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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Mendoza vs $880 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,709 per month in Mendoza vs $1,409 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,351 per month in Mendoza vs $1,938 in San Rafael, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 21% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mendoza and San Rafael are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 20% lower, San Rafael 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.11 ARS 16.5K

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

11.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.23 ARS 59.7K

$19.78 ARS 29.4K

103.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.65 ARS 14.3K

$6.07 ARS 9,007

58.98%

Cappuccino

$3.75 ARS 5,571

$1.78 ARS 2,641

110.67%

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

$2.22 ARS 3,302

$1.02 ARS 1,509

117.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ARS 2,967

$0.98 ARS 1,453

104.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ARS 2,998

$1.02 ARS 1,516

98.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ARS 4,498

$1.54 ARS 2,289

96.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ARS 1,947

$1.01 ARS 1,503

29.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ARS 2,231

$1.48 ARS 2,196

1.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 3,017

$1.42 ARS 2,112

42.96%

Eggs

$2.17 ARS 3,229

$1.62 ARS 2,409

33.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.72 ARS 17.4K

$5.53 ARS 8,214

111.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.59 ARS 11.3K

$7.48 ARS 11.1K

1.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.38 ARS 13.9K

$6.62 ARS 9,836

41.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ARS 2,937

$1.79 ARS 2,660

10.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,273

$1.53 ARS 2,268

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 ARS 2,201

$1.53 ARS 2,272

-3.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,209

$0.89 ARS 1,327

142.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ARS 1,465

$0.71 ARS 1,056

39.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ARS 1,505

$0.71 ARS 1,059

42.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ARS 1,459

$0.60 ARS 895

63.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 ARS 3,920

$1.23 ARS 1,830

114.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ARS 3,659

$1.80 ARS 2,667

36.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.86 ARS 7,223

$5.11 ARS 7,595

-4.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,942

$1.08 ARS 1,605

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 ARS 5,131

$1.66 ARS 2,467

108.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 ARS 999

$0.81 ARS 1,210

-17.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.84 ARS 28.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 ARS 621

$0.42 ARS 617

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ARS 1,467

$1.01 ARS 1,505

-1.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 ARS 7,483

$4.78 ARS 7,105

5.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ARS 1,792

$0.85 ARS 1,258

42.35%

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

$32.0K ARS 47.5M

$31.9K ARS 47.4M

0.14%

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

$32.9K ARS 48.9M

$33.9K ARS 50.3M

-2.81%

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

$77.4 ARS 114.9K

$78.5 ARS 116.6K

-1.44%

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

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

$6.56 ARS 9,740

167.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.17 ARS 32.9K

$15.59 ARS 23.2K

42.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.31 ARS 40.6K

$26.63 ARS 39.5K

2.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.74 ARS 23.4K

$13.92 ARS 20.7K

13.07%

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 ARS 8,986

$5.92 ARS 8,795

2.20%

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

$101 ARS 150.7K

$104 ARS 153.8K

-2.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,174 ARS 3.2M

$2,127 ARS 3.2M

2.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.2 ARS 122.1K

$82.8 ARS 122.9K

-0.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.5 ARS 113.7K

$77.6 ARS 115.3K

-1.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$148 ARS 219.5K

$149 ARS 221.5K

-0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ARS 174.0K

$121 ARS 179.3K

-2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$367 ARS 544.2K

$336 ARS 498.9K

9.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 ARS 394.3K

$234 ARS 347.4K

13.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$609 ARS 905.1K

$679 ARS 1.0M

-10.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 ARS 763.5K

$533 ARS 790.8K

-3.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,667 ARS 2.5M

$2,080 ARS 3.1M

-19.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,095 ARS 1.6M

$1,499 ARS 2.2M

-27.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 ARS 1.1M

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 27, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $367 in Mendoza versus $336 in San Rafael. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Mendoza versus $20.00 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $179 – making San Rafael 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 Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 21%, 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 $1,601 per month in Mendoza and $1,319 in San Rafael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, 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 $1,067 in Mendoza and $880 in San Rafael. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Mendoza and $104 in San Rafael. 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 Rafael, where all-in costs run around $880, than in Mendoza at $1,067. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael – 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 Rafael. 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.