Cost Of Living in Neuquen 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Neuquen

Whether you're living in Neuquen or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Neuquen

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Neuquen is 84% This means that on average, people spend around 84% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 13% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
76%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

70%

83%

Couple
80%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

73%

88%

Family
88%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

81%

97%

How do people spend their money in Neuquen?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Neuquen typically spend from 11% to 30% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 22% being the average. The average spend on housing is 220,000 ARS with expenditure ranging from 17,000 ARS to 2.2M ARS. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Neuquen ranges from 5% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 37,000 ARS with 2,800 ARS and 370,000 ARS being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 5,700 ARS to 740,000 ARS on commuting with 74,000 ARS being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 10%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Neuquen is 180,000 ARS. The cost of groceries can range between 14,000 ARS to 1.8M ARS. People spend on average about 29% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 21% and 35% respectively.

People in Neuquen allocate 6% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 4,000 ARS to 520,000 ARS with 52,000 ARS being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 2,300 ARS to 290,000 ARS with 29,000 ARS being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 44,000 ARS per month with 3,400 ARS being the minimum spent amount and 440,000 ARS being the maximum.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Neuquen is 510,000 ARS. Expenses can range from 71,000 ARS at the minimum level to 3.4M ARS at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Neuquen is 850,000 ARS. Expenditure can range from 280,000 ARS to 4.5M ARS per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Neuquen is 1.1M ARS per month. Families spend anywhere from 400,000 ARS to 7.4M ARS.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Neuquen is 380,000 ARS. Students spend from 57,000 ARS to 2.5M ARS per month.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Neuquen

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Neuquen and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Neuquen

How much money can you save in Neuquen every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Neuquen manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 52% of the surveyed people in Neuquen said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 48% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Neuquen

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 9.7% to 29% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 16% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 200,000 ARS on average with savings ranging from 16,000 ARS to 2M ARS.

52% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 47% of couples said the same. 43% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Neuquen?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 13% to 31% of their monthly income to savings, with 20% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 140,000 ARS with 16,000 ARS and 940,000 ARS being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 11% to 30% of their monthly income, with 18% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 240,000 ARS with 79,000 ARS and 1.3M ARS being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Neuquen can save anywhere between 8.7% to 27% of their monthly income, with 15% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 310,000 ARS with 110,000 ARS and 2M ARS being the minimum and maximum respectively.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Neuquen

Typical saving choices for people in Neuquen

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Neuquen

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Neuquen?

Around 43% of surveyed residents think that living in Neuquen is affordable with proper budgeting while 58% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Neuquen

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options53%

Few low-cost options47%

Based on the survey, 53% of the people living in Neuquen have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 47% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes43%

No58%

Based on the survey, 58% of the people living in Neuquen said that they don't have an emergency fund while 43% said that they do.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Neuquen

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the people in Neuquen have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Neuquen

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of the people's monthly income in Neuquen goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Neuquen pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 22% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 16% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 18% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 7% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Neuquen

5% of debtors in Neuquen confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 33% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 11% of people and personal loans rose at 47%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 5% of debtors in Neuquen.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Neuquen

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Neuquen

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Neuquen

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

4,300 ARS

31,000 ARS

200,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.1

$36

$240

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

11,000 ARS

38,000 ARS

250,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$45

$300

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

20,000 ARS

57,000 ARS

370,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$67

$440

Internet and cable cost

3,700 ARS

7,400 ARS

9,900 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$8.7

$12

Mobile phone bill and charges

3,000 ARS

4,900 ARS

15,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.5

$5.8

$17

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Neuquen ranges between 4,300 ARS and 200,000 ARS with average being 31,000 ARS, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 38,000 ARS with 11,000 ARS and 250,000 ARS being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 57,000 ARS. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 3,700 ARS to 9,900 ARS with 7,400 ARS being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 4,900 ARS but can range between 3,000 ARS and 15,000 ARS depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Neuquen is around 6.8%. This means that people pay 6.8% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.9% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Financial Literacy in

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy39%

We asked residents of whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 61% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 39% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 51% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 49% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance51%

Easily manages finances49%

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Neuquen

Prices and cost of goods and services in Neuquen

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

740 ARS

1,500 ARS

2,500 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.87

$1.7

$2.9

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Neuquen is approximatly 1,500 ARS with meal cost ranging from 740 ARS to 2,500 ARS. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

2,400 ARS

3,700 ARS

7,300 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.3

$8.7

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 2,400 ARS and 7,300 ARS with 3,700 ARS being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Neuquen.

Fine dining meal for one price

4,900 ARS

7,300 ARS

29,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.8

$8.7

$35

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 4,900 ARS to 29,000 ARS with the average cost being 7,300 ARS for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Neuquen.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

620 ARS

990 ARS

1,500 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.73

$1.2

$1.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Neuquen is around 990 ARS. Price ranges between 620 ARS and 1,500 ARS depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

490 ARS

590 ARS

740 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.58

$0.70

$0.87

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Neuquen is 590 ARS. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 740 ARS and the minimum being 490 ARS depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

370 ARS

490 ARS

740 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.44

$0.58

$0.87

A dozen eggs costs around 490 ARS on average with 370 ARS and 740 ARS being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

840 ARS

1,100 ARS

1,500 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.99

$1.3

$1.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Neuquen is between 840 ARS and 1,500 ARS depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 1,100 ARS.

Pack of beef price

990 ARS

1,500 ARS

3,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.7

$3.5

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 1,500 ARS. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

400 ARS

540 ARS

770 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.47

$0.64

$0.91

A bag of rice in Neuquen costs around 540 ARS on average with prices rangeing between 400 ARS and 770 ARS depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

150 ARS

200 ARS

370 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.17

$0.23

$0.44

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 150 ARS to 370 ARS. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

260 ARS

350 ARS

570 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.31

$0.41

$0.67

A bag of apples costs 350 ARS on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Neuquen is around 26%. This means that people spend 26% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 18% to 32% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 82,000 ARS per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 11,000 ARS and 540,000 ARS depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 120,000 ARS per month. That number can be get as low as 40,000 ARS or a high as 630,000 ARS. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 71,000 ARS to 1.3M ARS with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

Financial goals of people in Neuquen

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Neuquen, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 48% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 12% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 4% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 17% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Neuquen

Rent Cost in Neuquen

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

60,000 ARS

90,000 ARS

240,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$71

$110

$290

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

90,000 ARS

140,000 ARS

360,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$110

$170

$430

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

120,000 ARS

180,000 ARS

480,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140

$210

$570

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

140,000 ARS

240,000 ARS

660,000 ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170

$290

$780

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

290,000 ARS

720,000 ARS

1.4M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340

$860

$1,700

Townhouse monthly rent cost

240,000 ARS

360,000 ARS

1M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$430

$1,200

House monthly rent cost

290,000 ARS

720,000 ARS

1.4M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$340

$860

$1,700

Villa monthly rent cost

360,000 ARS

900,000 ARS

1.4M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$430

$1,100

$1,700

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Neuquen ranges between 60,000 ARS and 240,000 ARS, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 90,000 ARS to 360,000 ARS. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 120,000 ARS and 480,000 ARS per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 140,000 ARS to 660,000 ARS. The average rent of a townhouse in Neuquen is around 360,000 ARS while house rental costs can be as high as 720,000 ARS per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 360,000 ARS to 1.4M ARS per month.

Apartment and house prices in Neuquen

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

12M ARS

18M ARS

36M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$14,000

$21,000

$43,000

1-bedroom apartment price

14M ARS

24M ARS

90M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$17,000

$29,000

$110,000

2-bedroom apartment price

24M ARS

72M ARS

140M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$29,000

$86,000

$170,000

3-bedroom apartment price

80M ARS

120M ARS

360M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$95,000

$140,000

$430,000

Townhouse price

100M ARS

240M ARS

900M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$290,000

$1.1M

House price

120M ARS

720M ARS

1,000M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$860,000

$1.2M

Villa price

140M ARS

800M ARS

1,200M ARS

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$950,000

$1.4M

The average price of a studio apartment in Neuquen can range from 12M ARS to 36M ARS depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 14M ARS to 90M ARS. A villa can cost you 800M ARS on average with prices ranging from 140M ARS to 1,200M ARS.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Neuquen can be x83 to x185 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x83 multiples of the average monthly salary in Neuquen.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Neuquen is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Saving Challenges in Neuquen

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Neuquen. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 10% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 13% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 8% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 23% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 15% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 1% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Neuquen

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Neuquen

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Neuquen