Mendoza on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: the city is walkable, transport is cheap and you can visit wineries by bicycle. A realistic minimum is about AR$90,000 a day per person sharing a room — around AR$35,000 for a bed, AR$30,000 for food, AR$15,000 for sights and AR$8,000 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | AR$35,000 | AR$90,000 | AR$225,000 |
| Food & drink | AR$30,000 | AR$60,000 | AR$120,000 |
| Sights & tickets | AR$15,000 | AR$60,000 | AR$135,000 |
| Local transport | AR$8,000 | AR$40,000 | AR$90,000 |
| Per person, per day | AR$88,000 | AR$250,000 | AR$570,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Mendoza day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Plaza Independencia and the squares around it, including the tiled Plaza España
- Walking the Peatonal Sarmiento pedestrian street
- Parque General San Martín, with its lake and rose garden
- The views and monument on Cerro de la Gloria
- The bars and street life of Arístides Villanueva in the evening
- The leafy plaza of Chacras de Coria
Cheap eats
- Empanadas (meat pastries) — a fraction of a winery lunch
- Coffee and medialunas (croissants) for breakfast
- Humita or locro, a hearty stew, at a local restaurant
- Provoleta (grilled cheese) to share at a parrilla
- Helado (ice cream) in dulce de leche flavours
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and simple hotels around Plaza Independencia, near buses, squares and restaurants, at about AR$40,000–70,000 a night. Hostels often organise good-value bike tours to Maipú. Book early for the Vendimia in early March.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the flat central grid and use buses and the Metrotranvía with a rechargeable SUBE card. Take the Metrotranvía to Maipú and rent a bicycle for the wineries. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap for short trips and from El Plumerillo airport.
A sample budget day
- Morning: coffee and medialunas, then the plazas and Peatonal Sarmiento, free
- Lunch: empanadas (about AR$8,000–10,000)
- Afternoon: Parque San Martín and a bus up to Cerro de la Gloria (bus fare only)
- Evening: a late parrilla dinner on Arístides Villanueva with a glass of Malbec (about AR$25,000–35,000)
- Total: about AR$90,000 including a shared room (about AR$35,000)
More ways to save
- Pay by card where possible, but carry some cash for small shops, buses and tips.
- Visit wineries in Maipú by bicycle instead of joining expensive tours.
- Buy wine in local shops or at the winery, often much cheaper than abroad.
- Eat your main meal at lunch on weekdays, when set menus are often cheaper.
- Travel in late spring or winter for lower hotel prices.
- Leave about 10% as a restaurant tip, and budget for it.
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Common questions
Can you visit Mendoza on a budget?
Yes. Stay near Plaza Independencia, eat empanadas and cycle to wineries in Maipú. Plan on about AR$90,000 a day.
Can I visit wineries without a car?
Yes. Take the Metrotranvía to Maipú and rent a bike, or join a day tour with a driver.
How do I get around Mendoza cheaply?
Walk the central grid and use buses and the Metrotranvía with a SUBE card. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap.