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 $872 per month in La Plata vs $1,075 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in La Plata vs $1,730 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,129 per month in La Plata vs $2,385 in Mendoza, rent included.

La Plata is about 19% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Plata and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – La Plata 35% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 ARS 17.2K

$10.84 ARS 15.6K

10.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.98 ARS 40.3K

$41.73 ARS 60.0K

-32.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 ARS 7,607

$9.70 ARS 14.0K

-45.46%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ARS 4,225

$3.69 ARS 5,307

-20.33%

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

$0.78 ARS 1,121

$2.24 ARS 3,219

-65.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ARS 1,041

$2.06 ARS 2,963

-65.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ARS 1,477

$2.02 ARS 2,908

-49.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 ARS 5,644

$2.93 ARS 4,222

33.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ARS 1,756

$1.27 ARS 1,823

-3.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ARS 2,296

$1.49 ARS 2,146

7.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ARS 2,304

$1.97 ARS 2,840

-18.78%

Eggs

$2.18 ARS 3,134

$2.21 ARS 3,173

-1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ARS 10.8K

$11.57 ARS 16.6K

-35.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 ARS 8,106

$7.37 ARS 10.6K

-23.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.29 ARS 11.9K

$9.56 ARS 13.8K

-13.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 ARS 3,514

$2.01 ARS 2,896

21.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ARS 2,622

$1.54 ARS 2,209

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ARS 1,584

$1.47 ARS 2,109

-25.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 ARS 3,650

$2.09 ARS 3,010

21.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ARS 1,106

$0.97 ARS 1,402

-20.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ARS 1,668

$1.01 ARS 1,454

14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 ARS 2,603

$1.02 ARS 1,472

77.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ARS 1,774

$2.74 ARS 3,944

-55.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 ARS 4,214

$2.45 ARS 3,523

19.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 ARS 7,299

$5.09 ARS 7,316

-0.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 ARS 3,175

$1.97 ARS 2,838

12.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ARS 4,564

$3.47 ARS 4,993

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ARS 463

$0.73 ARS 1,044

-56.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ARS 27.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 ARS 2,224

$0.41 ARS 591

278.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 ARS 1,282

$1.02 ARS 1,467

-12.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 ARS 8,812

$4.93 ARS 7,095

24.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 ARS 1,330

$1.20 ARS 1,726

-23.33%

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

$25.1K ARS 36.2M

$31.7K ARS 45.6M

-20.61%

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

$28.5K ARS 41.0M

$33.2K ARS 47.8M

-14.16%

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

$35.88 ARS 51.6K

$77.6 ARS 111.6K

-53.76%

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

$16.52 ARS 23.8K

$17.56 ARS 25.3K

-5.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.40 ARS 33.7K

$21.55 ARS 31.0K

8.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.03 ARS 31.7K

$27.98 ARS 40.2K

-21.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ARS 19.7K

$16.31 ARS 23.5K

-15.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 ARS 9,936

$6.10 ARS 8,770

13.28%

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

$323 ARS 464.6K

$103 ARS 148.8K

212.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,208 ARS 7.5M

$2,124 ARS 3.1M

145.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.4 ARS 132.9K

$81.1 ARS 116.7K

13.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$85.0 ARS 122.3K

$75.6 ARS 108.7K

12.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 172.5K

$150 ARS 216.3K

-20.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ARS 190.6K

$119 ARS 171.3K

11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 ARS 433.4K

$353 ARS 508.2K

-14.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 ARS 266.2K

$274 ARS 394.3K

-32.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$649 ARS 932.9K

$611 ARS 879.2K

6.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ARS 719.6K

$502 ARS 722.5K

-0.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,992 ARS 2.9M

$1,691 ARS 2.4M

17.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,426 ARS 2.1M

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

26.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 ARS 941.8K

$725 ARS 1.0M

-9.75%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $301 in La Plata versus $353 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 11% 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 $42.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $249 – 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: $872 in La Plata, $1,075 in Mendoza – roughly 23% apart. Mendoza costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,309 per month in La Plata and $1,612 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 $42.00 in Mendoza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $872, than in Mendoza at $1,075. 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 $872 in La Plata to $1,075 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.