Guaymallén

Guaymallén is Greater Mendoza's most populated municipality and its most affordable living option. Stretching east from the city center, it's a vast, mostly residential area that ranges from dense urban blocks near the border with Centro to quieter suburban streets further out. For expats, Guaymallén's appeal is straightforward: value.

You can rent a modern two-bedroom apartment here for what a studio costs in Chacras or a room costs in Buenos Aires. The areas closest to Mendoza Centro — particularly around Avenida de Acceso Este and the Metrotranvía line — offer good connectivity and a growing number of restaurants, gyms, and services. The Palmares Open Mall and surrounding commercial district have brought modern shopping and entertainment options to the area.

The food scene is authentic and affordable: local rotiserías, empanada shops, and neighborhood parrillas where a full meal costs a fraction of tourist-area prices. The trade-off is aesthetics and convenience — Guaymallén is not a pretty neighborhood, and the further east you go, the more suburban and car-dependent it becomes. But for budget-conscious expats who don't need to be in the center of things, it offers genuine savings and a window into how most mendocinos actually live.