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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,020 per month in Mar del Plata vs $1,150 in Durban, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,783 per month in Mar del Plata vs $1,789 in Durban, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,545 per month in Mar del Plata vs $2,428 in Durban, rent included.

Mar del Plata is about 11% cheaper than Durban, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mar del Plata and Durban are more affordable than the global median – Mar del Plata 26% lower, Durban 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 ARS 30.0K

$8.10 R 130

145.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ARS 91.8K

$40.00 R 640

52.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.64 ARS 19.1K

$5.80 R 92.8

117.93%

Cappuccino

$3.13 ARS 4,716

$2.78 R 44.52

12.59%

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

$2.55 ARS 3,839

$1.14 R 18.28

123.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,096

$0.93 R 14.90

120.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ARS 6,004

$2.42 R 38.76

64.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,484

$2.77 R 44.37

7.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,676

$1.25 R 20.07

-11.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 ARS 3,159

$0.99 R 15.85

111.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 ARS 5,020

$1.64 R 26.25

103.05%

Eggs

$2.46 ARS 3,713

$2.44 R 39.08

0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 ARS 8,807

$8.65 R 138

-32.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 ARS 10.1K

$5.64 R 90.2

18.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.22 ARS 18.4K

$7.30 R 117

67.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ARS 5,074

$1.88 R 30.12

78.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.49 ARS 3,752

$1.91 R 30.54

30.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ARS 2,297

$1.93 R 30.82

-21.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 ARS 2,957

$1.67 R 26.77

17.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 R 24.81

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 ARS 1,493

$1.53 R 24.46

-35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 R 19.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 R 19.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.55 ARS 5,361

$3.72 R 59.5

-4.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.96 ARS 4,462

$4.83 R 77.2

-38.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 R 24.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 R 31.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 ARS 2,007

$1.93 R 30.83

-31.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.24 R 356

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 ARS 2,368

$0.45 R 7.21

248.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ARS 982

$0.77 R 12.28

-15.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 ARS 9,518

$7.72 R 123

-18.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ARS 1,996

$1.47 R 23.45

-10.20%

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

$36.5K R 583.5K

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

$33.0K R 527.4K

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

$79.3 ARS 119.6K

$148 R 2,369

-46.46%

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

$8.17 ARS 12.3K

$35.25 R 564

-76.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.08 ARS 45.4K

$38.89 R 622

-22.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.57 ARS 46.1K

$31.54 R 504

-3.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.41 R 150

Cinema Ticket

$10.06 ARS 15.2K

$6.68 R 107

50.60%

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

$301 ARS 454.2K

$331 R 5,295

-9.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,462 R 119.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.3 ARS 131.7K

$53.4 R 854

63.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.55 R 489

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 180.7K

$101 R 1,615

18.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 ARS 81.9K

$88.7 R 1,419

-38.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 ARS 491.7K

$490 R 7,829

-33.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ARS 375.8K

$400 R 6,396

-37.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ARS 1.2M

$862 R 13.8K

-5.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 ARS 987.1K

$790 R 12.6K

-17.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$934 R 14.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$590 R 9,436

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$613 ARS 923.9K

$1,250 R 20.0K

-51.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.66

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: August 30, 2026

Last update for Durban: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Mar del Plata versus $490 in Durban. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 104% higher in Durban, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Mar del Plata versus $40.00 in Durban. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Mar del Plata vs $201 in Durban – so Mar del Plata wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Durban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Durban is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,530 per month in Mar del Plata and $1,726 in Durban. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mar del Plata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Mar del Plata and $40.00 in Durban. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Durban, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mar del Plata, where all-in costs run around $1,020, than in Durban at $1,150. In Mar del Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durban it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mar del Plata – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mar del Plata. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Durban makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.