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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $610 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,003 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $1,395 in San Juan.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 38% more expensive than in San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, San Juan 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

$6.04 ARS 8,975

57.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

$30.49 ARS 45.3K

22.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

$7.76 ARS 11.5K

5.28%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,579

$1.55 ARS 2,300

55.48%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,238

$0.97 ARS 1,439

124.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,051

$0.89 ARS 1,320

130.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,959

$2.03 ARS 3,007

64.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,732

$2.91 ARS 4,322

9.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,559

$0.71 ARS 1,061

47.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,050

$0.67 ARS 993

105.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,064

$1.27 ARS 1,889

62.20%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,264

$1.67 ARS 2,486

-8.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

$3.47 ARS 5,146

99.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,758

$3.40 ARS 5,051

53.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

$3.90 ARS 5,794

91.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,063

$1.48 ARS 2,194

85.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,222

$1.48 ARS 2,203

46.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,302

$1.54 ARS 2,286

0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,637

$2.17 ARS 3,227

12.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,815

$0.63 ARS 936

93.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,408

$0.63 ARS 931

50.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 939

$0.41 ARS 611

53.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,784

$0.87 ARS 1,293

37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,166

$1.80 ARS 2,667

93.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,377

$5.06 ARS 7,510

-41.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,068

$1.47 ARS 2,190

-5.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,947

$1.78 ARS 2,648

11.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.31 ARS 467

145.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

$4.94 ARS 7,338

101.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,212

$0.42 ARS 623

254.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.99 ARS 1,469

-23.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$4.95 ARS 7,352

65.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,710

$1.14 ARS 1,695

0.88%

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

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

$31.5K ARS 46.7M

-10.24%

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

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

$20.7K ARS 30.8M

87.71%

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

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

$76.5 ARS 113.6K

11.37%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

$5.02 ARS 7,454

101.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

$10.04 ARS 14.9K

149.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

$17.67 ARS 26.2K

-0.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

$5.85 ARS 8,692

34.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,083

$2.04 ARS 3,030

100.98%

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

$159 ARS 236.8K

$102 ARS 151.2K

56.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$2,150 ARS 3.2M

47.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

$50.4 ARS 74.8K

12.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

$49.15 ARS 73.0K

25.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

$101 ARS 149.8K

-35.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

$119 ARS 177.0K

-47.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 419.6K

$150 ARS 222.1K

88.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 299.3K

$89.8 ARS 133.3K

124.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$251 ARS 373.4K

188.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 868.7K

$201 ARS 299.2K

190.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,460 ARS 3.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,094 ARS 3.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 915.1K

$710 ARS 1.1M

-13.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

-25.95%

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 Juan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $150 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 15% 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 Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $134 per month, with San Juan cheaper across the board.

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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Juan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 15% lower in San Juan. 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 $150 in San Juan. 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 $610 in San Juan – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Juan runs roughly 101% less than in Mar del Plata. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though San Juan 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 Juan 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 San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.