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: $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $888 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,784 in Mar del Plata versus $1,375 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Mar del Plata versus $1,863 in San Juan.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 15% more expensive than in San Juan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 25% lower, San Juan 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 ARS 30.5K

$7.15 ARS 10.8K

182.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ARS 91.1K

$39.74 ARS 60.1K

51.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

$12.33 ARS 18.6K

1.70%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ARS 4,711

$2.52 ARS 3,808

23.81%

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

$2.47 ARS 3,732

$2.12 ARS 3,208

16.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ARS 3,069

$1.77 ARS 2,673

14.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ARS 6,204

$3.95 ARS 5,968

3.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,565

$4.40 ARS 6,653

-31.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,619

$1.38 ARS 2,083

-22.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ARS 3,319

$1.41 ARS 2,128

56.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,822

$1.39 ARS 2,102

129.50%

Eggs

$2.35 ARS 3,551

$1.38 ARS 2,087

70.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 ARS 8,917

$2.83 ARS 4,279

108.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ARS 9,737

$6.09 ARS 9,211

5.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 ARS 18.9K

$11.08 ARS 16.8K

13.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ARS 4,917

$1.44 ARS 2,173

125.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,702

$1.38 ARS 2,083

77.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,217

$1.37 ARS 2,071

7.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,087

$1.44 ARS 2,181

41.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ARS 2,118

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,545

$1.40 ARS 2,116

-27.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ARS 2,100

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,108

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ARS 5,376

$2.77 ARS 4,189

28.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,493

$5.12 ARS 7,748

-41.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,100

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 ARS 2,201

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,943

$1.03 ARS 1,559

24.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 ARS 2,502

$1.99 ARS 3,009

-17.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ARS 1,052

$0.99 ARS 1,490

-29.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,814

$5.01 ARS 7,569

29.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,080

$1.17 ARS 1,766

17.95%

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

$27.4K ARS 41.4M

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

$33.0K ARS 49.9M

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

$81.3 ARS 123.0K

$136 ARS 205.9K

-40.27%

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

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

$9.91 ARS 15.0K

-19.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

$17.77 ARS 26.9K

70.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.56 ARS 47.7K

$30.13 ARS 45.6K

4.75%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$7.26 ARS 11.0K

39.67%

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

$300 ARS 454.2K

$173 ARS 261.9K

73.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,210 ARS 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ARS 132.5K

$109 ARS 164.5K

-19.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.02 ARS 65.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 182.0K

$57.2 ARS 86.5K

110.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ARS 81.7K

$35.33 ARS 53.4K

52.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ARS 496.9K

$247 ARS 373.6K

33.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 ARS 386.4K

$198 ARS 299.7K

28.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ARS 1.2M

$502 ARS 759.0K

61.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 ARS 994.1K

$405 ARS 612.2K

62.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 924.3K

$693 ARS 1.0M

-11.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Last update for San Juan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Mar del Plata and $247 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Mar del Plata vs $40.00 in San Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $189 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 15% 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 13% 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: $329 in Mar del Plata versus $247 in San Juan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Mar del Plata. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Mar del Plata versus $888 in San Juan – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 15% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.