Comparison · Mendoza vs Montevideo · Argentina / Uruguay
Mendoza vs Montevideo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Silviaanac, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Mendoza for Malbec, wineries and lower day-to-day costs; choose Montevideo for Rambla waterfront, asado and parrillas, beaches and a short break. Mendoza is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,191 km (740 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,191 km (740 mi)
- Less expensive
- Mendoza
- Best time for Mendoza
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Montevideo
- November–March
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Mendoza | Montevideo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | Uruguay |
| Known for | Malbec, Wineries and Aconcagua | Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and Chivito sandwich |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | November–March |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$100–200 | US$130–230 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Expensive |
| Warmest month | January, 32°C (90°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 14°C (57°F) | July, 14°C (57°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Playa Pocitos |
| Airports | MDZ | MVD |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Mendoza in April–May and September–October, and Montevideo in December–February. Both are at their best in March and November.
| Month | Mendoza | Montevideo | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C (90°F), 6 rainy days | 28°C (82°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Montevideo |
| February | 30°C (86°F), 6 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Montevideo |
| March | 27°C (81°F), 5 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| April | 22°C (72°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 22°C (72°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Mendoza |
| May | 18°C (64°F), 2 rainy days · best time | 18°C (64°F), 7 rainy days | Mendoza |
| June | 14°C (57°F), 2 rainy days | 15°C (59°F), 7 rainy days | No clear pick |
| July | 14°C (57°F), 1 rainy day | 14°C (57°F), 7 rainy days | No clear pick |
| August | 17°C (63°F), 2 rainy days | 16°C (61°F), 7 rainy days | No clear pick |
| September | 20°C (68°F), 2 rainy days · shoulder season | 18°C (64°F), 7 rainy days | Mendoza |
| October | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | 21°C (70°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Mendoza |
| November | 29°C (84°F), 4 rainy days · best time | 24°C (75°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| December | 31°C (88°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | 27°C (81°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Montevideo |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mendoza for…
Malbec, wineries and lower day-to-day costs. 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…
Choose Montevideo for…
Rambla waterfront, asado and parrillas, beaches and a short break. Uruguay's capital lines the north shore of the Río de la Plata, with a waterfront promenade, the Rambla, running for over 20 km past city beaches from the old port to Carrasco. The Ciudad Vieja and the Centro around Plaza Independencia hold the art deco and…
Top sights compared
| # | Mendoza | Montevideo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza Independencia | The Rambla |
| 2 | Plaza España and the satellite plazas | Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum |
| 3 | Parque General San Martín | Palacio Salvo |
| 4 | Cerro de la Gloria | Teatro Solís |
| 5 | Área Fundacional and San Francisco ruins | Mercado del Puerto |
Food compared
| Mendoza | Montevideo |
|---|---|
| Malbec | Chivito |
| Asado | Asado |
| Empanadas mendocinas | Choripán |
| Chivito | Medio y medio |
Which is cheaper?
Mendoza is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$100–200 per person there, against US$130–230 in Montevideo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Mendoza on a budget.
Mendoza or Montevideo from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Mendoza | Montevideo | |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 5,090 mi (8,190 km) | 5,340 mi (8,590 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 5,630 mi (9,060 km) | 6,230 mi (10,020 km) |
| U.S. plugs | Adapter needed | Adapter needed |
Mendoza and Montevideo are about the same distance from New York.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,191 km (740 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mendoza or Montevideo cheaper?
Mendoza is usually less expensive: about US$100–200 a day mid-range against US$130–230 (estimates).
+Is Mendoza or Montevideo better for a first trip?
Pick Mendoza for Malbec, wineries and lower day-to-day costs, or Montevideo for Rambla waterfront, asado and parrillas, beaches and a short break.
+How far is Mendoza from Montevideo?
About 1,191 km (740 mi) in a straight line.