Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Formosa

For one person, living is cheaper in Mar del Plata: $1,081 a month against $1,295 in Formosa, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mar del Plata
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,081
/mo nomad
Formosa
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,295
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mar del Plata and in Formosa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mar del Plata and in Formosa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,081 in Mar del Plata versus $1,295 in Formosa.

  • Mar del Plata $1,081
  • Formosa $1,295

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,026 in Mar del Plata versus $2,131 in Formosa.

  • Mar del Plata $2,026
  • Formosa $2,131

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,971 in Mar del Plata versus $2,967 in Formosa.

  • Mar del Plata $2,971
  • Formosa $2,967

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 17% less than in Formosa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 20% lower, Formosa 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 ARS 30.4K
$17.92 ARS 27.2K
12.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 ARS 120.4K
$63.0 ARS 95.6K
26.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.55 ARS 17.5K
$11.09 ARS 16.8K
4.15%
Cappuccino
$3.26 ARS 4,944
$3.53 ARS 5,356
-7.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 ARS 3,936
$2.17 ARS 3,295
19.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ARS 2,953
$1.63 ARS 2,465
19.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 ARS 5,261
$4.51 ARS 6,841
-23.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 ARS 5,198
$4.71 ARS 7,141
-27.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ARS 1,852
$1.22 ARS 1,847
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 ARS 3,255
$2.10 ARS 3,190
2.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.79 ARS 4,228
$1.91 ARS 2,894
46.07%
Eggs
$3.16 ARS 4,793
$2.43 ARS 3,688
30.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.75 ARS 11.7K
$11.37 ARS 17.2K
-31.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.50 ARS 11.4K
$8.02 ARS 12.2K
-6.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 ARS 17.6K
$11.48 ARS 17.4K
1.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 ARS 4,488
$2.42 ARS 3,665
22.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 ARS 3,622
$2.51 ARS 3,801
-4.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 ARS 2,948
$1.39 ARS 2,105
39.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 ARS 4,041
$2.69 ARS 4,078
-1.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 ARS 1,127
$1.05 ARS 1,593
-29.52%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 ARS 1,210
$1.11 ARS 1,681
-27.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ARS 961
$1.92 ARS 2,918
-67.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52 ARS 5,338
$3.14 ARS 4,759
12.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.20 ARS 6,370
$5.57 ARS 8,450
-24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 ARS 3,580
$2.19 ARS 3,323
7.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 ARS 7,938
$3.64 ARS 5,514
43.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ARS 2,060
$1.14 ARS 1,734
19.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ARS 2,187
$1.35 ARS 2,051
6.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 ARS 1,318
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 ARS 9,758
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ARS 1,962
$1.06 ARS 1,606
21.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K ARS 47.5M
$31.0K ARS 47.0M
1.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.8K ARS 69.4M
$37.4K ARS 56.8M
22.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 ARS 160.3K
$127 ARS 191.9K
-16.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 ARS 9,844
$14.76 ARS 22.4K
-56.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.16 ARS 35.1K
$25.34 ARS 38.4K
-8.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.15 ARS 47.2K
$32.60 ARS 49.4K
-4.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.91 ARS 49.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 ARS 14.9K
$10.12 ARS 15.3K
-2.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 ARS 382.1K
$291 ARS 441.3K
-13.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.2 ARS 136.8K
$98.0 ARS 148.6K
-7.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 ARS 162.5K
$130 ARS 196.6K
-17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5 ARS 82.7K
$148 ARS 224.7K
-63.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$337 ARS 510.5K
$519 ARS 786.9K
-35.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 ARS 375.6K
$371 ARS 562.2K
-33.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 ARS 1.2M
$942 ARS 1.4M
-15.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$882 ARS 1.3M
$829 ARS 1.3M
6.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,043 ARS 1.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mar del Plata
Formosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,058 ARS 1.6M
-
-

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: October 11, 2026

Last update for Formosa: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Eating Out
Mar del Plata
$277
Formosa
$266 3.8% $11
Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
$248
Formosa
$371 49.7% $123
Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
$245 *
Formosa
$263 * 7.3% $18
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
$135
Formosa
$167 23.1% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
$113 *
Formosa
$169 * 49.2% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
$51
Formosa
$53 4% $2
Getting Around
Mar del Plata
$11 *
Formosa
$5.9 * 47.1% $5.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Mar del Plata and $519 in Formosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in Mar del Plata vs $63.0 in Formosa. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 vs $263, with Mar del Plata cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Mar del Plata
🇦🇷 Formosa
🕒 Local time
14:22 2:22 PM
14:22 2:22 PM
Same time as Mar del Plata
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
593,337
234,354
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,693 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.91 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mar del Plata Formosa 1,310 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mar del Plata
  • Formosa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Formosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Formosa cheaper than Mar del Plata?
Mar del Plata is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,621 in Mar del Plata and $1,942 in Formosa 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.
What is the rent difference between Mar del Plata and Formosa?
Rent for a central apartment: $337 in Mar del Plata versus $519 in Formosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $252 in Mar del Plata versus $291 in Formosa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mar del Plata or in Formosa?
Dining out is cheaper in Mar del Plata – a meal for two runs $79.0 versus $63.0 in Formosa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mar del Plata or in Formosa?
At $1,081 in Mar del Plata versus $1,295 in Formosa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Formosa. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Mar del Plata or in Formosa?
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.
Which city is safer, Mar del Plata or Formosa?
Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Formosa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Formosa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mar del Plata vs other spots: cost of living compared

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