Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $868 per month in San Juan vs $1,329 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,372 per month in San Juan vs $2,119 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,877 per month in San Juan vs $2,909 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Juan is about 35% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both San Juan and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Juan 37% lower, Mendoza 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ARS 10.7K

$11.02 ARS 16.6K

-35.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.20 ARS 60.6K

$49.37 ARS 74.5K

-18.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.48 ARS 18.8K

$14.41 ARS 21.7K

-13.39%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ARS 3,890

$4.51 ARS 6,800

-42.79%

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

$2.19 ARS 3,301

$2.32 ARS 3,502

-5.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ARS 2,640

$1.97 ARS 2,973

-11.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 ARS 5,959

$4.07 ARS 6,133

-2.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ARS 6,638

$4.62 ARS 6,964

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ARS 1,998

$1.38 ARS 2,086

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ARS 2,124

$2.21 ARS 3,333

-36.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 ARS 2,123

$2.77 ARS 4,175

-49.10%

Eggs

$1.46 ARS 2,201

$3.34 ARS 5,032

-56.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.79 ARS 4,207

$14.46 ARS 21.8K

-80.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.28 ARS 9,467

$6.14 ARS 9,269

2.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 ARS 16.3K

$11.16 ARS 16.8K

-3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ARS 2,092

$2.30 ARS 3,473

-39.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ARS 2,183

$2.17 ARS 3,274

-33.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 ARS 2,030

$1.32 ARS 1,991

2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ARS 2,120

$3.24 ARS 4,890

-56.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ARS 2,098

$1.94 ARS 2,930

-28.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 ARS 2,173

$1.46 ARS 2,205

-1.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ARS 2,100

$2.02 ARS 3,044

-31.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ARS 2,195

$2.47 ARS 3,732

-41.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 ARS 4,263

$2.81 ARS 4,240

0.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 ARS 7,642

$5.06 ARS 7,626

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ARS 2,175

$1.76 ARS 2,655

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 ARS 2,122

$3.09 ARS 4,659

-54.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ARS 1,547

$0.99 ARS 1,486

4.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.93 ARS 30.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 ARS 3,046

$2.06 ARS 3,101

-1.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,478

$0.98 ARS 1,485

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 ARS 7,328

$4.92 ARS 7,422

-1.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ARS 1,687

$1.26 ARS 1,900

-11.11%

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

$26.6K ARS 40.2M

$27.5K ARS 41.5M

-3.12%

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

$33.1K ARS 50.0M

$32.6K ARS 49.2M

1.63%

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

$137 ARS 206.8K

$136 ARS 205.9K

0.48%

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

$10.18 ARS 15.4K

$16.88 ARS 25.5K

-39.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.04 ARS 27.2K

$23.63 ARS 35.7K

-23.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 ARS 45.0K

$29.97 ARS 45.2K

-0.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.42 ARS 27.8K

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 ARS 10.8K

$7.27 ARS 11.0K

-1.38%

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

$173 ARS 260.7K

$175 ARS 263.6K

-1.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,198 ARS 6.3M

$4,200 ARS 6.3M

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ARS 159.8K

$115 ARS 173.4K

-7.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.07 ARS 65.0K

$124 ARS 187.7K

-65.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.7 ARS 87.0K

$138 ARS 208.2K

-58.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.91 ARS 54.2K

$128 ARS 193.5K

-72.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 376.9K

$471 ARS 710.7K

-46.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 ARS 305.6K

$330 ARS 497.2K

-38.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 ARS 765.1K

$882 ARS 1.3M

-42.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ARS 595.1K

$634 ARS 956.7K

-37.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,696 ARS 2.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 ARS 1.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 ARS 1.0M

$769 ARS 1.2M

-10.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-8.47%

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

Last update for San Juan: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in San Juan versus $471 in Mendoza. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Mendoza, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in San Juan versus $49.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $286 – making San Juan 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

San Juan vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 53%, 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 $1,302 per month in San Juan and $1,993 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan, 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 $868 in San Juan and $1,329 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $173 per month in San Juan and $175 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Mendoza at $1,329. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan – 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 San Juan. 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.