Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Lacey, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Lacey, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,332 in Mendoza versus $2,594 in Lacey, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,085 in Mendoza versus $3,823 in Lacey, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,838 in Mendoza versus $5,053 in Lacey, WA.

Living in Mendoza costs roughly 49% less than in Lacey, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mendoza is 3% below, Lacey, WA is 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.20 ARS 16.9K

$24.53 $24.53

-54.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ARS 76.7K

$68.7 $68.7

-26.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.75 ARS 22.3K

$13.12 $13.12

12.42%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ARS 6,649

$6.08 $6.08

-27.63%

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

$2.42 ARS 3,658

$3.96 $3.96

-38.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,968

$2.51 $2.51

-21.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 ARS 6,160

$8.23 $8.23

-50.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ARS 6,890

$10.03 $10.03

-54.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ARS 2,112

$1.09 $1.09

28.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ARS 3,348

$4.44 $4.44

-50.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 ARS 4,197

$2.78 $2.78

Eggs

$3.25 ARS 4,914

$5.11 $5.11

-36.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.70 ARS 22.2K

$14.85 $14.85

-1.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.21 ARS 9,396

$10.62 $10.62

-41.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.04 ARS 16.7K

$10.95 $10.95

0.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ARS 3,499

$5.32 $5.32

-56.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ARS 3,346

$1.63 $1.63

35.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ARS 1,975

$4.01 $4.01

-67.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 ARS 5,049

$4.32 $4.32

-22.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 ARS 3,028

$2.35 $2.35

-14.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,275

$2.47 $2.47

-39.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ARS 2,931

$2.31 $2.31

-16.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,742

$1.97 $1.97

25.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ARS 4,086

$12.10 $12.10

-77.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 ARS 7,461

$15.14 $15.14

-67.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ARS 2,569

$2.08 $2.08

-18.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ARS 4,448

$2.40 $2.40

22.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ARS 1,470

$1.99 $1.99

-51.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.05 ARS 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ARS 3,106

$5.13 $5.13

-60.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,551

$2.68 $2.68

-61.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ARS 7,264

$51.7 $51.7

-90.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ARS 1,846

$1.31 $1.31

-6.87%

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

$27.3K ARS 41.3M

$36.3K $36.3K

-24.62%

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

$33.0K ARS 50.0M

$25.3K $25.3K

30.50%

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

$134 ARS 203.0K

$157 $157

-14.23%

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

$17.34 ARS 26.2K

$53.1 $53.1

-67.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.56 ARS 35.6K

$94.7 $94.7

-75.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.72 ARS 44.9K

$41.53 $41.53

-28.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.02 ARS 27.3K

Cinema Ticket

$7.21 ARS 10.9K

$12.68 $12.68

-43.14%

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

$173 ARS 261.8K

$1,465 $1,465

-88.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,161 ARS 6.3M

$49.2K $49.2K

-91.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$113 ARS 170.9K

$44.74 $44.74

152.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.0K

$36.76 $36.76

236.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ARS 205.5K

$90.5 $90.5

50.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 194.0K

$100 $100

28.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ARS 734.8K

$1,611 $1,611

-69.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ARS 498.3K

$1,321 $1,321

-75.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ARS 1.3M

$2,525 $2,525

-65.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ARS 984.8K

$2,160 $2,160

-69.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 ARS 2.5M

$2,702 $2,702

-37.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 ARS 1.7M

$2,423 $2,423

-53.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 ARS 1.2M

$4,164 $4,164

-81.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.03

878.44%

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

Last update for Mendoza: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lacey, WA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Mendoza and $1,611 in Lacey, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lacey, WA pays 434% 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: $51.0 in Mendoza vs $69.0 in Lacey, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $382 per month, with Mendoza cheaper across the board.

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 Lacey, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mendoza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 434% lower in Lacey, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $486 in Mendoza versus $1,611 in Lacey, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $173 in Mendoza versus $1,465 in Lacey, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Mendoza – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $69.0 in Lacey, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,332 in Mendoza versus $2,594 in Lacey, WA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mendoza but tight or insufficient in Lacey, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Mendoza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mendoza is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lacey, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Mendoza and Lacey, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mendoza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Lacey, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.