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 $1,075 per month in Mendoza vs $597 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,730 per month in Mendoza vs $986 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,385 per month in Mendoza vs $1,376 in San Juan, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 80% 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

$10.84 ARS 15.5K

$5.86 ARS 8,357

84.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.73 ARS 59.5K

$29.78 ARS 42.5K

40.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.70 ARS 13.8K

$8.23 ARS 11.7K

17.86%

Cappuccino

$3.69 ARS 5,262

$1.50 ARS 2,142

146.00%

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

$2.24 ARS 3,193

$0.97 ARS 1,384

130.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 2,938

$0.86 ARS 1,226

139.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ARS 2,884

$1.98 ARS 2,828

2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,187

$2.93 ARS 4,179

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,808

$0.72 ARS 1,022

76.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ARS 2,128

$0.71 ARS 1,016

109.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 ARS 2,816

$1.22 ARS 1,736

61.48%

Eggs

$2.21 ARS 3,146

$1.67 ARS 2,378

32.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.57 ARS 16.5K

$3.45 ARS 4,928

235.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 ARS 10.5K

$3.56 ARS 5,080

107.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.56 ARS 13.6K

$3.90 ARS 5,560

145.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ARS 2,872

$1.51 ARS 2,157

33.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,191

$1.47 ARS 2,095

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,092

$1.49 ARS 2,123

-1.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 ARS 2,985

$2.08 ARS 2,974

0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 ARS 1,391

$0.62 ARS 891

56.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ARS 1,442

$0.66 ARS 945

53.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ARS 1,459

$0.42 ARS 593

142.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 ARS 3,911

$0.86 ARS 1,222

218.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ARS 3,493

$1.70 ARS 2,430

44.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.09 ARS 7,255

$5.11 ARS 7,295

-0.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,814

$1.54 ARS 2,198

27.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ARS 4,951

$1.84 ARS 2,619

88.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,035

$0.29 ARS 410

151.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ARS 26.7K

$4.95 ARS 7,066

278.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 587

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,455

$1.02 ARS 1,456

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 ARS 7,036

$5.04 ARS 7,187

-2.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ARS 1,712

$1.09 ARS 1,557

10.09%

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

$31.7K ARS 45.2M

$32.1K ARS 45.8M

-1.30%

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

$33.2K ARS 47.4M

$21.3K ARS 30.4M

56.17%

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

$77.6 ARS 110.7K

$76.8 ARS 109.6K

1.03%

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

$17.56 ARS 25.1K

$4.97 ARS 7,083

253.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.55 ARS 30.7K

$10.16 ARS 14.5K

112.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.98 ARS 39.9K

$18.15 ARS 25.9K

54.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.31 ARS 23.3K

$5.89 ARS 8,398

176.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ARS 8,697

$2.01 ARS 2,873

203.48%

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

$103 ARS 147.6K

$104 ARS 147.8K

-0.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,124 ARS 3.0M

$2,153 ARS 3.1M

-1.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.1 ARS 115.8K

$49.46 ARS 70.6K

64.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.6 ARS 107.8K

$49.96 ARS 71.3K

51.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 ARS 214.5K

$100 ARS 143.1K

49.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ARS 169.8K

$118 ARS 167.8K

1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 ARS 504.0K

$148 ARS 211.7K

138.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 ARS 391.0K

$89.6 ARS 127.7K

206.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 ARS 871.9K

$247 ARS 352.9K

147.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ARS 716.5K

$197 ARS 281.2K

154.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,691 ARS 2.4M

$2,548 ARS 3.6M

-33.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

$2,112 ARS 3.0M

-46.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$725 ARS 1.0M

$713 ARS 1.0M

1.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mendoza: May 31, 2026

Last update for San Juan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Mendoza versus $148 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 $42.00 in Mendoza versus $30.00 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 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 80%, 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 $1,612 per month in Mendoza and $895 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 279% less in San Juan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $103 per month in Mendoza and $104 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 $597, than in Mendoza at $1,075. 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.