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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $976 per month in Ushuaia vs $1,075 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,590 per month in Ushuaia vs $1,730 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,203 per month in Ushuaia vs $2,385 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

$10.47 ARS 14.9K

$10.84 ARS 15.5K

-3.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.29 ARS 48.9K

$41.73 ARS 59.5K

-17.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 ARS 12.6K

$9.70 ARS 13.8K

-8.66%

Cappuccino

$2.66 ARS 3,790

$3.69 ARS 5,262

-27.91%

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

$1.65 ARS 2,354

$2.24 ARS 3,193

-26.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ARS 2,214

$2.06 ARS 2,938

-24.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ARS 3,038

$2.02 ARS 2,884

5.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 ARS 4,227

$2.93 ARS 4,187

1.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ARS 1,786

$1.27 ARS 1,808

-1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ARS 2,306

$1.49 ARS 2,128

8.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 ARS 2,879

$1.97 ARS 2,816

2.54%

Eggs

$2.24 ARS 3,191

$2.21 ARS 3,146

1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.09 ARS 14.4K

$11.57 ARS 16.5K

-12.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ARS 8,929

$7.37 ARS 10.5K

-15.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.43 ARS 13.4K

$9.56 ARS 13.6K

-1.36%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ARS 2,755

$2.01 ARS 2,872

-3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ARS 2,949

$1.54 ARS 2,191

34.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,799

$1.47 ARS 2,092

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.60 ARS 3,710

$2.09 ARS 2,985

24.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ARS 1,629

$0.97 ARS 1,391

17.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,789

$1.01 ARS 1,442

23.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ARS 1,796

$1.02 ARS 1,459

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 ARS 2,119

$2.74 ARS 3,911

-45.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ARS 4,571

$2.45 ARS 3,493

30.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.03 ARS 7,168

$5.09 ARS 7,255

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 2,940

$1.97 ARS 2,814

4.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 ARS 4,494

$3.47 ARS 4,951

-9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ARS 1,195

$0.73 ARS 1,035

15.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.74 ARS 26.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,177

$0.41 ARS 587

273.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ARS 1,211

$1.02 ARS 1,455

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 ARS 8,737

$4.93 ARS 7,036

24.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,561

$1.20 ARS 1,712

-9.17%

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

$27.1K ARS 38.6M

$31.7K ARS 45.2M

-14.55%

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

$30.3K ARS 43.2M

$33.2K ARS 47.4M

-8.93%

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

$67.0 ARS 95.6K

$77.6 ARS 110.7K

-13.67%

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

$17.12 ARS 24.4K

$17.56 ARS 25.1K

-2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.49 ARS 32.1K

$21.55 ARS 30.7K

4.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.64 ARS 38.0K

$27.98 ARS 39.9K

-4.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.91 ARS 19.8K

$16.31 ARS 23.3K

-14.71%

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 ARS 8,776

$6.10 ARS 8,697

0.82%

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

$217 ARS 308.9K

$103 ARS 147.6K

109.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,734 ARS 3.9M

$2,124 ARS 3.0M

28.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.9 ARS 105.4K

$81.1 ARS 115.8K

-8.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.5 ARS 99.1K

$75.6 ARS 107.8K

-8.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ARS 166.5K

$150 ARS 214.5K

-22.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ARS 159.9K

$119 ARS 169.8K

-5.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 ARS 487.2K

$353 ARS 504.0K

-3.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ARS 343.4K

$274 ARS 391.0K

-12.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 ARS 977.7K

$611 ARS 871.9K

12.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 ARS 766.8K

$502 ARS 716.5K

7.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,841 ARS 2.6M

$1,691 ARS 2.4M

8.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,572 ARS 2.2M

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

39.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$725 ARS 1.0M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Ushuaia 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Ushuaia versus $42.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $231 vs $249 – 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 $1,465 per month in Ushuaia 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 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 $976 in Ushuaia and $1,075 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $217 per month in Ushuaia and $103 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 $976, than in Mendoza at $1,075. 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.