Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Ushuaia Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and Ushuaia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,341 per month in Mendoza vs $949 in Ushuaia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,114 per month in Mendoza vs $1,565 in Ushuaia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,887 per month in Mendoza vs $2,182 in Ushuaia, rent included.

Mendoza costs about 41% more than Ushuaia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mendoza and Ushuaia are more affordable than the global median – Mendoza 2% lower, Ushuaia 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.13 ARS 16.8K

$10.41 ARS 15.7K

6.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 ARS 76.7K

$33.57 ARS 50.6K

51.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.90 ARS 22.5K

$8.78 ARS 13.2K

69.70%

Cappuccino

$4.45 ARS 6,708

$2.79 ARS 4,204

59.50%

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

$2.33 ARS 3,517

$1.69 ARS 2,550

37.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,967

$1.50 ARS 2,261

31.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.09 ARS 6,162

$2.17 ARS 3,275

88.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 ARS 6,700

$3.04 ARS 4,580

46.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 ARS 2,111

$1.30 ARS 1,966

7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ARS 3,446

$1.63 ARS 2,461

39.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.78 ARS 4,195

$2.03 ARS 3,064

36.95%

Eggs

$3.25 ARS 4,896

$2.25 ARS 3,387

44.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.47 ARS 21.8K

$10.27 ARS 15.5K

40.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 ARS 9,311

$6.36 ARS 9,592

-2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 ARS 16.6K

$9.25 ARS 13.9K

18.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ARS 3,546

$2.04 ARS 3,073

15.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,271

$2.12 ARS 3,201

2.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,968

$1.26 ARS 1,893

3.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.29 ARS 4,958

$2.61 ARS 3,941

26.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 ARS 3,042

$1.15 ARS 1,732

75.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,282

$1.20 ARS 1,803

25.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 ARS 2,901

$1.25 ARS 1,892

53.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,722

$1.48 ARS 2,238

66.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 ARS 4,098

$3.17 ARS 4,775

-14.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ARS 7,502

$4.97 ARS 7,491

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ARS 2,701

$2.09 ARS 3,152

-14.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,454

$3.14 ARS 4,740

-6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 ARS 1,464

$0.78 ARS 1,172

24.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.74 ARS 29.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ARS 3,089

$1.53 ARS 2,310

33.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,535

$0.85 ARS 1,275

20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 ARS 7,296

$5.84 ARS 8,804

-17.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 ARS 1,815

$1.11 ARS 1,677

8.11%

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

$26.6K ARS 40.1M

$27.0K ARS 40.8M

-1.60%

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

$32.8K ARS 49.4M

$30.1K ARS 45.4M

8.89%

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

$135 ARS 203.8K

$67.2 ARS 101.4K

100.98%

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

$17.47 ARS 26.3K

$17.39 ARS 26.2K

0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.78 ARS 35.9K

$22.81 ARS 34.4K

4.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 ARS 45.0K

$26.14 ARS 39.4K

14.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 ARS 27.6K

$13.70 ARS 20.7K

33.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.27 ARS 11.0K

$6.10 ARS 9,199

19.18%

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

$176 ARS 265.1K

$221 ARS 333.7K

-20.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,124 ARS 6.2M

$2,682 ARS 4.0M

53.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 ARS 174.6K

$73.1 ARS 110.2K

58.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$127 ARS 191.2K

$70.9 ARS 107.0K

78.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 ARS 211.1K

$114 ARS 171.6K

23.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 192.3K

$110 ARS 166.5K

15.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$483 ARS 727.8K

$342 ARS 515.6K

41.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 ARS 505.8K

$241 ARS 363.3K

39.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$876 ARS 1.3M

$681 ARS 1.0M

28.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 ARS 981.3K

$530 ARS 799.5K

22.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,691 ARS 2.6M

$1,912 ARS 2.9M

-11.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,112 ARS 1.7M

$1,570 ARS 2.4M

-29.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 ARS 1.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

0.85%

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

Last update for Mendoza: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ushuaia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $483 in Mendoza versus $342 in Ushuaia. 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 $34.00 in Ushuaia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $233 – making Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,011 per month in Mendoza and $1,423 in Ushuaia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ushuaia, 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 $1,341 in Mendoza and $949 in Ushuaia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in Mendoza and $221 in Ushuaia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ushuaia, where all-in costs run around $949, than in Mendoza at $1,341. In Ushuaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ushuaia – 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 Ushuaia. 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.