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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $960 in Rustenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Mar del Plata versus $1,488 in Rustenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,040 in Mar del Plata versus $2,016 in Rustenburg.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 13% less than in Rustenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Rustenburg 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.92 ARS 14.2K

$11.27 R 182

-11.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.15 ARS 54.8K

$44.96 R 728

-15.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.34 ARS 12.0K

$3.81 R 61.6

118.90%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ARS 3,414

$1.90 R 30.70

25.26%

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

$2.23 ARS 3,198

$0.84 R 13.61

165.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 2,955

$0.48 R 7.85

329.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,599

$1.39 R 22.43

130.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 ARS 4,722

$2.08 R 33.71

58.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,573

$1.07 R 17.37

1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ARS 2,061

$0.90 R 14.50

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,988

$1.70 R 27.45

22.35%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,269

$1.91 R 30.87

-17.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.75 ARS 9,703

$5.81 R 94.0

16.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,582

$4.17 R 67.6

26.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 ARS 11.2K

$6.84 R 111

13.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 ARS 4,028

$1.57 R 25.38

78.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ARS 3,159

$1.38 R 22.31

59.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,153

$1.28 R 20.79

17.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ARS 3,463

$1.55 R 25.11

55.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,777

$0.82 R 13.33

51.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ARS 1,449

$0.82 R 13.21

23.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ARS 954

$1.09 R 17.60

-39.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,736

$0.96 R 15.48

26.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 ARS 5,130

$2.47 R 40.05

44.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,344

$4.70 R 76.1

-35.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 1,991

$1.10 R 17.75

26.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,946

$1.14 R 18.51

79.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ARS 1,018

$1.13 R 18.30

-37.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.16 ARS 14.6K

$44.92 R 727

-77.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ARS 2,217

$0.98 R 15.83

57.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,060

$0.88 R 14.21

-15.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 ARS 11.8K

$4.14 R 67.1

98.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,576

$1.29 R 20.83

-14.73%

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

$28.2K ARS 40.6M

$22.8K R 368.9K

23.91%

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

$39.3K ARS 56.4M

$23.8K R 385.5K

64.95%

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

$83.9 ARS 120.5K

$70.5 R 1,140

19.05%

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

$10.45 ARS 15.0K

$12.79 R 207

-18.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.5K

$42.54 R 689

-40.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.30 ARS 24.9K

$22.93 R 371

-24.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.88 ARS 11.3K

$5.65 R 91.4

39.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,715

$4.42 R 71.6

-9.95%

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

$159 ARS 228.4K

$105 R 1,699

51.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,212 ARS 4.6M

$4,861 R 78.7K

-33.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ARS 79.6K

$49.40 R 800

12.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 ARS 91.6K

$33.01 R 534

93.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 92.2K

$88.7 R 1,436

-27.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.2 ARS 89.3K

$79.6 R 1,288

-21.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 ARS 414.3K

$311 R 5,041

-7.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 ARS 297.4K

$336 R 5,446

-38.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 ARS 1.0M

$678 R 11.0K

6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 ARS 831.9K

$574 R 9,290

0.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 885.3K

$1,364 R 22.1K

-54.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

9.9

490.91%

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 13, 2026

Last update for Rustenburg: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $288 in Mar del Plata and $311 in Rustenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rustenburg pays 121% 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 $45.00 in Rustenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $159, with Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Rustenburg. 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, Rustenburg earns 121% 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: $288 in Mar del Plata versus $311 in Rustenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Mar del Plata versus $960 in Rustenburg – a 15% 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 342% less than in Rustenburg. 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 Rustenburg 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 15% less than in Rustenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.