Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and San Isidro Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and San Isidro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $895 in San Isidro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,466 in San Isidro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,038 in San Isidro.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 4% less than in San Isidro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, San Isidro 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$9.25 ARS 13.2K

1.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$30.40 ARS 43.4K

25.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$9.23 ARS 13.2K

-12.57%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$1.63 ARS 2,326

51.53%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.32 ARS 1,891

64.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$1.13 ARS 1,616

87.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$1.25 ARS 1,780

162.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$2.68 ARS 3,826

23.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$1.26 ARS 1,801

-15.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.64 ARS 2,347

-12.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.78 ARS 2,539

21.35%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$2.15 ARS 3,076

-26.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$12.32 ARS 17.6K

-44.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$6.08 ARS 8,690

-12.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$9.31 ARS 13.3K

-16.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.88 ARS 2,692

46.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$2.10 ARS 2,995

1.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$0.99 ARS 1,418

51.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.54 ARS 3,632

-0.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$1.51 ARS 2,157

-15.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$1.38 ARS 1,976

-30.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$0.87 ARS 1,243

-28.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.44 ARS 2,059

-15.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$3.19 ARS 4,551

9.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$4.66 ARS 6,661

-33.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$1.26 ARS 1,799

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$3.16 ARS 4,511

-37.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.82 ARS 1,178

-8.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$1.55 ARS 2,220

-5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.90 ARS 1,291

-17.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$6.11 ARS 8,732

28.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.02 ARS 1,458

7.84%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$24.3K ARS 34.7M

12.20%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$26.4K ARS 37.7M

47.89%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$56.3 ARS 80.5K

51.60%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$18.20 ARS 26.0K

-43.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$14.90 ARS 21.3K

70.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$26.35 ARS 37.6K

-34.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$13.86 ARS 19.8K

-43.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$4.97 ARS 7,099

-19.92%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$331 ARS 472.4K

-50.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$1,074 ARS 1.5M

201.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$80.0 ARS 114.2K

-29.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$70.4 ARS 100.5K

-11.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$109 ARS 155.4K

-40.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$94.8 ARS 135.4K

-33.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$336 ARS 479.8K

-15.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$238 ARS 340.3K

-13.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$684 ARS 976.5K

5.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$537 ARS 767.2K

8.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 ARS 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,746 ARS 3.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

$588 ARS 840.6K

4.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

52.71

10.98%

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 San Isidro: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $336 in San Isidro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $30.00 in San Isidro. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $229, 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 San Isidro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in San Isidro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Mar del Plata pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $336 in San Isidro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in San Isidro. 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 $895 in San Isidro – a 5% 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 San Isidro 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 5% less than in San Isidro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.