Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and San Juan Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and San Juan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,329 per month in Mendoza vs $868 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,119 per month in Mendoza vs $1,372 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,909 per month in Mendoza vs $1,877 in San Juan, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 53% more than San Juan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mendoza and San Juan are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 4% lower, San Juan 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.02 ARS 16.6K

$7.11 ARS 10.7K

54.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.37 ARS 74.5K

$40.20 ARS 60.6K

22.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.41 ARS 21.7K

$12.48 ARS 18.8K

15.46%

Cappuccino

$4.51 ARS 6,800

$2.58 ARS 3,890

74.81%

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

$2.32 ARS 3,502

$2.19 ARS 3,301

5.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,973

$1.75 ARS 2,640

12.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 ARS 6,133

$3.95 ARS 5,959

3.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ARS 6,964

$4.40 ARS 6,638

5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,086

$1.32 ARS 1,998

4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ARS 3,333

$1.41 ARS 2,124

56.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 ARS 4,175

$1.41 ARS 2,123

96.45%

Eggs

$3.34 ARS 5,032

$1.46 ARS 2,201

128.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.46 ARS 21.8K

$2.79 ARS 4,207

418.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 ARS 9,269

$6.28 ARS 9,467

-2.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ARS 16.8K

$10.79 ARS 16.3K

3.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 ARS 3,473

$1.39 ARS 2,092

65.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,274

$1.45 ARS 2,183

49.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ARS 1,991

$1.35 ARS 2,030

-2.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.24 ARS 4,890

$1.41 ARS 2,120

129.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,930

$1.39 ARS 2,098

39.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ARS 2,205

$1.44 ARS 2,173

1.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ARS 3,044

$1.39 ARS 2,100

45.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,732

$1.45 ARS 2,195

70.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ARS 4,240

$2.83 ARS 4,263

-0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.06 ARS 7,626

$5.07 ARS 7,642

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ARS 2,655

$1.44 ARS 2,175

22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 ARS 4,659

$1.41 ARS 2,122

119.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ARS 1,486

$1.03 ARS 1,547

-3.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.93 ARS 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 ARS 3,101

$2.02 ARS 3,046

1.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,485

$0.98 ARS 1,478

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.92 ARS 7,422

$4.86 ARS 7,328

1.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,900

$1.12 ARS 1,687

12.50%

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

$27.5K ARS 41.5M

$26.6K ARS 40.2M

3.23%

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

$32.6K ARS 49.2M

$33.1K ARS 50.0M

-1.60%

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

$136 ARS 205.9K

$137 ARS 206.8K

-0.47%

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

$16.88 ARS 25.5K

$10.18 ARS 15.4K

65.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.63 ARS 35.7K

$18.04 ARS 27.2K

30.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 ARS 45.2K

$29.82 ARS 45.0K

0.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.42 ARS 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$7.27 ARS 11.0K

$7.17 ARS 10.8K

1.39%

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

$175 ARS 263.6K

$173 ARS 260.7K

1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,200 ARS 6.3M

$4,198 ARS 6.3M

0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$115 ARS 173.4K

$106 ARS 159.8K

8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.7K

$43.07 ARS 65.0K

188.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 ARS 208.2K

$57.7 ARS 87.0K

139.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 193.5K

$35.91 ARS 54.2K

257.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 ARS 710.7K

$250 ARS 376.9K

88.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ARS 497.2K

$203 ARS 305.6K

62.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 ARS 1.3M

$507 ARS 765.1K

73.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$634 ARS 956.7K

$395 ARS 595.1K

60.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,696 ARS 2.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 ARS 1.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$769 ARS 1.2M

$686 ARS 1.0M

11.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.26%

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

Last update for Mendoza: September 7, 2026

Last update for San Juan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Mendoza versus $250 in San Juan. 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 12% higher in Mendoza, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Mendoza versus $40.00 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $189 – making San Juan 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 San Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 53%, 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 $1,302 in San Juan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan, 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 $868 in San Juan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $175 per month in Mendoza and $173 in San Juan. 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 San Juan, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Mendoza at $1,329. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan – 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 San Juan. 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.