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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $978 in Neuquen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,694 in Neuquen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $2,410 in Neuquen.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 14% less than in Neuquen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Neuquen 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$10.55 ARS 14.7K

-6.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$34.41 ARS 48.0K

7.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$9.01 ARS 12.6K

-8.10%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$2.70 ARS 3,773

-10.37%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$1.72 ARS 2,396

27.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$1.50 ARS 2,098

36.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$2.05 ARS 2,865

56.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$2.96 ARS 4,131

11.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$1.26 ARS 1,755

-11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$1.64 ARS 2,288

-13.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$1.94 ARS 2,712

7.22%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$2.16 ARS 3,020

-31.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$10.16 ARS 14.2K

-33.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$6.03 ARS 8,414

-11.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$9.31 ARS 13.0K

-19.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.95 ARS 2,727

39.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$2.15 ARS 3,000

-1.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$1.25 ARS 1,749

20.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$2.61 ARS 3,637

-3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$1.19 ARS 1,654

8.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$1.24 ARS 1,731

-19.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$1.32 ARS 1,846

-52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$1.49 ARS 2,075

-19.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$3.04 ARS 4,247

16.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$4.28 ARS 5,970

15.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$2.08 ARS 2,903

-35.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$3.16 ARS 4,416

-38.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$0.76 ARS 1,064

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$1.47 ARS 2,055

4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$0.92 ARS 1,278

-16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$6.08 ARS 8,478

30.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$1.11 ARS 1,547

1.80%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$27.0K ARS 37.7M

3.20%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$30.0K ARS 41.8M

34.08%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$66.7 ARS 93.0K

25.49%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$17.35 ARS 24.2K

-40.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$22.37 ARS 31.2K

12.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$30.16 ARS 42.1K

-43.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$13.64 ARS 19.0K

-41.86%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$6.19 ARS 8,632

-37.16%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$217 ARS 303.4K

-26.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$2,704 ARS 3.8M

19.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$74.2 ARS 103.6K

-25.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$69.6 ARS 97.1K

-11.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$115 ARS 161.0K

-44.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$113 ARS 158.2K

-43.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$694 ARS 968.4K

-59.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$233 ARS 325.5K

-11.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$1,504 ARS 2.1M

-51.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$799 ARS 1.1M

-28.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$1,762 ARS 2.5M

25.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,251 ARS 1.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Neuquen: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $694 in Neuquen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Neuquen. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 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 Neuquen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Neuquen. 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 $1,257 in Mar del Plata and $1,468 in Neuquen 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: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $694 in Neuquen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Neuquen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Mar del Plata versus $978 in Neuquen – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $838 in Mar del Plata versus $978 in Neuquen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Neuquen. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Neuquen 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 17% less than in Neuquen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.