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Quines, San Luis

Argentina · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

76
Overall Score

Quines is a vibrant town and municipality located in the Ayacucho Department in the northern part of San Luis Province, Argentina. Nestled at the foothills of the San Luis sierras and crossed by the Quines River, it serves as an essential regional hub sitting at the junction of National Routes 20 and 79. Founded in the 18th century, the town carries a rich historical identity and is widely recognized across the province as the capital of traditional mate celebrations and artisanal woodworking. Today, Quines blends its historic heritage with steady regional growth, attracting new residents looking for a tranquil yet connected semi-rural lifestyle.

About San Luis

San Luis, Argentina, is the capital of its province, offering a blend of urban amenities and natural surroundings at the foot of the Sierras Grandes. The economy is primarily driven by irrigated agriculture, including corn, sorghum, sunflowers, figs, and asparagus, alongside cattle raising, food processing, and mining of tungsten, basalt, salt, granite, and onyx. The city experiences a humid subtropical climate bordering on semi-arid, with hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters, and boasts around 330 days of sunshine annually. Living in San Luis is considered relatively inexpensive, with an average cost of living around $740 per month, making it one of the least expensive cities globally, though the median after-tax salary of $500 may only cover living expenses for a limited period.

9,359
Population
$7K
Avg Salary
42
Cost Index
76.1
Quality Score
How this 76/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 78 / 100 78.0 30% 23.4
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 42.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $7,200 Income needed to live here: $4,800 Unemployment rate: 6.5% 65.6 20% 13.1
Growth Population growth rate: 1.2% Job growth rate: 1.8% 55.5 15% 8.3
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 62 / 100 62.0 10% 6.2
Overall score 76.1

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (ungrounded) (q=55, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Quality Scores

Business
62
Livability
76
Affordability
85
Growth
68

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Quines is notably lower than the national metropolitan averages, making it an appealing destination for individuals seeking affordability. Everyday expenses such as local produce, fresh market items, and basic services remain highly economical due to the region's agricultural surroundings and smaller-scale economy. While imported goods and certain manufactured products carry standard national pricing, housing and dining out require significantly smaller budgets compared to major Argentine urban centers like Buenos Aires or Córdoba.

Average Rent
$280/mo
Groceries
$220/mo
Transport
$60/mo
Utilities
$55/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$20.00
Cinema ticket
$5.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$18.00
Monthly groceries
$200.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$25.00

Salary Insights

Quines's local economy is driven primarily by traditional regional industries, including forestry, wood processing, local agriculture, and commerce serving the northern San Luis corridor. Public administration and community services also account for a substantial portion of local employment, supported by provincial government initiatives to spur regional development. Although industrial manufacturing is more concentrated in San Luis capital and Villa Mercedes, Quines maintains active local trade and micro-enterprises. Remote work has also gained a modest foothold among professionals drawn to the area's peaceful environment and improving digital infrastructure.

The average salary in Quines is $6,500 per year. You would need approximately $4,800 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Tourism and Hospitality +2.60% Agriculture and Livestock +1.90% Public Administration and Services +1.20% Local Commerce and Retail +2.10% Forestry and Wood Processing +1.50%

Climate

🌡️
20°C
Avg Temp
☀️
17°C
Summer High
❄️
21°C
Winter Low
🌧️
25.30"
Annual Rain
💧
58.00%
Humidity
🌤️
286
Sunny Days

Transport

Getting around Quines is primarily done on foot, by bicycle, or via personal vehicle due to the compact nature of the town. It functions as a vital regional transit junction, with National Routes 20 and 79 providing direct bus connections to other parts of San Luis and neighboring provinces. While local public transit lines within the town are limited, interurban bus services effectively link residents to larger regional hubs.

15 min
Avg Commute
40.00/10
Transit Score
70.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Quines recorded a population of 9,359 residents per definitive INDEC 2022 census data released in 2024, reflecting steady local growth.
The town boasts a warm microclimate and abundant sunny days averaging 286 days per year, ideal for outdoor living.
Cost of living and housing rentals remain substantially more affordable than in major Argentine metropolitan centers.
Strategic location at the intersection of National Routes 20 and 79 provides robust interurban connectivity across northern San Luis.
Strong community safety profile with low violent crime rates and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
Drawbacks
Limited local high-paying job opportunities require many residents to rely on public sector employment or commute.
Specialized healthcare services and advanced medical treatments require travel to larger cities like San Luis capital.
Public transportation options within the town itself are minimal, creating a high reliance on personal vehicles or walking.
Economic vulnerability to broader national macroeconomic fluctuations and inflationary pressures affecting purchasing power.
Limited higher education institutions locally, requiring students to relocate for university degrees.

Questions about Quines

What people ask about living in and moving to Quines, San Luis.

Gathering the most common questions about Quines…

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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