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 $886 per month in La Plata vs $1,069 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,486 per month in La Plata vs $1,723 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,086 per month in La Plata vs $2,378 in Mendoza, rent included.

La Plata is about 17% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Plata and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – La Plata 34% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.18 ARS 18.0K

$10.93 ARS 16.2K

11.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.25 ARS 41.7K

$41.47 ARS 61.3K

-31.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.13 ARS 7,586

$9.60 ARS 14.2K

-46.56%

Cappuccino

$3.04 ARS 4,494

$3.79 ARS 5,601

-19.79%

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

$0.71 ARS 1,054

$2.32 ARS 3,424

-69.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ARS 1,061

$1.98 ARS 2,925

-63.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ARS 1,447

$1.94 ARS 2,875

-49.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 ARS 5,834

$2.93 ARS 4,337

34.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ARS 1,734

$1.29 ARS 1,906

-9.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 ARS 2,426

$1.48 ARS 2,183

10.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,287

$2.03 ARS 2,996

-23.65%

Eggs

$2.29 ARS 3,378

$2.12 ARS 3,137

8.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 ARS 11.4K

$11.73 ARS 17.3K

-34.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 ARS 8,589

$7.69 ARS 11.4K

-24.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

$9.46 ARS 14.0K

-13.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 ARS 3,763

$2.01 ARS 2,974

26.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ARS 2,802

$1.53 ARS 2,255

24.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ARS 1,626

$1.51 ARS 2,236

-27.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 ARS 3,892

$2.18 ARS 3,229

20.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 ARS 1,083

$1.01 ARS 1,497

-27.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ARS 1,635

$1.03 ARS 1,517

7.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.78 ARS 2,637

$1.02 ARS 1,515

74.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ARS 1,908

$2.62 ARS 3,878

-50.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 ARS 4,504

$2.44 ARS 3,613

25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 ARS 7,229

$5.10 ARS 7,544

-4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 ARS 3,242

$1.95 ARS 2,883

12.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,470

$3.56 ARS 5,266

-15.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ARS 479

$0.69 ARS 1,018

-53.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.28 ARS 27.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ARS 2,226

$0.41 ARS 605

268.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 ARS 1,341

$1.02 ARS 1,506

-10.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 ARS 8,908

$4.85 ARS 7,170

24.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ARS 1,386

$1.19 ARS 1,761

-21.01%

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

$25.1K ARS 37.1M

$31.6K ARS 46.7M

-20.54%

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

$29.0K ARS 42.8M

$33.0K ARS 48.8M

-12.28%

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

$35.35 ARS 52.2K

$76.0 ARS 112.3K

-53.48%

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

$16.51 ARS 24.4K

$17.52 ARS 25.9K

-5.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.18 ARS 34.3K

$21.72 ARS 32.1K

6.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.41 ARS 33.1K

$27.75 ARS 41.0K

-19.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.87 ARS 20.5K

$16.19 ARS 23.9K

-14.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.94 ARS 10.3K

$6.10 ARS 9,021

13.77%

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

$324 ARS 479.5K

$102 ARS 150.4K

218.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,133 ARS 7.6M

$2,172 ARS 3.2M

136.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.0 ARS 137.4K

$80.9 ARS 119.6K

14.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$84.4 ARS 124.8K

$77.5 ARS 114.6K

8.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ARS 178.9K

$147 ARS 217.8K

-17.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 ARS 192.6K

$120 ARS 177.4K

8.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 ARS 437.6K

$363 ARS 536.4K

-18.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 ARS 274.5K

$270 ARS 398.9K

-31.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$647 ARS 956.9K

$609 ARS 899.8K

6.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ARS 763.6K

$502 ARS 741.9K

2.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,968 ARS 2.9M

$1,705 ARS 2.5M

15.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,468 ARS 2.2M

$1,121 ARS 1.7M

30.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 ARS 995.0K

$722 ARS 1.1M

-6.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

52.71

-33.28%

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

Last update for La Plata: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $296 in La Plata versus $363 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 $28.00 in La Plata versus $41.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $250 – 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: $886 in La Plata, $1,069 in Mendoza – roughly 21% apart. Mendoza costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,330 per month in La Plata and $1,603 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 $28.00 in La Plata and $41.00 in Mendoza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Mendoza, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in La Plata, where all-in costs run around $886, than in Mendoza at $1,069. 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 $886 in La Plata to $1,069 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.