,578
$5.08 ARS 7,712
-1.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ARS 3,178
$1.72 ARS 2,608
21.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 ARS 4,288
$3.02 ARS 4,583
-6.29%
🚌 Getting Around
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.73 ARS 1,107
$0.98 ARS 1,486
-25.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.59 ARS 6,965
$19.73 ARS 29.9K
-76.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 ARS 2,352
$2.02 ARS 3,059
-23.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 ARS 1,020
$0.99 ARS 1,495
-32.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 ARS 11.8K
$4.82 ARS 7,318
61.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ARS 1,756
$1.25 ARS 1,897
-7.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K ARS 33.4M
$27.6K ARS 41.9M
-20.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
$33.0K ARS 50.1M
4.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.9 ARS 107.6K
$144 ARS 218.4K
-50.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.14 ARS 16.9K
$17.72 ARS 26.9K
-37.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.13 ARS 36.6K
$23.92 ARS 36.3K
0.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.16 ARS 39.7K
$32.32 ARS 49.0K
-19.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.80 ARS 16.4K
$18.07 ARS 27.4K
-40.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36 ARS 8,127
$7.10 ARS 10.8K
-24.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$138 ARS 209.6K
$176 ARS 266.3K
-21.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,189 ARS 6.4M
$4,178 ARS 6.3M
0.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 ARS 163.2K
$127 ARS 192.2K
-15.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.87 ARS 31.7K
$141 ARS 214.2K
-85.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 ARS 143.3K
$144 ARS 217.9K
-34.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.1 ARS 82.1K
$157 ARS 238.0K
-65.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 ARS 525.2K
$553 ARS 838.5K
-37.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ARS 361.3K
$350 ARS 531.6K
-32.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ARS 1.8M
$993 ARS 1.5M
21.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$758 ARS 1.2M
$680 ARS 1.0M
11.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,009 ARS 3.0M
$1,751 ARS 2.7M
14.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,190 ARS 1.8M
$1,141 ARS 1.7M
4.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Plata
Mendoza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$716 ARS 1.1M
$766 ARS 1.2M
-6.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
42
59
-28.81%

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

Last update for La Plata: October 12, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
La Plata
$238
Mendoza
$350 47.1% $112
Eating Out
La Plata
$236
Mendoza
$232 1.9% $4.4
Groceries & Markets
La Plata
$205
Mendoza
$286 39.7% $81
Clothing & Footwear
La Plata
$125
Mendoza
$256 105% $131
Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Plata
$106
Mendoza
$186 74.7% $79
Sport & Entertainment
La Plata
$37
Mendoza
$47 26.1% $9.6
Getting Around
La Plata
$12
Mendoza
$31 146% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $346 in La Plata versus $553 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 7% 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 $50.0 in La Plata versus $50.0 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $286 – making La Plata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇷 La Plata
🇦🇷 Mendoza
🕒 Local time
13:40 1:40 PM
13:40 1:40 PM
Same time as La Plata
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
193,144
937,154
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • La Plata Mendoza 1,030 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • La Plata
  • Mendoza

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
La Plata vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in La Plata and in Mendoza compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $959 in La Plata, $1,387 in Mendoza – roughly 45% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in La Plata compared to Mendoza?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,439 per month in La Plata and $2,080 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between La Plata and Mendoza?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in La Plata and $50.0 in Mendoza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: La Plata or Mendoza?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in La Plata and $1,387 in Mendoza. That's a gap of about 45%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in La Plata, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Mendoza at $1,387. In La Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between La Plata and Mendoza?
It depends on your priorities. Mendoza has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $959 in La Plata to $1,387 in Mendoza. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is La Plata or Mendoza safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between La Plata and Mendoza?
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.

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