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: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $964 in Neuquen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,695 in Neuquen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,427 in Neuquen.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 11% less than in Neuquen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, Neuquen 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$10.33 ARS 14.8K

-9.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$33.54 ARS 47.9K

13.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$9.26 ARS 13.2K

-12.85%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$2.76 ARS 3,945

-10.51%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.64 ARS 2,341

32.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$1.54 ARS 2,193

37.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$2.15 ARS 3,072

52.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$2.94 ARS 4,193

12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$1.30 ARS 1,859

-18.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.58 ARS 2,264

-9.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.94 ARS 2,768

11.34%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$2.17 ARS 3,095

-27.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

-31.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$6.34 ARS 9,059

-15.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$9.11 ARS 13.0K

-15.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.97 ARS 2,821

40.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$2.15 ARS 3,069

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$1.30 ARS 1,859

15.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.55 ARS 3,639

-0.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$1.19 ARS 1,706

7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$1.25 ARS 1,790

-23.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$1.26 ARS 1,802

-50.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.48 ARS 2,118

-18.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$3.20 ARS 4,567

9.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$4.35 ARS 6,214

-29.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$1.97 ARS 2,821

-32.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$3.15 ARS 4,503

-37.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.76 ARS 1,087

-1.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$1.53 ARS 2,188

-4.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.93 ARS 1,322

-20.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$5.87 ARS 8,387

33.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.07 ARS 1,525

2.80%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$27.5K ARS 39.3M

-0.82%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$30.7K ARS 43.9M

26.82%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$67.2 ARS 96.0K

27.09%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$17.50 ARS 25.0K

-41.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$22.09 ARS 31.6K

14.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$30.29 ARS 43.3K

-42.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$13.72 ARS 19.6K

-42.71%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$6.14 ARS 8,769

-35.18%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$216 ARS 308.3K

-24.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$2,736 ARS 3.9M

18.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$72.5 ARS 103.6K

-22.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$68.3 ARS 97.6K

-8.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$116 ARS 165.3K

-44.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$114 ARS 162.3K

-44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$688 ARS 982.8K

-58.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$233 ARS 332.8K

-11.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$1,489 ARS 2.1M

-51.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$799 ARS 1.1M

-27.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,781 ARS 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,229 ARS 1.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Neuquen: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $688 in Neuquen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Neuquen. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 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 13% 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 $1,282 in Mar del Plata and $1,445 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: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $688 in Neuquen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Neuquen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mar del Plata versus $964 in Neuquen – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $855 in Mar del Plata versus $964 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 13% less than in Neuquen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.