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: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $882 in Quilmes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,462 in Quilmes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,043 in Quilmes.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 3% less than in Quilmes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, Quilmes 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$9.14 ARS 13.1K

2.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$30.02 ARS 42.9K

27.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$9.22 ARS 13.2K

-12.47%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$1.70 ARS 2,425

45.29%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.27 ARS 1,807

70.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$1.12 ARS 1,594

89.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$1.20 ARS 1,718

173.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$2.74 ARS 3,910

20.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$1.27 ARS 1,815

-16.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.56 ARS 2,228

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.87 ARS 2,664

15.51%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$2.17 ARS 3,106

-27.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$13.29 ARS 19.0K

-48.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$5.87 ARS 8,384

-8.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$10.69 ARS 15.3K

-27.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.82 ARS 2,593

51.65%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$2.12 ARS 3,022

0.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$0.97 ARS 1,389

54.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.58 ARS 3,680

-1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$1.19 ARS 1,698

7.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$1.38 ARS 1,975

-30.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$0.93 ARS 1,328

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.85 ARS 2,640

-34.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$3.42 ARS 4,885

2.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$4.20 ARS 5,999

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$1.30 ARS 1,852

2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$3.13 ARS 4,468

-37.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.83 ARS 1,185

-9.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$2.54 ARS 3,630

-42.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.93 ARS 1,334

-20.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$6.14 ARS 8,770

27.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.08 ARS 1,539

1.85%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$24.0K ARS 34.3M

13.40%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$26.2K ARS 37.4M

48.96%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$55.3 ARS 79.1K

54.28%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$18.56 ARS 26.5K

-44.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$14.85 ARS 21.2K

71.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$26.11 ARS 37.3K

-33.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$13.99 ARS 20.0K

-43.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$5.02 ARS 7,176

-20.72%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$217 ARS 310.0K

-25.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$1,094 ARS 1.6M

196.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$60.7 ARS 86.7K

-6.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$60.8 ARS 86.8K

2.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$108 ARS 154.8K

-40.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$96.5 ARS 137.8K

-34.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$337 ARS 481.2K

-15.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$233 ARS 332.5K

-11.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$685 ARS 978.0K

4.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$528 ARS 754.2K

10.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,389 ARS 3.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,801 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

$1,103 ARS 1.6M

-44.00%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Quilmes: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $337 in Quilmes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 79% 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: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $30.00 in Quilmes. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 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 3% 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 79% 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: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $337 in Quilmes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Quilmes. 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 $882 in Quilmes – a 3% 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 3% less than in Quilmes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.