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: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $888 in Quilmes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,488 in Quilmes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $2,087 in Quilmes.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 6% less than in Quilmes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Quilmes 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ARS 13.9K

$8.94 ARS 12.6K

10.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.9K

$30.28 ARS 42.6K

21.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.7K

$9.14 ARS 12.9K

-9.41%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,402

$1.70 ARS 2,399

42.35%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,097

$1.27 ARS 1,791

73.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,891

$1.18 ARS 1,657

73.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,503

$1.25 ARS 1,763

156.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,664

$2.70 ARS 3,809

22.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,560

$1.26 ARS 1,779

-11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 2,000

$1.59 ARS 2,236

-10.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,936

$1.83 ARS 2,580

13.66%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,104

$2.15 ARS 3,027

-30.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,475

$12.98 ARS 18.3K

-48.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,507

$6.01 ARS 8,459

-11.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.5K

$10.29 ARS 14.5K

-27.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,829

$1.83 ARS 2,571

48.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,987

$2.19 ARS 3,082

-3.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,121

$0.99 ARS 1,390

52.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,551

$2.64 ARS 3,715

-4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,810

$1.14 ARS 1,599

13.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,401

$1.39 ARS 1,956

-28.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 881

$0.87 ARS 1,223

-27.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,696

$1.87 ARS 2,638

-35.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,987

$3.32 ARS 4,671

6.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,960

$5.12 ARS 7,206

-3.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,892

$1.30 ARS 1,836

3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,747

$3.02 ARS 4,252

-35.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,069

$0.83 ARS 1,165

-8.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,158

$2.55 ARS 3,589

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,079

$0.92 ARS 1,297

-16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.1K

$5.86 ARS 8,254

34.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,595

$1.06 ARS 1,496

6.60%

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

$27.9K ARS 39.2M

$24.1K ARS 34.0M

15.48%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.6M

$26.3K ARS 37.0M

52.74%

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

$83.7 ARS 117.8K

$56.0 ARS 78.8K

49.47%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.6K

$18.84 ARS 26.5K

-45.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.5K

$14.86 ARS 20.9K

69.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 24.0K

$26.35 ARS 37.1K

-35.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.2K

$13.75 ARS 19.4K

-42.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,481

$4.96 ARS 6,983

-21.57%

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

$159 ARS 223.8K

$221 ARS 310.7K

-27.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$1,096 ARS 1.5M

194.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 78.1K

$61.1 ARS 86.1K

-9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.9K

$58.9 ARS 82.9K

4.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.9K

$109 ARS 154.1K

-41.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 89.6K

$95.7 ARS 134.7K

-33.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 395.1K

$344 ARS 484.6K

-18.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 290.0K

$237 ARS 333.3K

-12.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$681 ARS 959.5K

7.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 809.5K

$541 ARS 762.3K

6.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$2,314 ARS 3.3M

-4.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,764 ARS 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 850.3K

$1,106 ARS 1.6M

-45.40%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $344 in Quilmes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 83% 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 $197 vs $239, 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 6% 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, Quilmes earns 83% less. 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: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $344 in Quilmes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Quilmes. 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 $888 in Quilmes – a 6% 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 6% less than in Quilmes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.