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: $947 in Catamarca versus $847 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,587 in Catamarca versus $1,433 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Catamarca versus $2,019 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Catamarca is roughly 12% more expensive than 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

$10.62 ARS 15.1K

$9.93 ARS 14.2K

6.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.55 ARS 47.9K

$37.70 ARS 53.8K

-11.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.03 ARS 12.9K

$8.22 ARS 11.7K

9.85%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ARS 3,780

$2.45 ARS 3,494

8.16%

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

$1.70 ARS 2,425

$2.26 ARS 3,222

-24.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,137

$2.12 ARS 3,018

-29.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 ARS 2,939

$3.21 ARS 4,579

-35.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,186

$3.34 ARS 4,766

-12.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,797

$1.10 ARS 1,564

14.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,224

$1.42 ARS 2,031

9.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,773

$2.06 ARS 2,941

-5.83%

Eggs

$2.24 ARS 3,198

$1.52 ARS 2,171

47.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.21 ARS 14.6K

$6.79 ARS 9,681

50.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 ARS 9,023

$5.28 ARS 7,535

19.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.21 ARS 13.1K

$7.55 ARS 10.8K

21.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ARS 2,918

$2.87 ARS 4,094

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,964

$2.13 ARS 3,044

-2.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,790

$1.57 ARS 2,233

-19.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ARS 3,775

$2.49 ARS 3,557

6.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ARS 1,631

$1.23 ARS 1,755

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ARS 1,713

$0.95 ARS 1,361

26.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ARS 1,890

$0.63 ARS 895

109.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ARS 2,044

$1.17 ARS 1,676

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 ARS 4,509

$3.42 ARS 4,877

-7.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.09 ARS 7,255

$2.92 ARS 4,163

74.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 ARS 2,851

$1.38 ARS 1,971

44.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,313

$1.98 ARS 2,825

52.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ARS 1,097

$0.73 ARS 1,038

5.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,183

$1.53 ARS 2,179

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ARS 1,224

$0.79 ARS 1,121

8.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 ARS 8,692

$7.95 ARS 11.3K

-23.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,520

$1.14 ARS 1,626

-6.14%

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

$27.6K ARS 39.4M

$27.5K ARS 39.2M

0.36%

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

$30.5K ARS 43.5M

$39.9K ARS 57.0M

-23.64%

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

$66.6 ARS 95.0K

$84.2 ARS 120.1K

-20.92%

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

$17.22 ARS 24.6K

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

68.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.76 ARS 32.5K

$25.44 ARS 36.3K

-10.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.38 ARS 37.6K

$17.04 ARS 24.3K

54.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.84 ARS 19.7K

$8.02 ARS 11.4K

72.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 ARS 8,975

$3.90 ARS 5,557

61.28%

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

$224 ARS 319.5K

$163 ARS 232.0K

37.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,651 ARS 3.8M

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

-15.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.7 ARS 105.1K

$57.3 ARS 81.7K

28.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.3 ARS 98.8K

$63.0 ARS 89.8K

10.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ARS 163.5K

$63.9 ARS 91.1K

79.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ARS 162.4K

$61.9 ARS 88.2K

84.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ARS 484.7K

$286 ARS 408.1K

18.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ARS 344.6K

$204 ARS 291.6K

18.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 ARS 959.6K

$723 ARS 1.0M

-6.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 ARS 775.2K

$572 ARS 816.2K

-5.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ARS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 855.1K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Catamarca and $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Catamarca vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $194, 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 12% 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 $1,420 in Catamarca and $1,271 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: $340 in Catamarca versus $286 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 $947 per month in Catamarca versus $847 in Mar del Plata – a 12% 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 12% less than in Catamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.