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: $1,006 in Mar del Plata versus $1,147 in Neuquen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,765 in Mar del Plata versus $1,902 in Neuquen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,523 in Mar del Plata versus $2,657 in Neuquen.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 12% less than in Neuquen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 27% lower, Neuquen 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.81 ARS 29.7K

$13.21 ARS 19.8K

49.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 ARS 88.5K

$50.0 ARS 74.9K

18.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 ARS 18.4K

$14.29 ARS 21.4K

-13.79%

Cappuccino

$3.22 ARS 4,826

$3.37 ARS 5,044

-4.45%

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

$2.56 ARS 3,829

$2.15 ARS 3,221

19.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ARS 2,911

$1.70 ARS 2,541

14.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.03 ARS 6,038

$4.52 ARS 6,769

-10.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 ARS 4,470

$4.15 ARS 6,219

-27.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 ARS 1,674

$1.39 ARS 2,075

-19.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 ARS 3,156

$2.07 ARS 3,091

1.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 ARS 5,005

$1.61 ARS 2,415

107.45%

Eggs

$2.43 ARS 3,644

$2.21 ARS 3,303

9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.67 ARS 8,482

$10.72 ARS 16.1K

-47.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ARS 9,973

$6.25 ARS 9,364

6.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.50 ARS 18.7K

$11.90 ARS 17.8K

5.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ARS 4,881

$2.48 ARS 3,707

31.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 ARS 3,648

$1.87 ARS 2,800

30.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,207

$1.60 ARS 2,393

-8.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 ARS 2,942

$2.15 ARS 3,216

-8.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ARS 1,466

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 ARS 1,469

$0.95 ARS 1,423

3.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 ARS 2,202

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 ARS 2,106

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ARS 5,324

$3.65 ARS 5,467

-2.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.94 ARS 4,408

$4.59 ARS 6,874

-35.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 ARS 2,550

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ARS 4,347

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,914

$1.10 ARS 1,641

16.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.58 ARS 2,360

$1.51 ARS 2,254

4.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ARS 975

$0.93 ARS 1,388

-30.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.35 ARS 9,507

$7.08 ARS 10.6K

-10.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ARS 1,969

$1.13 ARS 1,697

16.81%

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

$25.7K ARS 38.5M

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

$33.1K ARS 49.6M

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

$80.6 ARS 120.6K

$87.5 ARS 131.0K

-7.91%

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

$7.77 ARS 11.6K

$17.55 ARS 26.3K

-55.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.32 ARS 45.4K

$29.31 ARS 43.9K

3.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.28 ARS 46.8K

$30.09 ARS 45.0K

3.95%

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 ARS 15.2K

$7.49 ARS 11.2K

35.78%

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

$298 ARS 445.5K

$344 ARS 515.5K

-13.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,611 ARS 6.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ARS 131.1K

$106 ARS 159.4K

-17.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.0 ARS 86.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ARS 176.6K

$105 ARS 157.1K

12.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.9 ARS 83.6K

$147 ARS 219.5K

-61.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ARS 504.8K

$483 ARS 723.7K

-30.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 374.5K

$325 ARS 487.0K

-23.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$812 ARS 1.2M

$944 ARS 1.4M

-13.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 ARS 975.8K

$726 ARS 1.1M

-10.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ARS 3.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 ARS 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ARS 939.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

54.72

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: August 17, 2026

Last update for Neuquen: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Mar del Plata and $483 in Neuquen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Mar del Plata vs $50.0 in Neuquen. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $241, 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 14% 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 $1,510 in Mar del Plata and $1,721 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: $337 in Mar del Plata versus $483 in Neuquen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Neuquen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,006 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,147 in Neuquen – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,006 in Mar del Plata versus $1,147 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 14% less than in Neuquen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.