Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuquen and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuquen and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $964 per month in Neuquen vs $1,104 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,695 per month in Neuquen vs $1,750 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,427 per month in Neuquen vs $2,396 in Mendoza, rent included.

Neuquen is about 13% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Neuquen and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – Neuquen 28% lower, Mendoza 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.33 ARS 14.8K

$11.12 ARS 15.9K

-7.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.54 ARS 47.9K

$41.16 ARS 58.8K

-18.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 ARS 13.2K

$9.29 ARS 13.3K

-0.32%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ARS 3,945

$3.61 ARS 5,160

-23.55%

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

$1.64 ARS 2,341

$2.32 ARS 3,319

-29.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,193

$2.05 ARS 2,931

-24.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ARS 3,072

$2.02 ARS 2,893

6.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ARS 4,193

$3.05 ARS 4,352

-3.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,859

$1.29 ARS 1,836

0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ARS 2,264

$1.54 ARS 2,201

2.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,768

$2.02 ARS 2,890

-3.96%

Eggs

$2.17 ARS 3,095

$2.13 ARS 3,044

1.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

$11.51 ARS 16.4K

-13.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 ARS 9,059

$7.60 ARS 10.9K

-16.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ARS 13.0K

$9.76 ARS 13.9K

-6.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ARS 2,821

$2.03 ARS 2,896

-2.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,069

$1.53 ARS 2,179

40.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,859

$1.49 ARS 2,126

-12.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 ARS 3,639

$2.08 ARS 2,972

22.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,706

$1.03 ARS 1,464

15.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,790

$0.99 ARS 1,408

26.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ARS 1,802

$0.97 ARS 1,388

29.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,118

$2.61 ARS 3,731

-43.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ARS 4,567

$2.45 ARS 3,496

30.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.35 ARS 6,214

$5.15 ARS 7,354

-15.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,821

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 ARS 4,503

$3.57 ARS 5,105

-11.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,087

$0.73 ARS 1,045

4.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.18 ARS 26.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,188

$0.44 ARS 631

247.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 ARS 1,322

$0.98 ARS 1,404

-5.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 ARS 8,387

$4.89 ARS 6,984

20.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,525

$1.16 ARS 1,661

-7.76%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.3M

$32.1K ARS 45.9M

-14.37%

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

$30.7K ARS 43.9M

$33.4K ARS 47.7M

-7.93%

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

$67.2 ARS 96.0K

$78.8 ARS 112.5K

-14.70%

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

$17.50 ARS 25.0K

$16.93 ARS 24.2K

3.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 ARS 31.6K

$21.44 ARS 30.6K

3.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.29 ARS 43.3K

$27.12 ARS 38.7K

11.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ARS 19.6K

$16.05 ARS 22.9K

-14.52%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ARS 8,769

$6.14 ARS 8,767

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

$216 ARS 308.3K

$102 ARS 145.1K

112.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,736 ARS 3.9M

$2,194 ARS 3.1M

24.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.5 ARS 103.6K

$82.0 ARS 117.1K

-11.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 ARS 97.6K

$76.8 ARS 109.7K

-11.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ARS 165.3K

$152 ARS 216.4K

-23.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ARS 162.3K

$120 ARS 172.1K

-5.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$688 ARS 982.8K

$360 ARS 514.6K

90.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 332.8K

$275 ARS 392.8K

-15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 ARS 2.1M

$618 ARS 883.0K

140.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$799 ARS 1.1M

$500 ARS 714.8K

59.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,781 ARS 2.5M

$1,650 ARS 2.4M

7.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,229 ARS 1.8M

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

9.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$745 ARS 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-25.95%

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

Last update for Neuquen: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $688 in Neuquen versus $360 in Mendoza. 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 $34.00 in Neuquen versus $41.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $229 vs $250 – making Neuquen 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

Neuquen vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,445 per month in Neuquen and $1,656 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Neuquen, 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 $964 in Neuquen and $1,104 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $216 per month in Neuquen and $102 in Mendoza. 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 Neuquen, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Mendoza at $1,104. In Neuquen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Neuquen – 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 Neuquen. 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.