Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Neuquen Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Neuquen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,104 per month in Mendoza vs $964 in Neuquen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,750 per month in Mendoza vs $1,695 in Neuquen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,396 per month in Mendoza vs $2,427 in Neuquen, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 15% more than Neuquen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mendoza and Neuquen are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 18% lower, Neuquen 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.12 ARS 15.9K

$10.33 ARS 14.8K

7.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.16 ARS 58.8K

$33.54 ARS 47.9K

22.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 ARS 13.3K

$9.26 ARS 13.2K

0.32%

Cappuccino

$3.61 ARS 5,160

$2.76 ARS 3,945

30.80%

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

$2.32 ARS 3,319

$1.64 ARS 2,341

41.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,931

$1.54 ARS 2,193

33.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ARS 2,893

$2.15 ARS 3,072

-6.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ARS 4,352

$2.94 ARS 4,193

3.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ARS 1,836

$1.30 ARS 1,859

-0.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ARS 2,201

$1.58 ARS 2,264

-2.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 ARS 2,890

$1.94 ARS 2,768

4.12%

Eggs

$2.13 ARS 3,044

$2.17 ARS 3,095

-1.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.51 ARS 16.4K

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

15.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.60 ARS 10.9K

$6.34 ARS 9,059

19.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 ARS 13.9K

$9.11 ARS 13.0K

7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 2,896

$1.97 ARS 2,821

3.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,179

$2.15 ARS 3,069

-28.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ARS 2,126

$1.30 ARS 1,859

14.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,972

$2.55 ARS 3,639

-18.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,464

$1.19 ARS 1,706

-13.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 ARS 1,408

$1.25 ARS 1,790

-20.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ARS 1,388

$1.26 ARS 1,802

-23.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ARS 3,731

$1.48 ARS 2,118

76.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ARS 3,496

$3.20 ARS 4,567

-23.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.15 ARS 7,354

$4.35 ARS 6,214

18.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,821

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ARS 5,105

$3.15 ARS 4,503

13.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,045

$0.76 ARS 1,087

-3.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.18 ARS 26.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 ARS 631

$1.53 ARS 2,188

-71.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,404

$0.93 ARS 1,322

5.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 ARS 6,984

$5.87 ARS 8,387

-16.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ARS 1,661

$1.07 ARS 1,525

8.41%

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

$32.1K ARS 45.9M

$27.5K ARS 39.3M

16.78%

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

$33.4K ARS 47.7M

$30.7K ARS 43.9M

8.61%

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

$78.8 ARS 112.5K

$67.2 ARS 96.0K

17.24%

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

$16.93 ARS 24.2K

$17.50 ARS 25.0K

-3.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.44 ARS 30.6K

$22.09 ARS 31.6K

-2.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.12 ARS 38.7K

$30.29 ARS 43.3K

-10.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ARS 22.9K

$13.72 ARS 19.6K

16.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ARS 8,767

$6.14 ARS 8,769

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

$102 ARS 145.1K

$216 ARS 308.3K

-52.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,194 ARS 3.1M

$2,736 ARS 3.9M

-19.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 ARS 117.1K

$72.5 ARS 103.6K

13.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 ARS 109.7K

$68.3 ARS 97.6K

12.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$152 ARS 216.4K

$116 ARS 165.3K

30.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ARS 172.1K

$114 ARS 162.3K

6.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ARS 514.6K

$688 ARS 982.8K

-47.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ARS 392.8K

$233 ARS 332.8K

18.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 ARS 883.0K

$1,489 ARS 2.1M

-58.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ARS 714.8K

$799 ARS 1.1M

-37.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,650 ARS 2.4M

$1,781 ARS 2.5M

-7.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

$1,229 ARS 1.8M

-8.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$745 ARS 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

35.04%

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

Last update for Mendoza: June 8, 2026

Last update for Neuquen: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Mendoza versus $688 in Neuquen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Mendoza versus $34.00 in Neuquen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $229 – making Neuquen 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

Mendoza vs Neuquen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,656 per month in Mendoza and $1,445 in Neuquen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Neuquen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,104 in Mendoza and $964 in Neuquen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Mendoza and $216 in Neuquen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Neuquen, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Mendoza at $1,104. In Neuquen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neuquen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Neuquen. 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.