🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 16% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata36% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.39ARS 13.4K
$5.95COP 20.8K
57.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.16ARS 54.5K
$33.33COP 116.3K
14.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07ARS 11.5K
$7.23COP 25.2K
11.62%
Cappuccino
$2.47ARS 3,529
$1.63COP 5,687
51.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17ARS 3,094
$1.09COP 3,821
99.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12ARS 3,033
$0.73COP 2,548
190.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28ARS 4,687
$1.74COP 6,065
88.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30ARS 4,721
$3.23COP 11.3K
2.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06ARS 1,510
$1.05COP 3,662
0.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43ARS 2,049
$1.29COP 4,515
10.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16ARS 3,082
$1.32COP 4,617
63.64%
Eggs
$1.58ARS 2,261
$2.27COP 7,927
-30.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.84ARS 9,772
$4.35COP 15.2K
57.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.35ARS 7,639
$5.88COP 20.5K
-9.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.74ARS 11.1K
$8.61COP 30.0K
-10.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76ARS 3,946
$2.25COP 7,844
22.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13ARS 3,036
$1.07COP 3,733
99.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50ARS 2,140
$1.52COP 5,322
-1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53ARS 3,618
$1.42COP 4,964
78.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28ARS 1,829
$1.17COP 4,084
9.40%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96ARS 1,370
$1.17COP 4,077
-17.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62ARS 885
$0.89COP 3,096
-30.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21ARS 1,725
$0.90COP 3,146
34.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49ARS 4,979
$2.25COP 7,837
55.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.08ARS 4,399
$11.04COP 38.5K
-72.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33ARS 1,904
$1.14COP 3,977
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96ARS 2,805
$2.38COP 8,301
-17.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75ARS 1,076
$0.84COP 2,916
-10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.94ARS 14.2K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-76.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.46ARS 2,089
$1.41COP 4,912
3.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74ARS 1,051
$1.90COP 6,634
-61.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84ARS 11.2K
$7.75COP 27.0K
1.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10ARS 1,570
$1.01COP 3,509
8.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3KARS 38.9M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
55.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0KARS 55.7M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
47.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.4ARS 122.0K
$83.7COP 292.1K
2.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.27ARS 14.7K
$9.45COP 33.0K
8.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.40ARS 36.3K
$24.11COP 84.1K
5.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.28ARS 24.7K
$25.31COP 88.3K
-31.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86ARS 11.2K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-58.93%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98ARS 5,686
$4.10COP 14.3K
-2.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$162ARS 232.1K
$312COP 1.1M
-47.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,242ARS 4.6M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-45.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5ARS 80.7K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-2.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4ARS 89.1K
$32.56COP 113.6K
91.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.2ARS 91.7K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-35.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.9ARS 89.9K
$109COP 378.8K
-42.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$285ARS 406.9K
$482COP 1.7M
-40.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$206ARS 294.8K
$379COP 1.3M
-45.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718ARS 1.0M
$837COP 2.9M
-14.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582ARS 831.8K
$723COP 2.5M
-19.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mar del Plata
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$618ARS 882.5K
$541COP 1.9M
14.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
58.5
13.43
335.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mar del Plata pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mar del Plata or Medellin?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mar del Plata or Medellin?
Mar del Plata pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mar del Plata vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mar del Plata compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mar del Plata vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Mar del Plata runs roughly 322% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mar del Plata or Medellin?
At $855 in Mar del Plata versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mar del Plata or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mar del Plata delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $855 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mar del Plata hard to pass up.
How safe is Mar del Plata compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Medellin 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Medellin. 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