😐A single person spends $1,104 per month in Mendoza vs $882 in Quilmes, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,750 per month in Mendoza vs $1,462 in Quilmes, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,396 per month in Mendoza vs $2,043 in Quilmes, rent included.
😐Mendoza costs about 25% more than Quilmes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Mendoza and Quilmes are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza18% lower, Quilmes34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.12ARS 15.9K
$9.14ARS 13.1K
21.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.16ARS 58.8K
$30.02ARS 42.9K
37.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29ARS 13.3K
$9.22ARS 13.2K
0.76%
Cappuccino
$3.61ARS 5,160
$1.70ARS 2,425
112.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32ARS 3,319
$1.27ARS 1,807
82.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05ARS 2,931
$1.12ARS 1,594
83.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02ARS 2,893
$1.20ARS 1,718
68.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05ARS 4,352
$2.74ARS 3,910
11.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29ARS 1,836
$1.27ARS 1,815
1.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54ARS 2,201
$1.56ARS 2,228
-1.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02ARS 2,890
$1.87ARS 2,664
8.02%
Eggs
$2.13ARS 3,044
$2.17ARS 3,106
-1.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51ARS 16.4K
$13.29ARS 19.0K
-13.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60ARS 10.9K
$5.87ARS 8,384
29.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.76ARS 13.9K
$10.69ARS 15.3K
-8.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03ARS 2,896
$1.82ARS 2,593
11.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53ARS 2,179
$2.12ARS 3,022
-27.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49ARS 2,126
$0.97ARS 1,389
53.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08ARS 2,972
$2.58ARS 3,680
-19.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03ARS 1,464
$1.19ARS 1,698
-13.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99ARS 1,408
$1.38ARS 1,975
-28.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97ARS 1,388
$0.93ARS 1,328
4.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61ARS 3,731
$1.85ARS 2,640
41.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45ARS 3,496
$3.42ARS 4,885
-28.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.15ARS 7,354
$4.20ARS 5,999
22.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97ARS 2,821
$1.30ARS 1,852
51.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57ARS 5,105
$3.13ARS 4,468
14.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73ARS 1,045
$0.83ARS 1,185
-12.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.18ARS 26.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44ARS 631
$2.54ARS 3,630
-82.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98ARS 1,404
$0.93ARS 1,334
5.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.89ARS 6,984
$6.14ARS 8,770
-20.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16ARS 1,661
$1.08ARS 1,539
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KARS 45.9M
$24.0KARS 34.3M
33.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KARS 47.7M
$26.2KARS 37.4M
27.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.8ARS 112.5K
$55.3ARS 79.1K
42.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.93ARS 24.2K
$18.56ARS 26.5K
-8.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.44ARS 30.6K
$14.85ARS 21.2K
44.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.12ARS 38.7K
$26.11ARS 37.3K
3.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.05ARS 22.9K
$13.99ARS 20.0K
14.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14ARS 8,767
$5.02ARS 7,176
22.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$102ARS 145.1K
$217ARS 310.0K
-53.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,194ARS 3.1M
$1,094ARS 1.6M
100.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.0ARS 117.1K
$60.7ARS 86.7K
35.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.8ARS 109.7K
$60.8ARS 86.8K
26.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$152ARS 216.4K
$108ARS 154.8K
39.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120ARS 172.1K
$96.5ARS 137.8K
24.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$360ARS 514.6K
$337ARS 481.2K
6.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275ARS 392.8K
$233ARS 332.5K
18.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618ARS 883.0K
$685ARS 978.0K
-9.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500ARS 714.8K
$528ARS 754.2K
-5.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,650ARS 2.4M
$2,389ARS 3.4M
-30.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,127ARS 1.6M
$1,801ARS 2.6M
-37.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mendoza
Quilmes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$745ARS 1.1M
$1,103ARS 1.6M
-32.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
79
100
-21.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mendoza: June 8, 2026
Last update for Quilmes: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Mendoza versus $337 in Quilmes. 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 48% higher in Quilmes, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Mendoza versus $30.00 in Quilmes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $238 – making Quilmes 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 Quilmes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quilmes cheaper than Mendoza?
Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,656 per month in Mendoza and $1,322 in Quilmes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quilmes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mendoza vs Quilmes?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,104 in Mendoza and $882 in Quilmes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Mendoza and $217 in Quilmes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Mendoza or Quilmes?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $882, than in Mendoza at $1,104. In Quilmes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mendoza or Quilmes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Quilmes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mendoza or Quilmes?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Quilmes. 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.