Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Paso de los Libres Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Paso de los Libres

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $1,010 in Paso de los Libres.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Mar del Plata versus $1,645 in Paso de los Libres.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Mar del Plata versus $2,281 in Paso de los Libres.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 16% less than in Paso de los Libres, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Paso de los Libres 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ARS 14.2K

$10.38 ARS 14.8K

-4.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ARS 53.8K

$33.66 ARS 48.0K

12.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ARS 11.7K

$8.97 ARS 12.8K

-8.36%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ARS 3,494

$2.65 ARS 3,785

-7.55%

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

$2.26 ARS 3,222

$1.64 ARS 2,341

37.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,018

$1.56 ARS 2,222

35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ARS 4,579

$2.09 ARS 2,979

53.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ARS 4,766

$3.05 ARS 4,352

9.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,564

$1.31 ARS 1,873

-16.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 2,031

$1.65 ARS 2,351

-13.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 2,941

$2.05 ARS 2,921

0.49%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,171

$2.19 ARS 3,122

-30.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ARS 9,681

$10.05 ARS 14.3K

-32.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,535

$6.09 ARS 8,691

-13.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ARS 10.8K

$9.64 ARS 13.8K

-21.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ARS 4,094

$1.95 ARS 2,787

47.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,044

$2.13 ARS 3,040

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 ARS 2,233

$1.26 ARS 1,795

24.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ARS 3,557

$2.65 ARS 3,776

-6.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,755

$1.18 ARS 1,686

4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,361

$1.24 ARS 1,774

-23.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 895

$1.32 ARS 1,887

-52.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,676

$1.47 ARS 2,097

-20.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,877

$3.08 ARS 4,388

11.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,163

$4.39 ARS 6,268

-33.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 1,971

$2.07 ARS 2,951

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,825

$3.20 ARS 4,559

-38.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,038

$0.82 ARS 1,172

-10.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

$27.72 ARS 39.5K

-64.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,179

$1.53 ARS 2,177

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ARS 1,121

$0.90 ARS 1,284

-12.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.95 ARS 11.3K

$6.13 ARS 8,742

29.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,626

$1.06 ARS 1,515

7.55%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.2M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

0.75%

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

$39.9K ARS 57.0M

$30.3K ARS 43.2M

31.70%

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

$84.2 ARS 120.1K

$66.4 ARS 94.8K

26.77%

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

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

$17.22 ARS 24.6K

-40.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.3K

$22.18 ARS 31.6K

14.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.04 ARS 24.3K

$25.77 ARS 36.8K

-33.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.02 ARS 11.4K

$13.89 ARS 19.8K

-42.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 ARS 5,557

$6.07 ARS 8,664

-35.75%

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

$163 ARS 232.0K

$219 ARS 312.6K

-25.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

$2,699 ARS 3.9M

16.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 ARS 81.7K

$75.2 ARS 107.2K

-23.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 ARS 89.8K

$70.0 ARS 99.8K

-10.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 91.1K

$114 ARS 162.0K

-43.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 ARS 88.2K

$110 ARS 157.5K

-43.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 ARS 408.1K

$332 ARS 473.5K

-13.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 291.6K

$240 ARS 342.4K

-14.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ARS 1.0M

$671 ARS 957.0K

7.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ARS 816.2K

$541 ARS 772.2K

5.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,171 ARS 3.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 855.1K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Paso de los Libres: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Mar del Plata and $332 in Paso de los Libres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Paso de los Libres. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $231, 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 Paso de los Libres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Paso de los Libres. 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 $1,271 in Mar del Plata and $1,514 in Paso de los Libres 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: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $332 in Paso de los Libres. 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 $1,010 in Paso de los Libres – a 19% 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 178% less than in Paso de los Libres. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mar del Plata gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Paso de los Libres 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 19% less than in Paso de los Libres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.