Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Quilmes Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Quilmes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,329 per month in Mendoza vs $932 in Quilmes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,119 per month in Mendoza vs $1,553 in Quilmes, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,909 per month in Mendoza vs $2,174 in Quilmes, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 43% more than Quilmes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mendoza and Quilmes are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 4% lower, Quilmes 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ARS 16.6K

$5.58 ARS 8,412

97.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.37 ARS 74.5K

$35.58 ARS 53.7K

38.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.41 ARS 21.7K

$9.20 ARS 13.9K

56.63%

Cappuccino

$4.51 ARS 6,800

$2.92 ARS 4,401

54.45%

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

$2.32 ARS 3,502

$1.70 ARS 2,565

36.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,973

$1.65 ARS 2,487

19.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 ARS 6,133

$3.99 ARS 6,019

2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ARS 6,964

$2.26 ARS 3,414

104.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,086

$1.02 ARS 1,540

35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ARS 3,333

$1.58 ARS 2,391

39.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 ARS 4,175

$1.66 ARS 2,509

66.87%

Eggs

$3.34 ARS 5,032

$2.36 ARS 3,558

41.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.46 ARS 21.8K

$13.14 ARS 19.8K

10.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 ARS 9,269

$6.09 ARS 9,184

0.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ARS 16.8K

$9.92 ARS 15.0K

12.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 ARS 3,473

$1.90 ARS 2,861

21.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,274

$1.50 ARS 2,270

44.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ARS 1,991

$1.02 ARS 1,537

29.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 ARS 4,890

$2.12 ARS 3,201

52.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,930

$0.91 ARS 1,378

113.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ARS 2,205

$0.63 ARS 947

131.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ARS 3,044

$0.71 ARS 1,073

184.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,732

$0.68 ARS 1,020

263.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ARS 4,240

$4.98 ARS 7,507

-43.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.06 ARS 7,626

$4.33 ARS 6,533

16.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ARS 2,655

$1.23 ARS 1,859

43.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 ARS 4,659

$1.90 ARS 2,873

62.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ARS 1,486

$0.98 ARS 1,477

1.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.93 ARS 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ARS 3,101

$1.57 ARS 2,364

31.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,485

$0.98 ARS 1,480

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 ARS 7,422

$7.34 ARS 11.1K

-32.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,900

$1.13 ARS 1,708

11.50%

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

$27.5K ARS 41.5M

$51.0K ARS 76.9M

-46.12%

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

$32.6K ARS 49.2M

$39.1K ARS 58.9M

-16.59%

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

$136 ARS 205.9K

$59.3 ARS 89.4K

130.23%

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

$16.88 ARS 25.5K

$14.44 ARS 21.8K

16.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.63 ARS 35.7K

$21.74 ARS 32.8K

8.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 ARS 45.2K

$30.26 ARS 45.7K

-0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.42 ARS 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$7.27 ARS 11.0K

$10.17 ARS 15.3K

-28.52%

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

$175 ARS 263.6K

$299 ARS 451.7K

-41.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,200 ARS 6.3M

$4,229 ARS 6.4M

-0.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 ARS 173.4K

$96.4 ARS 145.5K

19.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.7K

$35.43 ARS 53.4K

251.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 ARS 208.2K

$64.4 ARS 97.2K

114.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 193.5K

$71.3 ARS 107.5K

79.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 ARS 710.7K

$476 ARS 718.6K

-1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ARS 497.2K

$313 ARS 472.8K

5.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 ARS 1.3M

$970 ARS 1.5M

-9.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$634 ARS 956.7K

$770 ARS 1.2M

-17.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,696 ARS 2.6M

$2,385 ARS 3.6M

-28.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 ARS 1.7M

$1,815 ARS 2.7M

-39.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 ARS 1.2M

$1,085 ARS 1.6M

-29.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

56.56

4.31%

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

Last update for Mendoza: September 7, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Mendoza versus $476 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 41% 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 $49.00 in Mendoza versus $36.00 in Quilmes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $209 – 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

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 43%, 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 $1,993 per month in Mendoza and $1,398 in Quilmes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,329 in Mendoza and $932 in Quilmes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Mendoza and $299 in Quilmes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Quilmes, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Mendoza at $1,329. In Quilmes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.