Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Bariloche

For one person, living is cheaper in Mendoza: $1,387 a month against $1,646 in Bariloche, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bariloche outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Mendoza
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,387
/mo nomad
Bariloche
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,646
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mendoza and in Bariloche

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,387 in Mendoza versus $1,646 in Bariloche.

  • Mendoza $1,387
  • Bariloche $1,646

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,185 in Mendoza versus $2,531 in Bariloche.

  • Mendoza $2,185
  • Bariloche $2,531

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,984 in Mendoza versus $3,416 in Bariloche.

  • Mendoza $2,984
  • Bariloche $3,416

Living in Mendoza costs roughly 16% less than in Bariloche, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mendoza 3% above, Bariloche 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.98 ARS 16.7K
$20.33 ARS 30.8K
-45.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.80 ARS 75.6K
$59.1 ARS 89.7K
-15.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.36 ARS 21.8K
$14.16 ARS 21.5K
1.41%
Cappuccino
$4.54 ARS 6,896
$3.93 ARS 5,968
15.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 ARS 3,517
$1.68 ARS 2,548
38.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ARS 2,949
$1.84 ARS 2,786
5.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.08 ARS 6,191
$5.36 ARS 8,131
-23.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 ARS 6,775
$4.56 ARS 6,916
-2.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 ARS 2,102
$1.38 ARS 2,097
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 ARS 3,358
$2.12 ARS 3,223
4.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 ARS 4,034
$1.53 ARS 2,317
73.86%
Eggs
$3.19 ARS 4,836
$2.67 ARS 4,052
19.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.72 ARS 22.3K
$15.14 ARS 23.0K
-2.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.23 ARS 9,447
$10.35 ARS 15.7K
-39.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.05 ARS 16.8K
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
-16.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ARS 3,478
$2.39 ARS 3,632
-4.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 ARS 3,386
$2.59 ARS 3,934
-13.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 ARS 2,036
$1.93 ARS 2,931
-30.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.28 ARS 4,974
$2.64 ARS 4,002
24.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 ARS 3,067
$0.98 ARS 1,492
106.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ARS 2,268
$0.76 ARS 1,148
96.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 ARS 3,074
$2.05 ARS 3,115
-0.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 ARS 3,743
$1.28 ARS 1,947
92.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82 ARS 4,275
$2.92 ARS 4,430
-3.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.08 ARS 7,712
$7.48 ARS 11.3K
-32.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 ARS 2,608
$1.82 ARS 2,761
-5.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ARS 4,583
$3.97 ARS 6,017
-23.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ARS 1,486
$1.01 ARS 1,539
-2.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 ARS 29.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.02 ARS 3,059
$0.99 ARS 1,505
104.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ARS 1,495
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.82 ARS 7,318
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ARS 1,897
$1.05 ARS 1,597
19.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K ARS 41.9M
$20.0K ARS 30.3M
38.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ARS 50.1M
$32.3K ARS 49.1M
2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$144 ARS 218.4K
$84.0 ARS 127.4K
71.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.72 ARS 26.9K
$16.75 ARS 25.4K
5.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.92 ARS 36.3K
$24.11 ARS 36.6K
-0.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.32 ARS 49.0K
$49.66 ARS 75.4K
-34.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.07 ARS 27.4K
$39.87 ARS 60.5K
-54.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.10 ARS 10.8K
$8.25 ARS 12.5K
-13.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ARS 266.3K
$296 ARS 449.9K
-40.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,178 ARS 6.3M
$4,242 ARS 6.4M
-1.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127 ARS 192.2K
$74.2 ARS 112.5K
70.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$141 ARS 214.2K
$39.27 ARS 59.6K
259.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$144 ARS 217.9K
$112 ARS 170.0K
28.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 ARS 238.0K
$96.3 ARS 146.2K
62.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$553 ARS 838.5K
$1,278 ARS 1.9M
-56.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 ARS 531.6K
$706 ARS 1.1M
-50.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$993 ARS 1.5M
$1,195 ARS 1.8M
-16.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 ARS 1.0M
$1,171 ARS 1.8M
-41.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,751 ARS 2.7M
$3,030 ARS 4.6M
-42.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,141 ARS 1.7M
$2,498 ARS 3.8M
-54.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mendoza
Bariloche
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$766 ARS 1.2M
$953 ARS 1.4M
-19.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
59
90
-34.44%

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

Last update for Mendoza: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bariloche: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mendoza
$350
Bariloche
$706 102% $356
Groceries & Markets
Mendoza
$286
Bariloche
$297 4% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Mendoza
$256
Bariloche
$145 43.4% $111
Eating Out
Mendoza
$232
Bariloche
$302 30.4% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendoza
$186
Bariloche
$125 32.7% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Mendoza
$47
Bariloche
$66 42.2% $20
Getting Around
Mendoza
$31
Bariloche
$5.1 * 83.5% $26

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 $553 in Mendoza and $1,278 in Bariloche. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bariloche pays 24% 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: $50.0 in Mendoza vs $59.0 in Bariloche for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $297 per month, with Mendoza cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Mendoza
🇦🇷 Bariloche
🕒 Local time
16:27 4:27 PM
16:27 4:27 PM
Same time as Mendoza
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
937,154
135,755
💱 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
  • Mendoza Bariloche 940 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mendoza
  • Bariloche

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
Mendoza vs Bariloche: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bariloche cheaper than Mendoza?
Mendoza is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mendoza or Bariloche?
On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Bariloche. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mendoza and Bariloche?
Rent for a central apartment: $553 in Mendoza versus $1,278 in Bariloche. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $176 in Mendoza versus $296 in Bariloche. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mendoza or in Bariloche?
Dining out is cheaper in Mendoza – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $59.0 in Bariloche. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mendoza or in Bariloche?
At $1,387 in Mendoza versus $1,646 in Bariloche, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mendoza but tight or insufficient in Bariloche. The gap between the two cities makes Mendoza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mendoza or Bariloche more family-friendly?
For families, Mendoza is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bariloche, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mendoza or Bariloche?
Safety-wise, Mendoza and Bariloche are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mendoza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Bariloche. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mendoza vs other spots: cost of living compared

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