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 $607 per month in San Juan vs $1,069 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $996 per month in San Juan vs $1,723 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,384 per month in San Juan vs $2,378 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Juan is about 43% 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

$5.85 ARS 8,646

$10.93 ARS 16.2K

-46.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.44 ARS 43.5K

$41.47 ARS 61.3K

-29.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 ARS 11.6K

$9.60 ARS 14.2K

-17.92%

Cappuccino

$1.54 ARS 2,278

$3.79 ARS 5,601

-59.37%

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

$0.96 ARS 1,417

$2.32 ARS 3,424

-58.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 ARS 1,341

$1.98 ARS 2,925

-54.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 ARS 2,875

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ARS 4,402

$2.93 ARS 4,337

1.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 ARS 1,055

$1.29 ARS 1,906

-44.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 ARS 975

$1.48 ARS 2,183

-55.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,828

$2.03 ARS 2,996

-38.92%

Eggs

$1.74 ARS 2,568

$2.12 ARS 3,137

-17.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 ARS 4,940

$11.73 ARS 17.3K

-71.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 ARS 5,157

$7.69 ARS 11.4K

-54.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.09 ARS 6,047

$9.46 ARS 14.0K

-56.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ARS 2,186

$2.01 ARS 2,974

-26.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,260

$1.53 ARS 2,255

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,272

$1.51 ARS 2,236

1.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,173

$2.18 ARS 3,229

-1.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ARS 943

$1.01 ARS 1,497

-36.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ARS 916

$1.03 ARS 1,517

-39.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ARS 570

$1.02 ARS 1,515

-61.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,272

$2.62 ARS 3,878

-67.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 ARS 2,626

$2.44 ARS 3,613

-27.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.91 ARS 7,253

$5.10 ARS 7,544

-3.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,184

$1.95 ARS 2,883

-24.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ARS 2,727

$3.56 ARS 5,266

-48.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ARS 427

$0.69 ARS 1,018

-57.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.10 ARS 7,537

$18.28 ARS 27.0K

-72.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 609

$0.41 ARS 605

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,522

$1.02 ARS 1,506

0.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 ARS 7,381

$4.85 ARS 7,170

2.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,634

$1.19 ARS 1,761

-6.72%

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

$31.6K ARS 46.6M

$31.6K ARS 46.7M

-0.21%

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

$21.0K ARS 31.1M

$33.0K ARS 48.8M

-36.25%

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

$77.7 ARS 114.9K

$76.0 ARS 112.3K

2.28%

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

$5.10 ARS 7,544

$17.52 ARS 25.9K

-70.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.17 ARS 15.0K

$21.72 ARS 32.1K

-53.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.83 ARS 26.3K

$27.75 ARS 41.0K

-35.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.07 ARS 8,967

$16.19 ARS 23.9K

-62.51%

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 ARS 2,916

$6.10 ARS 9,021

-67.70%

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

$102 ARS 150.9K

$102 ARS 150.4K

0.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,197 ARS 3.2M

$2,172 ARS 3.2M

1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.17 ARS 72.7K

$80.9 ARS 119.6K

-39.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.82 ARS 73.6K

$77.5 ARS 114.6K

-35.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 ARS 147.4K

$147 ARS 217.8K

-32.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ARS 173.8K

$120 ARS 177.4K

-2.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 ARS 221.1K

$363 ARS 536.4K

-58.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.6 ARS 135.3K

$270 ARS 398.9K

-66.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 369.7K

$609 ARS 899.8K

-58.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 301.1K

$502 ARS 741.9K

-59.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,550 ARS 3.8M

$1,705 ARS 2.5M

49.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,083 ARS 3.1M

$1,121 ARS 1.7M

85.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 ARS 1.0M

$722 ARS 1.1M

-1.79%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in San Juan versus $363 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 $29.00 in San Juan versus $41.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $250 – 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 76%, 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 $911 per month in San Juan and $1,603 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 258% less in San Juan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in San Juan and $102 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 $607, than in Mendoza at $1,069. 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.