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 $1,069 per month in Mendoza vs $607 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,723 per month in Mendoza vs $996 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,378 per month in Mendoza vs $1,384 in San Juan, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 76% more than San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mendoza and San Juan are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 20% lower, San Juan 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.93 ARS 16.2K

$5.85 ARS 8,646

86.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.47 ARS 61.3K

$29.44 ARS 43.5K

40.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 ARS 14.2K

$7.88 ARS 11.6K

21.83%

Cappuccino

$3.79 ARS 5,601

$1.54 ARS 2,278

146.10%

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

$2.32 ARS 3,424

$0.96 ARS 1,417

141.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,925

$0.91 ARS 1,341

117.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 ARS 2,875

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,337

$2.98 ARS 4,402

-1.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ARS 1,906

$0.71 ARS 1,055

81.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 ARS 2,183

$0.66 ARS 975

124.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 2,996

$1.24 ARS 1,828

63.71%

Eggs

$2.12 ARS 3,137

$1.74 ARS 2,568

21.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.73 ARS 17.3K

$3.34 ARS 4,940

251.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 ARS 11.4K

$3.49 ARS 5,157

120.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.46 ARS 14.0K

$4.09 ARS 6,047

131.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ARS 2,974

$1.48 ARS 2,186

35.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,255

$1.53 ARS 2,260

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,236

$1.54 ARS 2,272

-1.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ARS 3,229

$2.15 ARS 3,173

1.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 ARS 1,497

$0.64 ARS 943

57.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,517

$0.62 ARS 916

66.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ARS 1,515

$0.39 ARS 570

161.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 ARS 3,878

$0.86 ARS 1,272

204.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ARS 3,613

$1.78 ARS 2,626

37.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.10 ARS 7,544

$4.91 ARS 7,253

3.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,883

$1.48 ARS 2,184

31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 ARS 5,266

$1.84 ARS 2,727

93.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ARS 1,018

$0.29 ARS 427

137.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.28 ARS 27.0K

$5.10 ARS 7,537

258.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 605

$0.41 ARS 609

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,506

$1.03 ARS 1,522

-0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 ARS 7,170

$4.99 ARS 7,381

-2.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ARS 1,761

$1.11 ARS 1,634

7.21%

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

$31.6K ARS 46.7M

$31.6K ARS 46.6M

0.22%

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

$33.0K ARS 48.8M

$21.0K ARS 31.1M

56.85%

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

$76.0 ARS 112.3K

$77.7 ARS 114.9K

-2.23%

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

$17.52 ARS 25.9K

$5.10 ARS 7,544

243.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.72 ARS 32.1K

$10.17 ARS 15.0K

113.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.75 ARS 41.0K

$17.83 ARS 26.3K

55.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.19 ARS 23.9K

$6.07 ARS 8,967

166.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ARS 9,021

$1.97 ARS 2,916

209.64%

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

$102 ARS 150.4K

$102 ARS 150.9K

-0.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,172 ARS 3.2M

$2,197 ARS 3.2M

-1.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.9 ARS 119.6K

$49.17 ARS 72.7K

64.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.5 ARS 114.6K

$49.82 ARS 73.6K

55.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 ARS 217.8K

$99.7 ARS 147.4K

47.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ARS 177.4K

$118 ARS 173.8K

2.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 ARS 536.4K

$150 ARS 221.1K

142.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ARS 398.9K

$91.6 ARS 135.3K

194.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 ARS 899.8K

$250 ARS 369.7K

143.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ARS 741.9K

$204 ARS 301.1K

146.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,705 ARS 2.5M

$2,550 ARS 3.8M

-33.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,121 ARS 1.7M

$2,083 ARS 3.1M

-46.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$722 ARS 1.1M

$709 ARS 1.0M

1.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mendoza: July 13, 2026

Last update for San Juan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Mendoza versus $150 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 2% 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 $41.00 in Mendoza versus $29.00 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $135 – 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 76%, 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 $911 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.

Public transport costs about 258% less in San Juan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Mendoza and $102 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 $607, than in Mendoza at $1,069. 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.