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 $1,332 per month in Mendoza vs $1,302 in San Rafael, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,085 per month in Mendoza vs $2,078 in San Rafael, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,838 per month in Mendoza vs $2,853 in San Rafael, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 2% more than San Rafael, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mendoza and San Rafael are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 3% lower, San Rafael 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.20 ARS 16.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ARS 76.7K

$50.6 ARS 76.5K

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.75 ARS 22.3K

$14.45 ARS 21.9K

2.08%

Cappuccino

$4.40 ARS 6,649

$4.51 ARS 6,821

-2.44%

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

$2.42 ARS 3,658

$2.34 ARS 3,542

3.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,968

$1.98 ARS 2,993

-1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 ARS 6,160

$4.11 ARS 6,216

-0.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 ARS 6,890

$4.37 ARS 6,609

4.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ARS 2,112

$1.38 ARS 2,092

1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ARS 3,348

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 ARS 4,197

$2.68 ARS 4,054

3.73%

Eggs

$3.25 ARS 4,914

$3.32 ARS 5,018

-2.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.70 ARS 22.2K

$14.53 ARS 22.0K

1.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.21 ARS 9,396

$6.22 ARS 9,400

-0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.04 ARS 16.7K

$10.80 ARS 16.3K

2.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ARS 3,499

$2.32 ARS 3,507

-0.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.21 ARS 3,346

$2.24 ARS 3,386

-1.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ARS 1,975

$1.30 ARS 1,967

0.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.34 ARS 5,049

$3.30 ARS 4,994

1.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 ARS 3,028

$2.04 ARS 3,079

-1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,275

$1.49 ARS 2,254

0.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ARS 2,931

$1.97 ARS 2,973

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,742

$2.51 ARS 3,799

-1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 ARS 4,086

$2.67 ARS 4,038

1.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 ARS 7,461

$4.97 ARS 7,517

-0.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ARS 2,569

$1.76 ARS 2,668

-3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ARS 4,448

$2.98 ARS 4,509

-1.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ARS 1,470

$1.06 ARS 1,596

-8.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.05 ARS 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ARS 3,106

$1.99 ARS 3,006

3.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,551

$1.02 ARS 1,538

0.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ARS 7,264

$4.77 ARS 7,206

0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ARS 1,846

$1.21 ARS 1,828

0.83%

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

$27.3K ARS 41.3M

$26.8K ARS 40.5M

2.00%

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

$33.0K ARS 50.0M

$33.4K ARS 50.4M

-0.91%

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

$134 ARS 203.0K

$135 ARS 204.1K

-0.51%

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

$17.34 ARS 26.2K

$17.28 ARS 26.1K

0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.56 ARS 35.6K

$23.27 ARS 35.2K

1.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.72 ARS 44.9K

$34.36 ARS 51.9K

-13.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.02 ARS 27.3K

Cinema Ticket

$7.21 ARS 10.9K

$7.28 ARS 11.0K

-0.96%

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

$173 ARS 261.8K

$176 ARS 266.8K

-1.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,161 ARS 6.3M

$4,176 ARS 6.3M

-0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$113 ARS 170.9K

$116 ARS 175.5K

-2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.0K

0.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ARS 205.5K

$136 ARS 205.3K

0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 194.0K

$128 ARS 193.3K

0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ARS 734.8K

$500 ARS 755.4K

-2.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ARS 498.3K

$298 ARS 450.0K

10.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$865 ARS 1.3M

$932 ARS 1.4M

-7.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ARS 984.8K

$752 ARS 1.1M

-13.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 ARS 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 ARS 1.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 ARS 1.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Mendoza: September 14, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Mendoza versus $500 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 $51.0 in Mendoza versus $51.0 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $286 – making Mendoza 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 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,999 per month in Mendoza and $1,953 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 $1,332 in Mendoza and $1,302 in San Rafael. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $173 per month in Mendoza and $176 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 $1,302, than in Mendoza at $1,332. 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.