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: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $910 in San Isidro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,504 in San Isidro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $2,098 in San Isidro.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 8% less than in San Isidro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, San Isidro 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$8.92 ARS 12.4K

10.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$30.15 ARS 42.1K

22.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$8.75 ARS 12.2K

-5.37%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$1.65 ARS 2,306

46.67%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$1.31 ARS 1,832

67.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$1.18 ARS 1,642

73.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$1.20 ARS 1,675

166.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$2.81 ARS 3,923

17.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$1.22 ARS 1,700

-9.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$1.64 ARS 2,286

-13.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$1.81 ARS 2,519

14.92%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$2.22 ARS 3,092

-32.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$12.05 ARS 16.8K

-44.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$6.06 ARS 8,458

-12.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$9.45 ARS 13.2K

-21.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.88 ARS 2,620

44.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$2.03 ARS 2,829

4.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$0.94 ARS 1,310

60.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$2.64 ARS 3,686

-4.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$1.44 ARS 2,012

-10.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$1.39 ARS 1,934

-28.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$0.88 ARS 1,228

-28.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$1.43 ARS 1,997

-16.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$3.17 ARS 4,427

11.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$5.72 ARS 7,979

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$1.24 ARS 1,734

8.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$3.14 ARS 4,379

-37.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$0.81 ARS 1,134

-6.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$1.58 ARS 2,203

-3.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$0.85 ARS 1,183

-9.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$5.96 ARS 8,321

32.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$1.07 ARS 1,488

5.61%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$23.8K ARS 33.2M

17.04%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$26.4K ARS 36.8M

52.30%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$55.9 ARS 78.0K

49.63%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$18.64 ARS 26.0K

-44.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$14.56 ARS 20.3K

73.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$26.16 ARS 36.5K

-34.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$13.97 ARS 19.5K

-43.24%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$5.06 ARS 7,061

-23.12%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$323 ARS 450.3K

-50.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$1,068 ARS 1.5M

202.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$80.9 ARS 112.8K

-31.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$71.0 ARS 99.1K

-13.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$108 ARS 151.3K

-41.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$93.1 ARS 129.9K

-31.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$335 ARS 468.0K

-16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$241 ARS 336.6K

-14.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$673 ARS 939.0K

9.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$531 ARS 740.4K

8.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$2,049 ARS 2.9M

7.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,778 ARS 3.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

$598 ARS 834.9K

0.92%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Isidro: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $335 in San Isidro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $30.00 in San Isidro. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $230, 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 9% 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 1% 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: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $335 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 $838 per month in Mar del Plata versus $910 in San Isidro – a 9% 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 9% less than in San Isidro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.