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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $947 in Catamarca.

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

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

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 10% less than in Catamarca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ARS 14.3K

$10.62 ARS 15.3K

-6.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ARS 54.2K

$33.55 ARS 48.3K

12.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ARS 11.8K

$9.03 ARS 13.0K

-8.97%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ARS 3,523

$2.65 ARS 3,812

-7.55%

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

$2.26 ARS 3,249

$1.70 ARS 2,445

32.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,044

$1.50 ARS 2,155

41.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ARS 4,618

$2.06 ARS 2,964

55.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ARS 4,806

$2.93 ARS 4,221

13.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,577

$1.26 ARS 1,812

-12.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 2,048

$1.56 ARS 2,242

-8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 2,966

$1.94 ARS 2,796

6.19%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,189

$2.24 ARS 3,225

-32.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ARS 9,763

$10.21 ARS 14.7K

-33.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,598

$6.33 ARS 9,099

-16.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ARS 10.9K

$9.21 ARS 13.3K

-18.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ARS 4,129

$2.05 ARS 2,942

40.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,069

$2.08 ARS 2,989

2.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 ARS 2,252

$1.26 ARS 1,806

24.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ARS 3,587

$2.65 ARS 3,806

-6.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,770

$1.14 ARS 1,644

7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,373

$1.20 ARS 1,728

-20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 903

$1.32 ARS 1,906

-52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,690

$1.43 ARS 2,061

-18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,918

$3.16 ARS 4,547

8.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,198

$5.09 ARS 7,316

-42.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 1,987

$2.00 ARS 2,875

-31.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,848

$3.02 ARS 4,349

-34.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,047

$0.77 ARS 1,106

-5.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,197

$1.53 ARS 2,201

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ARS 1,130

$0.86 ARS 1,235

-8.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.95 ARS 11.4K

$6.09 ARS 8,765

30.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,639

$1.07 ARS 1,533

6.54%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.5M

$27.6K ARS 39.7M

-0.36%

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

$39.9K ARS 57.4M

$30.5K ARS 43.9M

30.96%

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

$84.2 ARS 121.1K

$66.6 ARS 95.8K

26.46%

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

$10.23 ARS 14.7K

$17.22 ARS 24.8K

-40.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.6K

$22.76 ARS 32.7K

11.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.04 ARS 24.5K

$26.38 ARS 37.9K

-35.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.02 ARS 11.5K

$13.84 ARS 19.9K

-42.05%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 ARS 5,604

$6.29 ARS 9,050

-38.00%

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

$163 ARS 233.9K

$224 ARS 322.2K

-27.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

$2,651 ARS 3.8M

18.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 ARS 82.4K

$73.7 ARS 106.0K

-22.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 ARS 90.6K

$69.3 ARS 99.6K

-9.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 91.9K

$115 ARS 164.9K

-44.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 ARS 89.0K

$114 ARS 163.8K

-45.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 ARS 411.5K

$340 ARS 488.8K

-15.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 294.1K

$242 ARS 347.5K

-15.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ARS 1.0M

$673 ARS 967.7K

7.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ARS 823.1K

$543 ARS 781.7K

5.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ARS 2.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 862.3K

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 Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026

Last update for Catamarca: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Catamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $230, 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

Mar del Plata vs Catamarca: 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 $1,271 in Mar del Plata and $1,420 in Catamarca 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: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $340 in Catamarca. 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 $847 per month in Mar del Plata versus $947 in Catamarca – 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, Mar del Plata and Catamarca 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.