Cost of Living Comparison Between Catamarca and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Catamarca and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $955 in Catamarca versus $841 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,566 in Catamarca versus $1,452 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Catamarca versus $2,062 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Catamarca is roughly 13% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Catamarca 29% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.33 ARS 15.3K

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

7.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.18 ARS 49.0K

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

-10.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 ARS 13.4K

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

11.70%

Cappuccino

$2.77 ARS 4,088

$2.49 ARS 3,674

11.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ARS 2,427

$2.27 ARS 3,353

-27.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,184

$2.15 ARS 3,176

-31.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 ARS 3,097

$3.29 ARS 4,870

-36.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ARS 4,411

$3.18 ARS 4,707

-6.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ARS 1,835

$1.05 ARS 1,557

18.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,299

$1.43 ARS 2,114

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 ARS 2,904

$2.15 ARS 3,180

-8.84%

Eggs

$2.16 ARS 3,197

$1.55 ARS 2,296

39.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ARS 14.8K

$6.64 ARS 9,818

50.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ARS 9,209

$5.13 ARS 7,584

21.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.21 ARS 13.6K

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

18.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 3,003

$2.72 ARS 4,014

-25.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,155

$2.11 ARS 3,119

0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,861

$1.55 ARS 2,296

-18.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ARS 3,863

$2.50 ARS 3,689

4.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ARS 1,741

$1.22 ARS 1,796

-3.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,831

$1.03 ARS 1,519

20.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 ARS 1,871

$0.67 ARS 985

89.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,217

$1.16 ARS 1,717

29.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ARS 4,586

$3.55 ARS 5,251

-12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.59 ARS 6,788

$2.97 ARS 4,394

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ARS 2,955

$1.38 ARS 2,039

44.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ARS 4,682

$2.05 ARS 3,030

54.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ARS 1,199

$0.71 ARS 1,051

14.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,195

$1.47 ARS 2,167

1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 ARS 1,342

$0.77 ARS 1,133

18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ARS 8,740

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

-28.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,557

$1.14 ARS 1,685

-7.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.9K ARS 41.2M

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

1.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.3K ARS 44.7M

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

-23.83%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.8 ARS 100.2K

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

-21.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.99 ARS 25.1K

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

66.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 ARS 33.5K

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

-8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.94 ARS 38.3K

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

51.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 ARS 20.6K

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

79.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 ARS 9,265

$4.01 ARS 5,930

56.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$223 ARS 330.0K

$162 ARS 239.1K

38.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,719 ARS 4.0M

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

-14.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.1 ARS 108.1K

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

31.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 ARS 101.9K

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

9.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ARS 167.3K

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

73.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ARS 162.2K

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

78.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 ARS 500.9K

$278 ARS 411.3K

21.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ARS 355.8K

$203 ARS 300.2K

18.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$672 ARS 992.5K

$707 ARS 1.0M

-4.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 ARS 793.9K

$581 ARS 859.4K

-7.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,265 ARS 3.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,354 ARS 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ARS 890.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Catamarca: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $339 in Catamarca and $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Catamarca vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $193, with Mar del Plata cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Catamarca vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Catamarca. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,432 in Catamarca and $1,262 in Mar del Plata to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $339 in Catamarca versus $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Catamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $955 per month in Catamarca versus $841 in Mar del Plata – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mar del Plata gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Catamarca and Mar del Plata are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Catamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.