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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $972 per month in Ushuaia vs $1,069 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,567 per month in Ushuaia vs $1,723 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,163 per month in Ushuaia vs $2,378 in Mendoza, rent included.

Ushuaia is about 9% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ushuaia and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – Ushuaia 27% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.35 ARS 15.3K

$10.93 ARS 16.2K

-5.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.32 ARS 49.3K

$41.47 ARS 61.3K

-19.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 ARS 13.1K

$9.60 ARS 14.2K

-8.02%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ARS 4,133

$3.79 ARS 5,601

-26.12%

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

$1.65 ARS 2,438

$2.32 ARS 3,424

-28.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,280

$1.98 ARS 2,925

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ARS 3,139

$1.94 ARS 2,875

9.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,364

$2.93 ARS 4,337

0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ARS 1,849

$1.29 ARS 1,906

-3.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 ARS 2,419

$1.48 ARS 2,183

10.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 ARS 2,854

$2.03 ARS 2,996

-4.93%

Eggs

$2.24 ARS 3,305

$2.12 ARS 3,137

5.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.18 ARS 15.0K

$11.73 ARS 17.3K

-13.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 ARS 9,291

$7.69 ARS 11.4K

-18.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 ARS 13.6K

$9.46 ARS 14.0K

-2.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,869

$2.01 ARS 2,974

-3.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,149

$1.53 ARS 2,255

39.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,867

$1.51 ARS 2,236

-16.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 ARS 3,712

$2.18 ARS 3,229

15.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ARS 1,680

$1.01 ARS 1,497

12.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,844

$1.03 ARS 1,517

21.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 ARS 1,930

$1.02 ARS 1,515

28.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ARS 2,113

$2.62 ARS 3,878

-45.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ARS 4,752

$2.44 ARS 3,613

31.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.98 ARS 7,368

$5.10 ARS 7,544

-2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ARS 2,954

$1.95 ARS 2,883

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 ARS 4,648

$3.56 ARS 5,266

-11.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 ARS 1,219

$0.69 ARS 1,018

18.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.28 ARS 27.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ARS 2,237

$0.41 ARS 605

268.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ARS 1,330

$1.02 ARS 1,506

-11.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 ARS 8,947

$4.85 ARS 7,170

24.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,631

$1.19 ARS 1,761

-7.56%

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

$27.2K ARS 40.2M

$31.6K ARS 46.7M

-14.10%

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

$30.1K ARS 44.5M

$33.0K ARS 48.8M

-8.84%

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

$66.2 ARS 97.8K

$76.0 ARS 112.3K

-12.90%

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

$16.82 ARS 24.9K

$17.52 ARS 25.9K

-4.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.35 ARS 33.0K

$21.72 ARS 32.1K

2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.07 ARS 38.5K

$27.75 ARS 41.0K

-6.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.59 ARS 20.1K

$16.19 ARS 23.9K

-16.06%

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 ARS 8,935

$6.10 ARS 9,021

-0.82%

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

$222 ARS 328.6K

$102 ARS 150.4K

118.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,671 ARS 3.9M

$2,172 ARS 3.2M

22.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 ARS 108.1K

$80.9 ARS 119.6K

-9.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.9 ARS 101.8K

$77.5 ARS 114.6K

-11.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ARS 168.0K

$147 ARS 217.8K

-22.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ARS 163.4K

$120 ARS 177.4K

-7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ARS 492.8K

$363 ARS 536.4K

-8.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 344.3K

$270 ARS 398.9K

-13.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$695 ARS 1.0M

$609 ARS 899.8K

14.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$542 ARS 800.4K

$502 ARS 741.9K

7.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,898 ARS 2.8M

$1,705 ARS 2.5M

11.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,561 ARS 2.3M

$1,121 ARS 1.7M

39.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$722 ARS 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-25.95%

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

Last update for Ushuaia: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Ushuaia 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ushuaia versus $41.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $250 – 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 10%, 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 $1,457 per month in Ushuaia 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 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 $972 in Ushuaia and $1,069 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Ushuaia and $102 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 $972, than in Mendoza at $1,069. 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.