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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $961 per month in Neuquen vs $1,067 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,699 per month in Neuquen vs $1,709 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,437 per month in Neuquen vs $2,351 in Mendoza, rent included.

Neuquen is about 10% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Neuquen and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – Neuquen 28% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.32 ARS 15.3K

$11.11 ARS 16.5K

-7.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.87 ARS 50.3K

$40.23 ARS 59.7K

-15.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 ARS 13.5K

$9.65 ARS 14.3K

-5.91%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ARS 4,100

$3.75 ARS 5,571

-26.40%

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

$1.71 ARS 2,541

$2.22 ARS 3,302

-22.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ARS 2,321

$2.00 ARS 2,967

-22.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ARS 3,149

$2.02 ARS 2,998

4.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,330

$3.03 ARS 4,498

-3.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ARS 1,853

$1.31 ARS 1,947

-4.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ARS 2,359

$1.50 ARS 2,231

6.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 ARS 2,905

$2.03 ARS 3,017

-3.45%

Eggs

$2.20 ARS 3,270

$2.17 ARS 3,229

1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 ARS 15.2K

$11.72 ARS 17.4K

-12.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 ARS 9,170

$7.59 ARS 11.3K

-18.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ARS 14.1K

$9.38 ARS 13.9K

1.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ARS 3,002

$1.98 ARS 2,937

2.02%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ARS 3,138

$1.53 ARS 2,273

37.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,932

$1.48 ARS 2,201

-12.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.62 ARS 3,884

$2.16 ARS 3,209

21.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ARS 1,684

$0.99 ARS 1,465

14.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,861

$1.01 ARS 1,505

23.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 ARS 1,890

$0.98 ARS 1,459

29.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,232

$2.64 ARS 3,920

-43.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 ARS 4,580

$2.46 ARS 3,659

25.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 ARS 6,923

$4.86 ARS 7,223

-4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ARS 3,100

$1.98 ARS 2,942

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 ARS 4,599

$3.46 ARS 5,131

-10.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ARS 1,209

$0.67 ARS 999

20.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.84 ARS 28.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 ARS 2,261

$0.42 ARS 621

261.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 ARS 1,299

$0.99 ARS 1,467

-12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 ARS 8,648

$5.04 ARS 7,483

15.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,619

$1.21 ARS 1,792

-9.92%

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

$27.8K ARS 41.2M

$32.0K ARS 47.5M

-13.21%

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

$30.4K ARS 45.2M

$32.9K ARS 48.9M

-7.57%

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

$68.1 ARS 101.1K

$77.4 ARS 114.9K

-12.00%

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

$17.19 ARS 25.5K

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

-2.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.82 ARS 33.9K

$22.17 ARS 32.9K

2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.57 ARS 43.9K

$27.31 ARS 40.6K

8.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.58 ARS 20.2K

$15.74 ARS 23.4K

-13.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 ARS 9,170

$6.05 ARS 8,986

1.98%

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

$218 ARS 323.0K

$101 ARS 150.7K

114.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,719 ARS 4.0M

$2,174 ARS 3.2M

25.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 ARS 110.8K

$82.2 ARS 122.1K

-9.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.5 ARS 103.2K

$76.5 ARS 113.7K

-9.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ARS 169.2K

$148 ARS 219.5K

-22.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ARS 164.0K

$117 ARS 174.0K

-5.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$691 ARS 1.0M

$367 ARS 544.2K

88.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ARS 351.5K

$265 ARS 394.3K

-10.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,497 ARS 2.2M

$609 ARS 905.1K

145.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$785 ARS 1.2M

$514 ARS 763.5K

52.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 ARS 2.6M

$1,667 ARS 2.5M

5.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,240 ARS 1.8M

$1,095 ARS 1.6M

13.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$743 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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $691 in Neuquen versus $367 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 $40.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $249 – 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 11%, 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 $1,442 per month in Neuquen and $1,601 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 $961 in Neuquen and $1,067 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Neuquen and $101 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 $961, than in Mendoza at $1,067. 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.