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: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $979 in Rustenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,499 in Rustenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $2,018 in Rustenburg.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 14% less than in Rustenburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Rustenburg 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

$11.06 R 183

-13.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

$44.98 R 744

-17.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

$3.94 R 65.2

107.36%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,579

$1.95 R 32.19

23.59%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,238

$0.90 R 14.82

142.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,051

$0.45 R 7.49

355.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,959

$1.44 R 23.75

131.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,732

$2.03 R 33.56

57.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,559

$1.07 R 17.62

-1.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,050

$0.88 R 14.59

56.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,064

$1.71 R 28.30

20.47%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,264

$1.92 R 31.79

-20.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

$5.66 R 93.6

22.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,758

$4.29 R 70.9

21.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

$6.68 R 111

11.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,063

$1.61 R 26.67

70.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,222

$1.33 R 22.01

63.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,302

$1.29 R 21.40

20.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,637

$1.56 R 25.73

57.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,815

$0.79 R 13.05

54.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,408

$0.76 R 12.55

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 939

$1.05 R 17.42

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,784

$0.95 R 15.72

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,166

$2.49 R 41.25

39.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,377

$4.53 R 75.0

-34.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,068

$1.14 R 18.89

21.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,947

$1.10 R 18.18

80.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$1.14 R 18.91

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

$45.51 R 753

-78.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,212

$0.94 R 15.50

58.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.96 R 15.91

-20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$3.95 R 65.4

107.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,710

$1.21 R 20.07

-4.96%

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

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

$22.6K R 373.2K

25.21%

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

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

$23.6K R 390.8K

64.82%

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

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

$68.9 R 1,139

23.79%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

$12.47 R 206

-18.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

$43.62 R 722

-42.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

$23.59 R 390

-25.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

$5.71 R 94.5

37.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,083

$4.45 R 73.7

-7.87%

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

$159 ARS 236.8K

$102 R 1,693

55.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$5,010 R 82.9K

-36.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

$50.1 R 828

13.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

$33.16 R 549

85.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

$88.3 R 1,460

-26.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

$79.7 R 1,319

-21.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 419.6K

$302 R 5,004

-6.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 299.3K

$336 R 5,553

-39.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$665 R 11.0K

9.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 868.7K

$565 R 9,347

3.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 915.1K

$1,309 R 21.7K

-52.94%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Rustenburg: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $302 in Rustenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rustenburg pays 112% 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 $45.00 in Rustenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $158, 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 16% 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, salaries run 112% 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: $283 in Mar del Plata versus $302 in Rustenburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $844 per month in Mar del Plata versus $979 in Rustenburg – a 16% 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 358% 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 16% less than in Rustenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.