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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $888 in Quilmes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,482 in Quilmes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $2,075 in Quilmes.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 5% less than in Quilmes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Quilmes 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ARS 14.2K

$8.77 ARS 13.1K

8.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.7K

$30.08 ARS 45.0K

23.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.2K

$8.94 ARS 13.4K

-8.61%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,603

$1.72 ARS 2,566

40.12%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,260

$1.31 ARS 1,960

66.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,072

$1.14 ARS 1,704

79.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,993

$1.19 ARS 1,786

180.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,764

$2.72 ARS 4,063

17.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,570

$1.27 ARS 1,903

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,063

$1.60 ARS 2,388

-13.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,084

$1.80 ARS 2,684

14.44%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,279

$2.25 ARS 3,362

-32.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.4K

$13.33 ARS 19.9K

-48.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,810

$6.08 ARS 9,089

-14.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.2K

$10.34 ARS 15.5K

-27.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,091

$1.90 ARS 2,838

44.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,244

$2.15 ARS 3,214

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,318

$1.00 ARS 1,497

55.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,661

$2.60 ARS 3,882

-5.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,827

$1.13 ARS 1,688

7.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,417

$1.37 ARS 2,046

-30.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 945

$0.86 ARS 1,293

-26.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,796

$1.83 ARS 2,743

-34.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,201

$3.50 ARS 5,234

-0.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,406

$4.27 ARS 6,377

-30.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,082

$1.28 ARS 1,919

8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,966

$3.13 ARS 4,684

-36.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,136

$0.79 ARS 1,177

-3.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,226

$2.47 ARS 3,695

-39.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,137

$0.92 ARS 1,383

-17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.2K

$6.17 ARS 9,220

32.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,722

$1.07 ARS 1,595

7.48%

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

$28.2K ARS 42.2M

$24.4K ARS 36.5M

15.78%

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

$38.9K ARS 58.2M

$25.6K ARS 38.3M

52.10%

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

$85.2 ARS 127.4K

$56.3 ARS 84.1K

51.47%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.1K

$18.53 ARS 27.7K

-45.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.4K

$14.83 ARS 22.2K

68.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.3K

$26.27 ARS 39.3K

-33.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.7K

$13.51 ARS 20.2K

-41.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,124

$5.10 ARS 7,627

-19.61%

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

$159 ARS 238.4K

$219 ARS 326.9K

-27.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$1,087 ARS 1.6M

192.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.7K

$61.6 ARS 92.1K

-7.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 92.0K

$61.0 ARS 91.2K

0.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 97.2K

$107 ARS 160.6K

-39.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.7K

$95.5 ARS 142.8K

-34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 422.4K

$336 ARS 502.1K

-15.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 301.3K

$233 ARS 348.8K

-13.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$671 ARS 1.0M

8.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 874.5K

$543 ARS 812.2K

7.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ARS 3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 921.3K

$1,109 ARS 1.7M

-44.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

100

-41.50%

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $336 in Quilmes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 80% 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: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $30.00 in Quilmes. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $238, 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 Quilmes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Quilmes. 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, salaries run 80% lower in Quilmes. 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: $283 in Mar del Plata versus $336 in Quilmes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Quilmes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $844 per month in Mar del Plata versus $888 in Quilmes – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 Quilmes 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 5% less than in Quilmes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.