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 $597 per month in San Juan vs $1,075 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $986 per month in San Juan vs $1,730 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,376 per month in San Juan vs $2,385 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Juan is about 44% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Juan and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Juan 55% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.86 ARS 8,357

$10.84 ARS 15.5K

-45.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.78 ARS 42.5K

$41.73 ARS 59.5K

-28.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 ARS 11.7K

$9.70 ARS 13.8K

-15.15%

Cappuccino

$1.50 ARS 2,142

$3.69 ARS 5,262

-59.35%

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

$0.97 ARS 1,384

$2.24 ARS 3,193

-56.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,226

$2.06 ARS 2,938

-58.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 ARS 2,828

$2.02 ARS 2,884

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,179

$2.93 ARS 4,187

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ARS 1,022

$1.27 ARS 1,808

-43.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ARS 1,016

$1.49 ARS 2,128

-52.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,736

$1.97 ARS 2,816

-38.07%

Eggs

$1.67 ARS 2,378

$2.21 ARS 3,146

-24.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 ARS 4,928

$11.57 ARS 16.5K

-70.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 ARS 5,080

$7.37 ARS 10.5K

-51.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 ARS 5,560

$9.56 ARS 13.6K

-59.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,157

$2.01 ARS 2,872

-24.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,095

$1.54 ARS 2,191

-4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ARS 2,123

$1.47 ARS 2,092

1.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,974

$2.09 ARS 2,985

-0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ARS 891

$0.97 ARS 1,391

-36.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ARS 945

$1.01 ARS 1,442

-34.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ARS 593

$1.02 ARS 1,459

-58.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,222

$2.74 ARS 3,911

-68.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 ARS 2,430

$2.45 ARS 3,493

-30.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 ARS 7,295

$5.09 ARS 7,255

0.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,198

$1.97 ARS 2,814

-21.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ARS 2,619

$3.47 ARS 4,951

-46.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ARS 410

$0.73 ARS 1,035

-60.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.95 ARS 7,066

$18.74 ARS 26.7K

-73.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 587

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,456

$1.02 ARS 1,455

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 ARS 7,187

$4.93 ARS 7,036

2.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,557

$1.20 ARS 1,712

-9.17%

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

$32.1K ARS 45.8M

$31.7K ARS 45.2M

1.31%

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

$21.3K ARS 30.4M

$33.2K ARS 47.4M

-35.97%

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

$76.8 ARS 109.6K

$77.6 ARS 110.7K

-1.02%

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

$4.97 ARS 7,083

$17.56 ARS 25.1K

-71.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.16 ARS 14.5K

$21.55 ARS 30.7K

-52.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.15 ARS 25.9K

$27.98 ARS 39.9K

-35.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 ARS 8,398

$16.31 ARS 23.3K

-63.89%

Cinema Ticket

$2.01 ARS 2,873

$6.10 ARS 8,697

-67.05%

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

$104 ARS 147.8K

$103 ARS 147.6K

0.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,153 ARS 3.1M

$2,124 ARS 3.0M

1.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.46 ARS 70.6K

$81.1 ARS 115.8K

-39.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.96 ARS 71.3K

$75.6 ARS 107.8K

-33.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ARS 143.1K

$150 ARS 214.5K

-33.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ARS 167.8K

$119 ARS 169.8K

-1.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 ARS 211.7K

$353 ARS 504.0K

-57.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.6 ARS 127.7K

$274 ARS 391.0K

-67.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ARS 352.9K

$611 ARS 871.9K

-59.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 ARS 281.2K

$502 ARS 716.5K

-60.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,548 ARS 3.6M

$1,691 ARS 2.4M

50.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,112 ARS 3.0M

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

87.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$713 ARS 1.0M

$725 ARS 1.0M

-1.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for San Juan: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in San Juan versus $353 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 2% 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 $30.00 in San Juan versus $42.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $249 – 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 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $895 per month in San Juan and $1,612 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.

Public transport costs about 279% less in San Juan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $104 per month in San Juan and $103 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 $597, than in Mendoza at $1,075. 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.