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: $1,042 in Mar del Plata versus $932 in Quilmes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,777 in Mar del Plata versus $1,553 in Quilmes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,511 in Mar del Plata versus $2,174 in Quilmes.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 12% more expensive than in Quilmes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 24% lower, Quilmes 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 ARS 30.2K

$5.58 ARS 8,412

258.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 ARS 89.2K

$35.58 ARS 53.7K

66.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.68 ARS 19.1K

$9.20 ARS 13.9K

37.83%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ARS 4,661

$2.92 ARS 4,401

5.82%

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

$2.54 ARS 3,835

$1.70 ARS 2,565

49.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ARS 3,042

$1.65 ARS 2,487

22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 ARS 6,093

$3.99 ARS 6,019

1.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ARS 4,578

$2.26 ARS 3,414

34.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,634

$1.02 ARS 1,540

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ARS 3,303

$1.58 ARS 2,391

38.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,819

$1.66 ARS 2,509

92.17%

Eggs

$2.45 ARS 3,700

$2.36 ARS 3,558

3.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 ARS 8,543

$13.14 ARS 19.8K

-56.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 ARS 10.0K

$6.09 ARS 9,184

8.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ARS 18.2K

$9.92 ARS 15.0K

21.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 ARS 5,150

$1.90 ARS 2,861

79.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ARS 3,858

$1.50 ARS 2,270

70.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,314

$1.02 ARS 1,537

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,075

$2.12 ARS 3,201

-3.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 ARS 1,378

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,537

$0.63 ARS 947

61.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ARS 1,073

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ARS 1,020

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ARS 5,216

$4.98 ARS 7,507

-30.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,445

$4.33 ARS 6,533

-31.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ARS 1,859

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ARS 2,873

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,926

$0.98 ARS 1,477

30.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,399

$1.57 ARS 2,364

1.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ARS 1,032

$0.98 ARS 1,480

-30.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 ARS 9,445

$7.34 ARS 11.1K

-14.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ARS 2,055

$1.13 ARS 1,708

20.35%

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

$51.0K ARS 76.9M

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

$39.1K ARS 58.9M

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

$81.4 ARS 122.8K

$59.3 ARS 89.4K

37.37%

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

$8.04 ARS 12.1K

$14.44 ARS 21.8K

-44.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.95 ARS 45.2K

$21.74 ARS 32.8K

37.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 ARS 47.3K

$30.26 ARS 45.7K

3.54%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$10.17 ARS 15.3K

-0.29%

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

$304 ARS 459.3K

$299 ARS 451.7K

1.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 ARS 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 ARS 134.6K

$96.4 ARS 145.5K

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.43 ARS 53.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ARS 177.8K

$64.4 ARS 97.2K

82.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 ARS 83.0K

$71.3 ARS 107.5K

-22.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ARS 499.8K

$476 ARS 718.6K

-30.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 377.0K

$313 ARS 472.8K

-20.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 ARS 1.2M

$970 ARS 1.5M

-16.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 ARS 985.9K

$770 ARS 1.2M

-15.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,385 ARS 3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,815 ARS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 ARS 923.3K

$1,085 ARS 1.6M

-43.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

56.56

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 8, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Mar del Plata and $476 in Quilmes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 77% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Mar del Plata vs $36.00 in Quilmes. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $209, 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

Quilmes wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Quilmes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 77% 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: $331 in Mar del Plata versus $476 in Quilmes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,042 per month in Mar del Plata versus $932 in Quilmes – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $932 in Quilmes versus $1,042 in Mar del Plata, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quilmes but tight or insufficient in Mar del Plata. The gap between the two cities makes Quilmes 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 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 Quilmes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.