Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Salta Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Salta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,069 per month in Mendoza vs $1,057 in Salta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Mendoza vs $1,553 in Salta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,378 per month in Mendoza vs $2,049 in Salta, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 1% more than Salta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mendoza and Salta are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 20% lower, Salta 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.93 ARS 16.2K

$9.95 ARS 14.7K

9.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.47 ARS 61.3K

$39.19 ARS 57.9K

5.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 ARS 14.2K

$6.35 ARS 9,381

51.18%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ARS 5,601

$2.31 ARS 3,412

64.07%

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

$2.32 ARS 3,424

$1.39 ARS 2,049

66.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,925

$1.28 ARS 1,897

54.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 ARS 2,875

$1.78 ARS 2,630

8.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,337

$3.09 ARS 4,572

-5.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ARS 1,906

$1.40 ARS 2,070

-7.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 ARS 2,183

$1.78 ARS 2,626

-16.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 2,996

$1.94 ARS 2,874

4.64%

Eggs

$2.12 ARS 3,137

$2.48 ARS 3,660

-14.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.73 ARS 17.3K

$3.69 ARS 5,456

217.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 ARS 11.4K

$4.71 ARS 6,963

63.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.46 ARS 14.0K

$10.06 ARS 14.9K

-5.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ARS 2,974

$1.23 ARS 1,820

63.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,255

$1.63 ARS 2,413

-6.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,236

$0.83 ARS 1,232

81.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ARS 3,229

$2.00 ARS 2,952

9.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 ARS 1,497

$0.58 ARS 863

74.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,517

$0.79 ARS 1,164

30.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ARS 1,515

$1.32 ARS 1,956

-22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 ARS 3,878

$1.75 ARS 2,582

49.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ARS 3,613

$3.70 ARS 5,471

-34.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.10 ARS 7,544

$4.92 ARS 7,270

3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,883

$1.36 ARS 2,008

43.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ARS 5,266

$3.93 ARS 5,811

-9.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ARS 1,018

$0.80 ARS 1,189

-13.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.28 ARS 27.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 605

$1.53 ARS 2,267

-73.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,506

$0.86 ARS 1,265

18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 ARS 7,170

$5.87 ARS 8,676

-17.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ARS 1,761

$0.94 ARS 1,386

26.60%

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

$31.6K ARS 46.7M

$23.1K ARS 34.2M

36.62%

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

$33.0K ARS 48.8M

$33.3K ARS 49.2M

-0.87%

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

$76.0 ARS 112.3K

$98.0 ARS 144.8K

-22.44%

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

$17.52 ARS 25.9K

$15.43 ARS 22.8K

13.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.72 ARS 32.1K

$9.91 ARS 14.6K

119.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.75 ARS 41.0K

$29.33 ARS 43.3K

-5.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.19 ARS 23.9K

$13.88 ARS 20.5K

16.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ARS 9,021

$6.09 ARS 8,999

0.16%

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

$102 ARS 150.4K

$98.6 ARS 145.8K

3.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,172 ARS 3.2M

$2,663 ARS 3.9M

-18.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.9 ARS 119.6K

$60.3 ARS 89.2K

34.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.5 ARS 114.6K

$57.6 ARS 85.1K

34.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 ARS 217.8K

$103 ARS 152.1K

43.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ARS 177.4K

$100 ARS 148.2K

19.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 ARS 536.4K

$455 ARS 672.4K

-20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ARS 398.9K

$381 ARS 562.7K

-29.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 ARS 899.8K

$655 ARS 967.9K

-7.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ARS 741.9K

$543 ARS 802.9K

-7.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,705 ARS 2.5M

$2,317 ARS 3.4M

-26.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,121 ARS 1.7M

$1,519 ARS 2.2M

-26.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$722 ARS 1.1M

$850 ARS 1.3M

-15.04%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Salta: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Mendoza versus $455 in Salta. 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 18% higher in Salta, 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 $39.00 in Salta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $198 – making Salta 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 Salta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,603 per month in Mendoza and $1,585 in Salta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salta, 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 $1,069 in Mendoza and $1,057 in Salta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Mendoza and $98.6 in Salta. 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 Salta, where all-in costs run around $1,057, than in Mendoza at $1,069. In Salta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salta – 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 Salta. 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.