🙂A single person spends $1,178 per month in San Martin de los Andes vs $1,329 in Mendoza, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,000 per month in San Martin de los Andes vs $2,119 in Mendoza, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,822 per month in San Martin de los Andes vs $2,909 in Mendoza, rent included.
🙂San Martin de los Andes is about 11% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both San Martin de los Andes and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Martin de los Andes15% lower, Mendoza4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.45ARS 23.3K
$11.02ARS 16.6K
40.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.0ARS 83.0K
$49.37ARS 74.5K
11.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.21ARS 19.9K
$14.41ARS 21.7K
-8.33%
Cappuccino
$3.83ARS 5,772
$4.51ARS 6,800
-15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06ARS 3,101
$2.32ARS 3,502
-11.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71ARS 2,573
$1.97ARS 2,973
-13.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.66ARS 5,527
$4.07ARS 6,133
-10.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78ARS 5,699
$4.62ARS 6,964
-18.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38ARS 2,078
$1.38ARS 2,086
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.16ARS 3,262
$2.21ARS 3,333
-2.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57ARS 2,373
$2.77ARS 4,175
-43.32%
Eggs
$2.37ARS 3,575
$3.34ARS 5,032
-29.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.35ARS 15.6K
$14.46ARS 21.8K
-28.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.63ARS 10.0K
$6.14ARS 9,269
7.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.63ARS 17.5K
$11.16ARS 16.8K
4.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37ARS 3,578
$2.30ARS 3,473
3.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14ARS 3,227
$2.17ARS 3,274
-1.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42ARS 2,136
$1.32ARS 1,991
7.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13ARS 3,207
$3.24ARS 4,890
-34.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06ARS 1,592
$1.94ARS 2,930
-45.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ARS 1,465
$1.46ARS 2,205
-33.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63ARS 2,466
$2.02ARS 3,044
-19.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66ARS 2,504
$2.47ARS 3,732
-32.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28ARS 4,945
$2.81ARS 4,240
16.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.89ARS 7,370
$5.06ARS 7,626
-3.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05ARS 3,088
$1.76ARS 2,655
16.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84ARS 4,291
$3.09ARS 4,659
-8.09%
🚌 Getting Around
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02ARS 1,537
$0.99ARS 1,486
3.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.93ARS 30.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.57ARS 2,369
$2.06ARS 3,101
-23.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99ARS 1,491
$0.98ARS 1,485
1.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.40ARS 11.2K
$4.92ARS 7,422
50.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20ARS 1,817
$1.26ARS 1,900
-4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9KARS 42.0M
$27.5KARS 41.5M
1.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KARS 50.5M
$32.6KARS 49.2M
2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.0ARS 129.7K
$136ARS 205.9K
-37.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.47ARS 26.4K
$16.88ARS 25.5K
3.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.68ARS 41.7K
$23.63ARS 35.7K
17.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.57ARS 46.1K
$29.97ARS 45.2K
2.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.42ARS 27.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.34ARS 12.6K
$7.27ARS 11.0K
14.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$301ARS 453.6K
$175ARS 263.6K
72.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,261ARS 6.4M
$4,200ARS 6.3M
1.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107ARS 160.7K
$115ARS 173.4K
-7.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.6ARS 114.1K
$124ARS 187.7K
-39.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118ARS 178.5K
$138ARS 208.2K
-14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129ARS 193.9K
$128ARS 193.5K
0.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487ARS 735.2K
$471ARS 710.7K
3.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$307ARS 462.4K
$330ARS 497.2K
-7.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992ARS 1.5M
$882ARS 1.3M
12.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766ARS 1.2M
$634ARS 956.7K
20.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,393ARS 3.6M
$1,696ARS 2.6M
41.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,107ARS 1.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Martin de los Andes
Mendoza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$769ARS 1.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
56.56
59
-4.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Martin de los Andes: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mendoza: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in San Martin de los Andes 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in San Martin de los Andes versus $49.00 in Mendoza. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in San Martin de los Andes vs $286 in Mendoza – so San Martin de los Andes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Martin de los Andes vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mendoza cheaper than San Martin de los Andes?
Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,767 per month in San Martin de los Andes and $1,993 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Martin de los Andes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Martin de los Andes and in Mendoza?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,178 in San Martin de los Andes and $1,329 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $301 per month in San Martin de los Andes and $175 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in San Martin de los Andes or in Mendoza?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Martin de los Andes, where all-in costs run around $1,178, than in Mendoza at $1,329. In San Martin de los Andes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Martin de los Andes or Mendoza more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Martin de los Andes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, San Martin de los Andes or Mendoza?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Martin de los Andes. 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.
San Martin de los Andes vs other spots: cost of living compared