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 $955 in Rustenburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,481 in Rustenburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $2,007 in Rustenburg.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 12% less than in Rustenburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Rustenburg 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$11.18 R 188

-11.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$44.02 R 738

-16.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$3.99 R 66.9

107.52%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$1.91 R 31.95

26.70%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$0.91 R 15.30

141.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$0.49 R 8.21

318.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$1.37 R 22.90

133.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$2.08 R 34.96

59.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$1.12 R 18.75

-0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$0.83 R 13.96

71.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$1.66 R 27.84

25.30%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$1.92 R 32.22

-22.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$5.60 R 93.9

20.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$4.14 R 69.5

28.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$6.64 R 111

12.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.58 R 26.49

72.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$1.37 R 22.98

54.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$1.27 R 21.34

18.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$1.58 R 26.56

59.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$0.83 R 13.89

55.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$0.76 R 12.81

31.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$1.09 R 18.27

-42.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$0.95 R 15.87

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$2.49 R 41.83

42.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$4.66 R 78.1

6.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$1.15 R 19.35

16.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$1.09 R 18.35

78.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$1.11 R 18.54

-31.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

$44.10 R 740

-77.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$0.91 R 15.22

68.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$0.90 R 15.05

-14.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$3.98 R 66.8

98.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$1.28 R 21.41

-11.72%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$22.6K R 378.9K

23.33%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$23.7K R 397.0K

69.69%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$69.0 R 1,157

21.25%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$12.82 R 215

-19.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$43.70 R 733

-42.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$23.35 R 392

-27.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$5.53 R 92.8

43.40%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$4.40 R 73.8

-11.59%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$103 R 1,729

54.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$5,008 R 84.0K

-35.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$50.9 R 854

8.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$34.15 R 573

80.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$87.9 R 1,474

-27.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$78.1 R 1,310

-18.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$308 R 5,167

-8.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$330 R 5,534

-37.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$685 R 11.5K

7.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$581 R 9,742

-1.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$719 R 12.1K

206.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$601 R 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

$1,330 R 22.3K

-54.58%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rustenburg: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $308 in Rustenburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rustenburg pays 120% 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 $44.00 in Rustenburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $157, 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 14% 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 120% 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: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $308 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 $955 in Rustenburg – a 14% 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 345% 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 14% less than in Rustenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.