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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $1,075 in Mendoza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Mar del Plata versus $1,730 in Mendoza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Mar del Plata versus $2,385 in Mendoza.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 21% less than in Mendoza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ARS 14.2K

$10.84 ARS 15.5K

-8.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ARS 53.8K

$41.73 ARS 59.5K

-9.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ARS 11.7K

$9.70 ARS 13.8K

-15.26%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ARS 3,494

$3.69 ARS 5,262

-33.60%

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

$2.26 ARS 3,222

$2.24 ARS 3,193

0.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,018

$2.06 ARS 2,938

2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ARS 4,579

$2.02 ARS 2,884

58.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ARS 4,766

$2.93 ARS 4,187

13.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,564

$1.27 ARS 1,808

-13.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 2,031

$1.49 ARS 2,128

-4.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 2,941

$1.97 ARS 2,816

4.57%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,171

$2.21 ARS 3,146

-31.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ARS 9,681

$11.57 ARS 16.5K

-41.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,535

$7.37 ARS 10.5K

-28.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ARS 10.8K

$9.56 ARS 13.6K

-21.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ARS 4,094

$2.01 ARS 2,872

42.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,044

$1.54 ARS 2,191

38.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 ARS 2,233

$1.47 ARS 2,092

6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ARS 3,557

$2.09 ARS 2,985

19.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,755

$0.97 ARS 1,391

26.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,361

$1.01 ARS 1,442

-5.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 895

$1.02 ARS 1,459

-38.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,676

$2.74 ARS 3,911

-57.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,877

$2.45 ARS 3,493

39.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,163

$5.09 ARS 7,255

-42.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 1,971

$1.97 ARS 2,814

-29.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,825

$3.47 ARS 4,951

-42.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,038

$0.73 ARS 1,035

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

$18.74 ARS 26.7K

-46.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,179

$0.41 ARS 587

273.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ARS 1,121

$1.02 ARS 1,455

-22.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.95 ARS 11.3K

$4.93 ARS 7,036

61.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,626

$1.20 ARS 1,712

-5.00%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.2M

$31.7K ARS 45.2M

-13.20%

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

$39.9K ARS 57.0M

$33.2K ARS 47.4M

20.11%

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

$84.2 ARS 120.1K

$77.6 ARS 110.7K

8.52%

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

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

$17.56 ARS 25.1K

-41.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.3K

$21.55 ARS 30.7K

18.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.04 ARS 24.3K

$27.98 ARS 39.9K

-39.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.02 ARS 11.4K

$16.31 ARS 23.3K

-50.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 ARS 5,557

$6.10 ARS 8,697

-36.07%

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

$163 ARS 232.0K

$103 ARS 147.6K

57.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

$2,124 ARS 3.0M

48.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 ARS 81.7K

$81.1 ARS 115.8K

-29.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 ARS 89.8K

$75.6 ARS 107.8K

-16.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 91.1K

$150 ARS 214.5K

-57.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 ARS 88.2K

$119 ARS 169.8K

-48.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 ARS 408.1K

$353 ARS 504.0K

-19.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 291.6K

$274 ARS 391.0K

-25.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ARS 1.0M

$611 ARS 871.9K

18.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ARS 816.2K

$502 ARS 716.5K

13.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,691 ARS 2.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 855.1K

$725 ARS 1.0M

-17.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-25.95%

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 Mendoza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Mar del Plata and $353 in Mendoza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mendoza pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $42.00 in Mendoza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $249 per month, with Mar del Plata 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 Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Mendoza. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Mendoza earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $353 in Mendoza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $847 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,075 in Mendoza – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mar del Plata runs roughly 88% less than in Mendoza. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $847 in Mar del Plata versus $1,075 in Mendoza, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Mendoza. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mar del Plata delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $847 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mar del Plata hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Mendoza 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 27% less than in Mendoza. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.