Cost of Living Comparison Between Ushuaia and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between Ushuaia and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $949 per month in Ushuaia vs $1,341 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,565 per month in Ushuaia vs $2,114 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Ushuaia vs $2,887 in Mendoza, rent included.

Ushuaia is about 29% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ushuaia and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – Ushuaia 31% lower, Mendoza 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.41 ARS 15.7K

$11.13 ARS 16.8K

-6.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.57 ARS 50.6K

$50.8 ARS 76.7K

-33.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 ARS 13.2K

$14.90 ARS 22.5K

-41.07%

Cappuccino

$2.79 ARS 4,204

$4.45 ARS 6,708

-37.30%

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

$1.69 ARS 2,550

$2.33 ARS 3,517

-27.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,261

$1.97 ARS 2,967

-23.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 ARS 3,275

$4.09 ARS 6,162

-46.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ARS 4,580

$4.44 ARS 6,700

-31.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,966

$1.40 ARS 2,111

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ARS 2,461

$2.28 ARS 3,446

-28.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 3,064

$2.78 ARS 4,195

-26.98%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,387

$3.25 ARS 4,896

-30.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.27 ARS 15.5K

$14.47 ARS 21.8K

-29.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ARS 9,592

$6.17 ARS 9,311

3.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.25 ARS 13.9K

$11.00 ARS 16.6K

-15.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,073

$2.35 ARS 3,546

-13.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 3,201

$2.17 ARS 3,271

-2.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,893

$1.30 ARS 1,968

-3.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ARS 3,941

$3.29 ARS 4,958

-20.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 ARS 1,732

$2.02 ARS 3,042

-43.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ARS 1,803

$1.51 ARS 2,282

-20.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.25 ARS 1,892

$1.92 ARS 2,901

-34.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,238

$2.47 ARS 3,722

-40.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 ARS 4,775

$2.72 ARS 4,098

16.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ARS 7,491

$4.97 ARS 7,502

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 ARS 3,152

$1.79 ARS 2,701

16.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ARS 4,740

$2.95 ARS 4,454

6.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 ARS 1,172

$0.97 ARS 1,464

-19.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.74 ARS 29.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,310

$2.05 ARS 3,089

-25.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ARS 1,275

$1.02 ARS 1,535

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 ARS 8,804

$4.84 ARS 7,296

20.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,677

$1.20 ARS 1,815

-7.50%

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

$27.0K ARS 40.8M

$26.6K ARS 40.1M

1.62%

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

$30.1K ARS 45.4M

$32.8K ARS 49.4M

-8.17%

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

$67.2 ARS 101.4K

$135 ARS 203.8K

-50.24%

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

$17.39 ARS 26.2K

$17.47 ARS 26.3K

-0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.81 ARS 34.4K

$23.78 ARS 35.9K

-4.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.14 ARS 39.4K

$29.83 ARS 45.0K

-12.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.70 ARS 20.7K

$18.32 ARS 27.6K

-25.22%

Cinema Ticket

$6.10 ARS 9,199

$7.27 ARS 11.0K

-16.09%

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

$221 ARS 333.7K

$176 ARS 265.1K

25.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,682 ARS 4.0M

$4,124 ARS 6.2M

-34.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 ARS 110.2K

$116 ARS 174.6K

-36.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.9 ARS 107.0K

$127 ARS 191.2K

-44.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ARS 171.6K

$140 ARS 211.1K

-18.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ARS 166.5K

$128 ARS 192.3K

-13.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 ARS 515.6K

$483 ARS 727.8K

-29.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ARS 363.3K

$335 ARS 505.8K

-28.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ARS 1.0M

$876 ARS 1.3M

-22.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 799.5K

$651 ARS 981.3K

-18.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,912 ARS 2.9M

$1,691 ARS 2.6M

13.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,570 ARS 2.4M

$1,112 ARS 1.7M

41.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$780 ARS 1.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-0.85%

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

Last update for Ushuaia: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Ushuaia versus $483 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 Ushuaia versus $51.0 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $233 vs $286 – making Ushuaia 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

Ushuaia vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,423 per month in Ushuaia and $2,011 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ushuaia, 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 $949 in Ushuaia and $1,341 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $221 per month in Ushuaia and $176 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 Ushuaia, where all-in costs run around $949, than in Mendoza at $1,341. In Ushuaia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ushuaia – 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 Ushuaia. 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.