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: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $612 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $991 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $1,370 in San Juan.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 37% more expensive than 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

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$6.02 ARS 8,406

63.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$29.50 ARS 41.2K

24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$8.19 ARS 11.4K

1.10%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$1.49 ARS 2,082

62.42%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$0.95 ARS 1,320

131.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$0.85 ARS 1,188

141.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$1.97 ARS 2,745

62.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$2.95 ARS 4,113

12.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$0.79 ARS 1,098

40.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$0.70 ARS 982

102.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$1.22 ARS 1,708

70.49%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$1.66 ARS 2,313

-10.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$3.50 ARS 4,879

92.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$3.57 ARS 4,986

49.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$4.03 ARS 5,628

84.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.54 ARS 2,143

76.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$1.52 ARS 2,117

39.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$1.52 ARS 2,120

-0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$2.10 ARS 2,924

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$0.67 ARS 936

92.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$0.62 ARS 871

61.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$0.39 ARS 538

61.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$0.87 ARS 1,214

37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$1.72 ARS 2,406

105.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$4.55 ARS 6,343

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$1.54 ARS 2,154

-12.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$1.78 ARS 2,484

9.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$0.29 ARS 399

162.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

$4.94 ARS 6,893

100.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$0.41 ARS 579

273.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$1.02 ARS 1,419

-24.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$4.96 ARS 6,920

59.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$1.10 ARS 1,536

2.73%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$30.9K ARS 43.1M

-9.81%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$20.6K ARS 28.7M

95.02%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$78.0 ARS 108.8K

7.31%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$5.04 ARS 7,029

105.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$10.12 ARS 14.1K

149.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$17.92 ARS 25.0K

-5.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$5.84 ARS 8,152

35.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$2.02 ARS 2,825

92.57%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$104 ARS 145.8K

52.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$2,123 ARS 3.0M

51.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$50.0 ARS 69.8K

10.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$50.7 ARS 70.7K

21.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$99.9 ARS 139.4K

-36.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$119 ARS 166.1K

-46.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$147 ARS 205.4K

90.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$91.0 ARS 126.9K

126.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$250 ARS 348.5K

194.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$202 ARS 282.4K

184.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$2,054 ARS 2.9M

7.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,059 ARS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

$699 ARS 974.9K

-13.57%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Juan: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $147 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 16% 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 $29.00 in San Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $136 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 37% 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, San Juan earns 16% 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 $147 in San Juan. 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 $612 in San Juan – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Juan runs roughly 100% 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 37% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.