Comparison · Buenos Aires vs Mendoza · Argentina
Buenos Aires vs Mendoza
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Buenos Aires for tango, Steak and Malbec and free sights; choose Mendoza for Malbec and wineries. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 986 km (612 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 986 km (612 mi)
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Buenos Aires
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Mendoza
- March–May and October–November
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Buenos Aires | Mendoza | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | Argentina |
| Known for | Tango, Steak and Malbec and Recoleta Cemetery | Malbec, Wineries and Aconcagua |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$110–220 | US$100–200 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Affordable |
| Warmest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | January, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 15°C (59°F) | June, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | EZE, AEP | MDZ |
Month by month
Our guides rate the two the same in every month. Both are at their best in March–May and October–November.
| Month | Buenos Aires | Mendoza | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C (86°F), 8 rainy days | 32°C (90°F), 6 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 29°C (84°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| March | 26°C (79°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 27°C (81°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| April | 23°C (73°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 22°C (72°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| May | 19°C (66°F), 6 rainy days · best time | 18°C (64°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 16°C (61°F), 6 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 2 rainy days | No clear pick |
| July | 15°C (59°F), 6 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 1 rainy day | No clear pick |
| August | 17°C (63°F), 6 rainy days | 17°C (63°F), 2 rainy days | No clear pick |
| September | 19°C (66°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | 20°C (68°F), 2 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| October | 22°C (72°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 25°C (77°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| December | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | 31°C (88°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Buenos Aires for…
Tango, Steak and Malbec and free sights. Buenos Aires spreads along the Río de la Plata in a grid of barrios, each with its own character: the colonial streets of San Telmo, the mansions and cemetery of Recoleta, the boutiques and restaurants of Palermo and the government buildings around Plaza de…
Choose Mendoza for…
Malbec and wineries. Mendoza is the capital of Argentina's largest wine region, a low-rise city of plane-tree avenues watered by open irrigation channels (acequias) at the foot of the Andes. Rebuilt on a wide grid after the 1861 earthquake, it centres on Plaza Independencia and…
Top sights compared
| # | Buenos Aires | Mendoza |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recoleta Cemetery | Plaza Independencia |
| 2 | Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada | Plaza España and the satellite plazas |
| 3 | Teatro Colón | Parque General San Martín |
| 4 | Caminito, La Boca | Cerro de la Gloria |
| 5 | La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum | Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins |
Food compared
| Buenos Aires | Mendoza |
|---|---|
| Asado and bife de chorizo | Malbec |
| Empanadas | Asado |
| Choripán | Empanadas mendocinas |
| Provoleta | Chivito |
Which is cheaper?
Buenos Aires and Mendoza cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly US$110–220 in Buenos Aires and US$100–200 in Mendoza (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Mendoza on a budget.
Buenos Aires or Mendoza from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Buenos Aires | Mendoza | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | +2 h Jan, +1 h Jul | +2 h Jan, +1 h Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +5 h Jan, +4 h Jul | +5 h Jan, +4 h Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 5,290 mi (8,510 km) | 5,090 mi (8,190 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 6,120 mi (9,850 km) | 5,630 mi (9,060 km) |
| U.S. plugs | Adapter needed | Adapter needed |
Buenos Aires and Mendoza are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
They are about 986 km (612 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Buenos Aires or Mendoza cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about US$110–220 in Buenos Aires and US$100–200 in Mendoza (estimates).
+Is Buenos Aires or Mendoza better for a first trip?
Pick Buenos Aires for tango, Steak and Malbec and free sights, or Mendoza for Malbec and wineries.
+How far is Buenos Aires from Mendoza?
About 986 km (612 mi) in a straight line.