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: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $615 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,006 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $1,396 in San Juan.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 39% more expensive than San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, San Juan 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$6.13 ARS 8,750

53.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$30.55 ARS 43.6K

24.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$8.13 ARS 11.6K

-0.74%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$1.51 ARS 2,152

63.58%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$0.96 ARS 1,368

126.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$0.85 ARS 1,209

149.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$1.95 ARS 2,787

68.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$2.92 ARS 4,165

13.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$0.78 ARS 1,120

35.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$0.66 ARS 944

116.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.21 ARS 1,733

78.51%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$1.65 ARS 2,361

-4.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$3.34 ARS 4,772

104.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$3.44 ARS 4,920

55.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$4.09 ARS 5,838

89.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.48 ARS 2,110

86.49%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$1.47 ARS 2,097

44.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$1.46 ARS 2,080

2.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.10 ARS 3,001

20.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$0.66 ARS 950

93.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$0.66 ARS 947

45.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$0.38 ARS 547

63.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$0.86 ARS 1,234

40.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$1.76 ARS 2,514

98.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$5.05 ARS 7,208

-39.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$1.47 ARS 2,107

-9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$1.75 ARS 2,503

12.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.29 ARS 412

158.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

$4.97 ARS 7,106

100.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$0.45 ARS 644

224.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$1.02 ARS 1,462

-27.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$4.99 ARS 7,123

57.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.10 ARS 1,568

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$31.1K ARS 44.4M

-12.37%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$20.7K ARS 29.6M

88.13%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$76.0 ARS 108.5K

12.37%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$4.99 ARS 7,127

105.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$9.87 ARS 14.1K

157.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$17.65 ARS 25.2K

-2.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$6.13 ARS 8,757

28.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$2.03 ARS 2,900

96.06%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$102 ARS 145.6K

59.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$2,116 ARS 3.0M

53.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$50.5 ARS 72.2K

11.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$50.3 ARS 71.9K

23.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$100 ARS 143.1K

-35.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$119 ARS 170.4K

-47.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$153 ARS 218.2K

86.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$89.6 ARS 128.0K

130.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$247 ARS 353.2K

190.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$196 ARS 280.3K

196.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,502 ARS 3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,087 ARS 3.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

$697 ARS 996.0K

-11.40%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for San Juan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $153 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: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $31.00 in San Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 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 39% 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 13% 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: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $153 in San Juan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mar del Plata versus $615 in San Juan – a 39% 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 39% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.