Budget · Mendoza · Argentina
Mendoza on a budget
What a trip to Mendoza really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Cerro Arco, Mendoza · Photo: Itsmemarttin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mendoza is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly US$40–70 per person per day on a tight budget, US$100–200 mid-range and US$300–800 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in June and August–September.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- US$40–70 a day
- Mid-range
- US$100–200 a day
- Luxury
- US$300–800 a day
- Local currency
- ARS
- Free sights
- 7
Plan a trip to Mendoza
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$40–70 | US$120–210 | US$200–350 | US$280–490 |
| Mid-range | US$100–200 | US$300–600 | US$500–1,000 | US$700–1,400 |
| Luxury | US$300–800 | US$900–2,400 | US$1,500–4,000 | US$2,100–5,600 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Mendoza, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Café con leche and medialunas | about US$3–$6 |
| Empanada | about US$1–$2 each |
| Parrilla dinner with wine | about US$25–$45 per person |
| Winery tasting | about US$15–$60 |
| Multi-course winery lunch with pairings | about US$60–$150 |
| Bike rental in Maipú | about US$10–$20 per day |
| Alta Montaña day tour | about US$50–$90 per person |
Money-saving tips
- Argentine prices change quickly with inflation; check current rates and compare paying by card with paying in cash.
- Visitors paying with foreign cards often receive a favourable exchange rate; check your card's terms before you travel.
- Do Maipú by bike and public transport instead of a private winery tour to keep costs down.
- Winery lunches are expensive but often replace dinner; plan a light evening after one.
- Winter and spring bring lower hotel rates than the harvest months of March and April.
Free things to do
- Plaza Independencia — Mendoza's main square covers four city blocks with fountains, palms and the Teatro Independencia on its western edge.
- Plaza España and the satellite plazas — After the 1861 earthquake, the city was rebuilt with four plazas two blocks from the main square, designed as open refuges.
- Parque General San Martín — Laid out by landscape architect Carlos Thays from the 1890s, this park of more than 300 hectares has a rowing lake, a rose garden, a football stadium and thousands of trees on what was once dry scrub.
- Cerro de la Gloria — A hill at the western end of Parque General San Martín crowned by the bronze Monument to the Army of the Andes, commemorating General San Martín's 1817 crossing of the Andes to free Chile and Peru.
- Mercado Central — Mendoza's covered market on Avenida Las Heras has butchers, greengrocers, cheese and cured-meat counters, and simple stalls selling empanadas, pizza and sandwiches at lunchtime.
- Paseo Sarmiento — The pedestrian stretch of Sarmiento street runs east from Plaza Independencia, lined with cafés, ice-cream shops and outdoor tables.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and solo travellers
Microcentro
The grid around Plaza Independencia, Peatonal Sarmiento and the satellite plazas
$$ · Best for nightlife, couples and food lovers
Quinta Sección and Arístides Villanueva
Leafy residential streets and the city's main bar strip near the park
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and families
Maipú
Flat vineyard roads, olive groves and bike rental shops southeast of the city
Eating well for less
- Empanadas mendocinas — Bakeries and empanada shops across the city and the counters of the Mercado Central.
- Sopaipillas — Bakeries and street vendors, especially on cold or rainy days.
- Mate and medialunas — Cafés on Paseo Sarmiento serve medialunas; mate is mostly shared at home and in parks.
Getting around for less
SUBE card
A rechargeable contactless card used to pay for city buses and the Metrotranvía; buy and top it up at kiosks.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Mendoza cost?
About US$500–1,000 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or US$200–350 on a tight budget.
+Is Mendoza expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Argentine prices change quickly with inflation; check current rates and compare paying by card with paying in cash.
+How much money do I need per day in Mendoza?
Roughly US$40–70 on a budget and US$100–200 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Mendoza?
Usually in June and August–September.