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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $847 in San Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Mar del Plata versus $1,389 in San Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,040 in Mar del Plata versus $1,932 in San Luis.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 1% less than in San Luis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, San Luis 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.92 ARS 14.2K

$11.21 ARS 16.1K

-11.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.15 ARS 54.8K

$41.37 ARS 59.4K

-7.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.34 ARS 12.0K

$9.68 ARS 13.9K

-13.84%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ARS 3,414

$3.79 ARS 5,449

-37.20%

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

$2.23 ARS 3,198

$2.24 ARS 3,215

-0.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 2,955

$2.02 ARS 2,904

1.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,599

$1.57 ARS 2,258

103.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 ARS 4,722

$2.87 ARS 4,124

14.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,573

$1.34 ARS 1,919

-18.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ARS 2,061

$1.54 ARS 2,215

-6.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,988

$1.99 ARS 2,852

4.52%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,269

$2.19 ARS 3,140

-27.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.75 ARS 9,703

$6.58 ARS 9,456

2.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,582

$4.63 ARS 6,647

14.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 ARS 11.2K

$5.47 ARS 7,852

42.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 ARS 4,028

$1.29 ARS 1,848

117.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ARS 3,159

$1.46 ARS 2,104

50.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,153

$1.46 ARS 2,104

2.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ARS 3,463

$2.11 ARS 3,035

14.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,777

$0.98 ARS 1,411

26.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ARS 1,449

$0.97 ARS 1,400

4.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ARS 954

$1.02 ARS 1,466

-35.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,736

$0.55 ARS 786

120.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 ARS 5,130

$2.56 ARS 3,673

39.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,344

$4.04 ARS 5,801

-25.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 1,991

$2.06 ARS 2,953

-32.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,946

$3.52 ARS 5,057

-41.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ARS 1,018

$0.57 ARS 817

24.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.16 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ARS 2,217

$0.45 ARS 640

242.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,060

$1.02 ARS 1,465

-27.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 ARS 11.8K

$4.79 ARS 6,878

71.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,576

$0.99 ARS 1,418

11.11%

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

$28.2K ARS 40.6M

$31.9K ARS 45.8M

-11.44%

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

$39.3K ARS 56.4M

$34.0K ARS 48.8M

15.54%

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

$83.9 ARS 120.5K

$61.1 ARS 87.7K

37.38%

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

$10.45 ARS 15.0K

$10.68 ARS 15.3K

-2.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.5K

$22.14 ARS 31.8K

14.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.30 ARS 24.9K

$26.53 ARS 38.1K

-34.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.88 ARS 11.3K

$13.75 ARS 19.8K

-42.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,715

$5.34 ARS 7,666

-25.47%

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

$159 ARS 228.4K

$105 ARS 151.3K

51.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,212 ARS 4.6M

$2,195 ARS 3.2M

46.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ARS 79.6K

$80.5 ARS 115.6K

-31.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 ARS 91.6K

$76.7 ARS 110.2K

-16.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 92.2K

$138 ARS 197.7K

-53.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.2 ARS 89.3K

$119 ARS 171.3K

-47.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 ARS 414.3K

$303 ARS 435.0K

-4.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 ARS 297.4K

$172 ARS 246.5K

20.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 ARS 1.0M

$533 ARS 765.8K

35.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 ARS 831.9K

$295 ARS 423.2K

96.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,018 ARS 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$604 ARS 868.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 885.3K

$503 ARS 722.4K

22.54%

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 13, 2026

Last update for San Luis: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $288 in Mar del Plata and $303 in San Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 23% 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 $41.00 in San Luis. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $177, with San Luis 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 Luis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in San Luis. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Mar del Plata pays 23% more on average, 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: $288 in Mar del Plata versus $303 in San Luis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Luis pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Mar del Plata versus $847 in San Luis – a 1% 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 Luis 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 1% less than in San Luis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.