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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $978 per month in Neuquen vs $1,084 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,694 per month in Neuquen vs $1,724 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,410 per month in Neuquen vs $2,363 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 27% lower, Mendoza 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.55 ARS 14.9K

$10.90 ARS 15.4K

-3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.41 ARS 48.5K

$40.34 ARS 56.8K

-14.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.01 ARS 12.7K

$9.60 ARS 13.5K

-6.15%

Cappuccino

$2.70 ARS 3,808

$3.62 ARS 5,094

-25.41%

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

$1.72 ARS 2,418

$2.26 ARS 3,185

-23.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,117

$2.06 ARS 2,907

-27.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 ARS 2,891

$1.95 ARS 2,747

5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ARS 4,169

$2.97 ARS 4,178

-0.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,771

$1.27 ARS 1,790

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 ARS 2,309

$1.53 ARS 2,159

7.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,737

$1.96 ARS 2,759

-1.02%

Eggs

$2.16 ARS 3,048

$2.21 ARS 3,117

-2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.16 ARS 14.3K

$11.44 ARS 16.1K

-11.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.03 ARS 8,491

$7.34 ARS 10.3K

-17.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ARS 13.1K

$9.69 ARS 13.6K

-3.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 ARS 2,752

$1.98 ARS 2,784

-1.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,027

$1.47 ARS 2,076

46.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,765

$1.52 ARS 2,134

-17.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ARS 3,671

$2.15 ARS 3,021

21.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,669

$0.98 ARS 1,381

21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,747

$1.03 ARS 1,445

20.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ARS 1,863

$0.98 ARS 1,374

34.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ARS 2,094

$2.62 ARS 3,688

-43.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 ARS 4,286

$2.44 ARS 3,430

24.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.28 ARS 6,025

$4.97 ARS 7,003

-13.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ARS 2,930

$1.96 ARS 2,766

6.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ARS 4,457

$3.40 ARS 4,791

-7.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,074

$0.71 ARS 1,003

7.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 ARS 26.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ARS 2,074

$0.44 ARS 623

234.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,290

$1.03 ARS 1,446

-10.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 ARS 8,556

$4.76 ARS 6,710

27.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,561

$1.19 ARS 1,680

-6.72%

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

$27.0K ARS 38.0M

$32.1K ARS 45.2M

-15.86%

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

$30.0K ARS 42.2M

$33.1K ARS 46.6M

-9.47%

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

$66.7 ARS 93.9K

$75.8 ARS 106.7K

-11.97%

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

$17.35 ARS 24.4K

$17.27 ARS 24.3K

0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.37 ARS 31.5K

$22.09 ARS 31.1K

1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.16 ARS 42.5K

$27.87 ARS 39.2K

8.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.64 ARS 19.2K

$16.09 ARS 22.7K

-15.23%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ARS 8,711

$5.90 ARS 8,303

4.92%

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

$217 ARS 306.2K

$104 ARS 146.5K

109.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,704 ARS 3.8M

$2,157 ARS 3.0M

25.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 ARS 104.5K

$82.9 ARS 116.7K

-10.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 ARS 98.0K

$75.4 ARS 106.2K

-7.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ARS 162.5K

$151 ARS 213.2K

-23.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ARS 159.7K

$118 ARS 166.1K

-3.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$694 ARS 977.3K

$356 ARS 501.5K

94.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 328.5K

$272 ARS 382.5K

-14.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,504 ARS 2.1M

$603 ARS 848.9K

149.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$799 ARS 1.1M

$510 ARS 718.3K

56.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,762 ARS 2.5M

$1,680 ARS 2.4M

4.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,251 ARS 1.8M

$1,107 ARS 1.6M

12.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 ARS 1.0M

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $694 in Neuquen versus $356 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: $229 vs $247 – 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 $1,468 per month in Neuquen and $1,626 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 $978 in Neuquen and $1,084 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $217 per month in Neuquen and $104 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 $978, than in Mendoza at $1,084. 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.