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 $1,104 per month in Mendoza vs $906 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,750 per month in Mendoza vs $1,433 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,396 per month in Mendoza vs $1,959 in San Rafael, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 22% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mendoza and San Rafael are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 18% lower, San Rafael 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.12 ARS 15.9K

$10.17 ARS 14.5K

9.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.16 ARS 58.8K

$19.75 ARS 28.2K

108.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 ARS 13.3K

$6.11 ARS 8,726

52.05%

Cappuccino

$3.61 ARS 5,160

$1.76 ARS 2,513

105.11%

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

$2.32 ARS 3,319

$1.02 ARS 1,457

127.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,931

$1.01 ARS 1,444

102.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 ARS 2,893

$0.98 ARS 1,404

106.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ARS 4,352

$1.54 ARS 2,205

98.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ARS 1,836

$1.05 ARS 1,493

22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ARS 2,201

$1.54 ARS 2,203

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 ARS 2,890

$1.42 ARS 2,035

42.25%

Eggs

$2.13 ARS 3,044

$1.63 ARS 2,325

30.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.51 ARS 16.4K

$5.53 ARS 7,894

108.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.60 ARS 10.9K

$7.43 ARS 10.6K

2.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 ARS 13.9K

$6.55 ARS 9,353

49.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 2,896

$1.72 ARS 2,452

18.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,179

$1.52 ARS 2,170

0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ARS 2,126

$1.53 ARS 2,181

-2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,972

$0.92 ARS 1,314

126.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,464

$0.65 ARS 927

58.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 ARS 1,408

$0.73 ARS 1,044

35.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ARS 1,388

$0.59 ARS 846

64.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 ARS 3,731

$1.21 ARS 1,733

115.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ARS 3,496

$1.76 ARS 2,513

39.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.15 ARS 7,354

$4.89 ARS 6,985

5.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,821

$1.07 ARS 1,534

84.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ARS 5,105

$1.60 ARS 2,286

123.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,045

$0.84 ARS 1,194

-13.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.18 ARS 26.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 ARS 631

$0.45 ARS 643

-2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,404

$0.98 ARS 1,396

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 ARS 6,984

$4.97 ARS 7,096

-1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ARS 1,661

$0.83 ARS 1,191

39.76%

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

$32.1K ARS 45.9M

$31.9K ARS 45.6M

0.63%

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

$33.4K ARS 47.7M

$33.0K ARS 47.1M

1.24%

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

$78.8 ARS 112.5K

$76.2 ARS 108.9K

3.36%

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

$16.93 ARS 24.2K

$6.71 ARS 9,590

152.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.44 ARS 30.6K

$15.38 ARS 22.0K

39.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.12 ARS 38.7K

$25.70 ARS 36.7K

5.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.05 ARS 22.9K

$13.55 ARS 19.4K

18.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ARS 8,767

$6.03 ARS 8,617

1.82%

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

$102 ARS 145.1K

$102 ARS 145.7K

-0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,194 ARS 3.1M

$2,199 ARS 3.1M

-0.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 ARS 117.1K

$80.7 ARS 115.3K

1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 ARS 109.7K

$77.2 ARS 110.3K

-0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$152 ARS 216.4K

$147 ARS 209.5K

3.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ARS 172.1K

$117 ARS 167.3K

2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ARS 514.6K

$340 ARS 485.2K

6.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$275 ARS 392.8K

$238 ARS 339.8K

15.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 ARS 883.0K

$690 ARS 985.3K

-10.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ARS 714.8K

$530 ARS 757.8K

-5.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,650 ARS 2.4M

$2,309 ARS 3.3M

-28.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$745 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: June 8, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Mendoza versus $340 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 $41.00 in Mendoza versus $20.00 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 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 22%, 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 $1,656 per month in Mendoza and $1,359 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 $1,104 in Mendoza and $906 in San Rafael. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in Mendoza and $102 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 $906, than in Mendoza at $1,104. 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.