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: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $908 in San Isidro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,492 in San Isidro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $2,076 in San Isidro.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 7% 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

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

$8.78 ARS 13.0K

8.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

$29.88 ARS 44.4K

24.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

$9.13 ARS 13.6K

-10.51%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,579

$1.69 ARS 2,516

42.60%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,238

$1.27 ARS 1,883

71.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,051

$1.18 ARS 1,748

73.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,959

$1.21 ARS 1,791

176.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,732

$2.80 ARS 4,163

13.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,559

$1.27 ARS 1,892

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,050

$1.61 ARS 2,393

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,064

$1.83 ARS 2,723

12.57%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,264

$2.25 ARS 3,338

-32.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

$11.96 ARS 17.8K

-42.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,758

$5.83 ARS 8,657

-10.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

$9.45 ARS 14.0K

-20.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,063

$1.86 ARS 2,763

47.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,222

$2.04 ARS 3,032

6.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,302

$0.93 ARS 1,388

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,637

$2.65 ARS 3,928

-7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,815

$1.45 ARS 2,147

-15.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,408

$1.42 ARS 2,110

-33.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 939

$0.88 ARS 1,300

-28.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,784

$1.43 ARS 2,125

-16.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,166

$3.21 ARS 4,764

8.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,377

$4.69 ARS 6,971

-37.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,068

$1.29 ARS 1,918

7.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,947

$3.19 ARS 4,742

-37.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.76 ARS 1,132

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,212

$1.57 ARS 2,335

-5.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.87 ARS 1,287

-12.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$6.05 ARS 8,986

35.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,710

$1.04 ARS 1,543

10.58%

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

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

$24.0K ARS 35.7M

17.58%

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

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

$26.0K ARS 38.6M

49.71%

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

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

$55.4 ARS 82.2K

53.87%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

$18.66 ARS 27.7K

-45.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

$14.79 ARS 22.0K

69.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

$26.01 ARS 38.6K

-32.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

$14.03 ARS 20.8K

-44.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,083

$5.15 ARS 7,645

-20.39%

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

$159 ARS 236.8K

$329 ARS 488.7K

-51.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$1,094 ARS 1.6M

190.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

$80.7 ARS 119.8K

-29.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

$68.7 ARS 102.1K

-10.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

$107 ARS 159.0K

-39.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

$96.1 ARS 142.7K

-34.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 419.6K

$340 ARS 505.2K

-16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 299.3K

$235 ARS 349.6K

-14.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$673 ARS 999.7K

7.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 868.7K

$532 ARS 790.0K

9.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 ARS 3.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,525 ARS 2.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 915.1K

$600 ARS 891.4K

2.66%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for San Isidro: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $340 in San Isidro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 3% 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 $192 vs $227, 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 8% 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.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Mar del Plata, 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: $283 in Mar del Plata versus $340 in San Isidro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in San Isidro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $844 per month in Mar del Plata versus $908 in San Isidro – a 8% 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 8% less than in San Isidro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.