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: $841 in Mar del Plata versus $955 in Catamarca.

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

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

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 12% 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

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

$10.33 ARS 15.3K

-7.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

$33.18 ARS 49.0K

11.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

$9.07 ARS 13.4K

-10.47%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ARS 3,674

$2.77 ARS 4,088

-10.11%

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

$2.27 ARS 3,353

$1.64 ARS 2,427

38.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ARS 3,176

$1.48 ARS 2,184

45.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ARS 4,870

$2.10 ARS 3,097

56.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ARS 4,707

$2.98 ARS 4,411

6.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,557

$1.24 ARS 1,835

-15.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,114

$1.56 ARS 2,299

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,180

$1.96 ARS 2,904

9.69%

Eggs

$1.55 ARS 2,296

$2.16 ARS 3,197

-28.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 ARS 9,818

$10.02 ARS 14.8K

-33.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ARS 7,584

$6.23 ARS 9,209

-17.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

$9.21 ARS 13.6K

-15.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 4,014

$2.03 ARS 3,003

33.99%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ARS 3,119

$2.13 ARS 3,155

-0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,296

$1.26 ARS 1,861

23.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ARS 3,689

$2.61 ARS 3,863

-4.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,796

$1.18 ARS 1,741

3.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,519

$1.24 ARS 1,831

-16.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ARS 985

$1.27 ARS 1,871

-47.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ARS 1,717

$1.50 ARS 2,217

-22.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.55 ARS 5,251

$3.10 ARS 4,586

14.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,394

$4.59 ARS 6,788

-35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 2,039

$2.00 ARS 2,955

-31.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,030

$3.17 ARS 4,682

-35.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ARS 1,051

$0.81 ARS 1,199

-12.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ARS 2,167

$1.49 ARS 2,195

-1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,133

$0.91 ARS 1,342

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

$5.91 ARS 8,740

39.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,685

$1.05 ARS 1,557

8.57%

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

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

$27.9K ARS 41.2M

-1.36%

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

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

$30.3K ARS 44.7M

31.28%

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

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

$67.8 ARS 100.2K

27.88%

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

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

$16.99 ARS 25.1K

-39.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

$22.69 ARS 33.5K

9.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

$25.94 ARS 38.3K

-34.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

$13.93 ARS 20.6K

-44.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 ARS 5,930

$6.27 ARS 9,265

-36.04%

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

$162 ARS 239.1K

$223 ARS 330.0K

-27.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

$2,719 ARS 4.0M

17.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

$73.1 ARS 108.1K

-24.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

$69.0 ARS 101.9K

-8.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

$113 ARS 167.3K

-42.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

$110 ARS 162.2K

-44.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 ARS 411.3K

$339 ARS 500.9K

-17.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 ARS 300.2K

$241 ARS 355.8K

-15.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 ARS 1.0M

$672 ARS 992.5K

5.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 ARS 859.4K

$537 ARS 793.9K

8.26%

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 Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Last update for Catamarca: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Catamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $229, 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 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 $1,262 in Mar del Plata and $1,432 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: $278 in Mar del Plata versus $339 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 $841 per month in Mar del Plata versus $955 in Catamarca – 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, 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 13% less than in Catamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.