Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuquen and Mendoza

For one person, living is cheaper in Neuquen: $1,261 a month against $1,363 in Mendoza, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Neuquen, Argentina
Mendoza, Argentina
Neuquen
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,261
/mo nomad
Mendoza
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,363
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Neuquen and in Mendoza

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Neuquen and in Mendoza actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Neuquen vs $1,363 in Mendoza, rent included.

  • Neuquen $1,261
  • Mendoza $1,363

A couple spends around $2,110 per month in Neuquen vs $2,149 in Mendoza, rent included.

  • Neuquen $2,110
  • Mendoza $2,149

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Neuquen vs $2,935 in Mendoza, rent included.

  • Neuquen $2,959
  • Mendoza $2,935

Neuquen is about 7% cheaper than Mendoza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.75 ARS 26.0K
$10.30 ARS 16.0K
62.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7 ARS 88.0K
$49.67 ARS 77.0K
14.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.17 ARS 20.4K
$14.28 ARS 22.1K
-7.77%
Cappuccino
$3.74 ARS 5,793
$4.46 ARS 6,913
-16.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ARS 3,372
$2.44 ARS 3,780
-10.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ARS 2,865
$1.91 ARS 2,959
-3.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.65 ARS 5,652
$4.12 ARS 6,385
-11.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 ARS 6,448
$4.54 ARS 7,042
-8.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 ARS 2,183
$1.32 ARS 2,046
6.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 ARS 3,533
$2.27 ARS 3,519
0.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 ARS 2,873
$2.67 ARS 4,132
-30.71%
Eggs
$2.71 ARS 4,207
$3.17 ARS 4,921
-14.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.94 ARS 18.5K
$14.42 ARS 22.4K
-17.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.74 ARS 12.0K
$6.20 ARS 9,610
24.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.49 ARS 17.8K
$11.11 ARS 17.2K
3.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 ARS 3,666
$2.29 ARS 3,550
3.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 ARS 3,481
$2.24 ARS 3,476
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ARS 2,441
$1.34 ARS 2,078
17.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 ARS 4,230
$3.30 ARS 5,114
-17.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 ARS 1,713
$2.02 ARS 3,131
-45.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 ARS 1,473
$1.50 ARS 2,331
-36.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$2.03 ARS 3,148
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ARS 2,277
$2.52 ARS 3,907
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 ARS 5,031
$2.67 ARS 4,139
21.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.10 ARS 7,906
$4.86 ARS 7,540
4.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 ARS 3,143
$1.71 ARS 2,652
18.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ARS 5,100
$3.04 ARS 4,714
8.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 ARS 1,506
$0.97 ARS 1,507
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$20.09 ARS 31.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ARS 2,386
$1.99 ARS 3,078
-22.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.02 ARS 1,587
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.99 ARS 7,738
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ARS 1,853
$1.23 ARS 1,906
-3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K ARS 38.9M
$27.6K ARS 42.8M
-8.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K ARS 50.2M
$32.9K ARS 51.1M
-1.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ARS 191.5K
$143 ARS 222.1K
-13.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.73 ARS 25.9K
$17.24 ARS 26.7K
-2.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.69 ARS 36.7K
$24.36 ARS 37.8K
-2.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.11 ARS 48.2K
$32.28 ARS 50.1K
-3.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.48 ARS 31.8K
$18.05 ARS 28.0K
13.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03 ARS 14.0K
$6.99 ARS 10.8K
29.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 ARS 361.6K
$173 ARS 268.3K
34.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,282 ARS 6.6M
$4,157 ARS 6.4M
2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 ARS 173.2K
$126 ARS 195.2K
-11.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.7 ARS 126.7K
$140 ARS 217.3K
-41.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 ARS 172.3K
$143 ARS 222.2K
-22.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ARS 176.8K
$159 ARS 245.9K
-28.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$522 ARS 808.7K
$584 ARS 906.1K
-10.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 ARS 517.8K
$334 ARS 518.3K
-0.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,050 ARS 1.6M
$982 ARS 1.5M
6.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$816 ARS 1.3M
$647 ARS 1.0M
25.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,740 ARS 2.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,255 ARS 1.9M
$1,123 ARS 1.7M
11.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Neuquen
Mendoza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$757 ARS 1.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
59
-

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

Last update for Neuquen: November 1, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Neuquen
$334
Mendoza
$334 0.1% $0.3
Eating Out
Neuquen
$261
Mendoza
$226 13.5% $35
Groceries & Markets
Neuquen
$259 *
Mendoza
$285 10.1% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Neuquen
$188
Mendoza
$256 35.7% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Neuquen
$164
Mendoza
$185 12.8% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Neuquen
$49
Mendoza
$46 5.9% $2.9
Getting Around
Neuquen
$5.4 *
Mendoza
$31 473% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $522 in Neuquen versus $584 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 $57 in Neuquen versus $50 in Mendoza. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Neuquen vs $285 in Mendoza – so Neuquen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Neuquen
🇦🇷 Mendoza
🕒 Local time
00:25 12:25 AM
00:25 12:25 AM
Same time as Neuquen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
288,896
937,154
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1,551 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.45 USD). 1 EUR = 1,734 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Neuquen Mendoza 680 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Neuquen
  • Mendoza

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Neuquen cheaper than Mendoza?
Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 8%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Neuquen and $2,045 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Neuquen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $522 there versus $584 in Mendoza.
What are total monthly expenses in Neuquen and in Mendoza?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Neuquen and $1,363 in Mendoza. That makes Neuquen about 7% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $233 per month in Neuquen and $173 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough for either Neuquen or Mendoza?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,261 in Neuquen and $1,363 in Mendoza, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Neuquen or in Mendoza?
It depends on your priorities. Mendoza has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Neuquen to $1,363 in Mendoza. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Neuquen or Mendoza?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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