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: $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $800 in Rustenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,784 in Mar del Plata versus $1,341 in Rustenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Mar del Plata versus $1,882 in Rustenburg.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 28% more expensive than in Rustenburg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 25% lower, Rustenburg 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 ARS 30.5K

$6.30 R 103

220.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ARS 91.1K

$47.97 R 786

25.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

$6.42 R 105

95.33%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ARS 4,711

$2.12 R 34.68

47.17%

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

$2.47 ARS 3,732

$0.90 R 14.71

174.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ARS 3,069

$0.48 R 7.83

322.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ARS 6,204

$1.59 R 25.97

157.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,565

$2.21 R 36.15

36.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,619

$1.17 R 19.18

-8.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ARS 3,319

$1.01 R 16.59

117.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,822

$1.80 R 29.52

77.22%

Eggs

$2.35 ARS 3,551

$2.77 R 45.37

-15.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 ARS 8,917

$7.62 R 125

-22.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ARS 9,737

$4.92 R 80.6

30.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 ARS 18.9K

$6.32 R 104

98.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ARS 4,917

$1.88 R 30.72

72.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,702

$1.66 R 27.23

47.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,217

$1.79 R 29.39

-17.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,087

$1.14 R 18.70

78.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 R 22.25

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,545

$1.11 R 18.20

-8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 R 21.27

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ARS 5,376

$3.22 R 52.7

10.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,493

$6.09 R 99.7

-51.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R 10.37

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 R 14.89

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,943

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 ARS 2,502

$0.94 R 15.42

75.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ARS 1,052

$0.95 R 15.56

-26.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,814

$15.05 R 247

-56.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,080

$1.46 R 23.95

-5.48%

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

$29.5K R 482.5K

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

$27.3K R 447.2K

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

$81.3 ARS 123.0K

$76.2 R 1,249

6.69%

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

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

$13.75 R 225

-42.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

$37.01 R 606

-18.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.56 ARS 47.7K

$21.91 R 359

44.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.05 R 99.2

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$4.96 R 81.3

104.44%

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

$300 ARS 454.2K

$112 R 1,831

168.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,636 R 92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ARS 132.5K

$43.42 R 711

101.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.21 R 773

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 182.0K

$110 R 1,808

9.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ARS 81.7K

$55.9 R 916

-3.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ARS 496.9K

$333 R 5,461

-1.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 ARS 386.4K

$250 R 4,090

2.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ARS 1.2M

$750 R 12.3K

8.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 ARS 994.1K

$520 R 8,525

26.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 924.3K

$1,117 R 18.3K

-45.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Last update for Rustenburg: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Mar del Plata and $333 in Rustenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rustenburg pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Mar del Plata vs $48.00 in Rustenburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $179 per month, with Rustenburg cheaper across the board.

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

Rustenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rustenburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 83% lower in Rustenburg. 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: $329 in Mar del Plata versus $333 in Rustenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Mar del Plata. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Mar del Plata versus $800 in Rustenburg – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.