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 $1,084 per month in Mendoza vs $879 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,724 per month in Mendoza vs $1,436 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,363 per month in Mendoza vs $1,993 in San Rafael, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 23% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mendoza and San Rafael are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 19% lower, San Rafael 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.90 ARS 15.2K

$10.17 ARS 14.2K

7.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.34 ARS 56.3K

$20.39 ARS 28.5K

97.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.60 ARS 13.4K

$5.95 ARS 8,304

61.34%

Cappuccino

$3.62 ARS 5,047

$1.78 ARS 2,486

103.37%

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

$2.26 ARS 3,155

$1.02 ARS 1,426

121.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 2,881

$1.01 ARS 1,414

103.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$1.03 ARS 1,435

89.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,140

$1.53 ARS 2,130

94.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,774

$1.04 ARS 1,456

22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$1.50 ARS 2,088

2.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 ARS 2,733

$1.41 ARS 1,973

39.01%

Eggs

$2.21 ARS 3,089

$1.57 ARS 2,197

40.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.44 ARS 16.0K

$5.36 ARS 7,480

113.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.34 ARS 10.2K

$7.67 ARS 10.7K

-4.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.69 ARS 13.5K

$6.43 ARS 8,969

50.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ARS 2,758

$1.79 ARS 2,494

10.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,057

$1.46 ARS 2,031

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ARS 2,115

$1.54 ARS 2,155

-1.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 2,994

$0.92 ARS 1,288

133.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ARS 1,368

$0.71 ARS 993

38.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,432

$0.73 ARS 1,015

41.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ARS 1,361

$0.65 ARS 902

50.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 ARS 3,654

$1.22 ARS 1,709

114.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ARS 3,399

$1.75 ARS 2,445

39.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ARS 6,940

$5.13 ARS 7,151

-3.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,740

$1.12 ARS 1,557

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 ARS 4,747

$1.58 ARS 2,211

115.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ARS 993

$0.77 ARS 1,081

-7.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 ARS 26.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 ARS 618

$0.44 ARS 619

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,433

$1.03 ARS 1,434

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.76 ARS 6,648

$5.01 ARS 6,992

-4.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ARS 1,664

$0.84 ARS 1,169

41.67%

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

$32.1K ARS 44.8M

$31.7K ARS 44.3M

1.12%

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

$33.1K ARS 46.2M

$33.2K ARS 46.3M

-0.22%

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

$75.8 ARS 105.7K

$76.5 ARS 106.8K

-0.98%

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

$17.27 ARS 24.1K

$6.61 ARS 9,227

161.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 ARS 30.8K

$15.28 ARS 21.3K

44.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.87 ARS 38.9K

$25.84 ARS 36.1K

7.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.09 ARS 22.5K

$13.92 ARS 19.4K

15.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 ARS 8,228

$6.03 ARS 8,408

-2.16%

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

$104 ARS 145.1K

$104 ARS 145.0K

0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,157 ARS 3.0M

$2,131 ARS 3.0M

1.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.9 ARS 115.7K

$83.1 ARS 115.9K

-0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.4 ARS 105.2K

$78.0 ARS 108.9K

-3.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$151 ARS 211.3K

$149 ARS 207.5K

1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ARS 164.6K

$117 ARS 163.1K

0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 ARS 496.9K

$336 ARS 468.2K

6.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ARS 379.0K

$234 ARS 326.2K

16.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$603 ARS 841.1K

$693 ARS 967.1K

-13.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 ARS 711.7K

$530 ARS 739.6K

-3.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,680 ARS 2.3M

$1,882 ARS 2.6M

-10.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 ARS 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 ARS 1.0M

$456 ARS 635.7K

62.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mendoza: April 26, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $356 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.

Salaries run about 62% 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 $40.00 in Mendoza versus $20.00 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 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 23%, 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 $1,626 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 $1,084 in Mendoza and $879 in San Rafael. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $104 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 $879, than in Mendoza at $1,084. 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.