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 $866 in San Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,402 in San Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $1,939 in San Luis.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 3% less than in San Luis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, San Luis 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$11.17 ARS 15.6K

-11.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$40.52 ARS 56.5K

-9.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$9.58 ARS 13.4K

-13.57%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$3.67 ARS 5,122

-34.06%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$2.25 ARS 3,139

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$2.06 ARS 2,872

-0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$1.64 ARS 2,288

95.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$2.93 ARS 4,094

12.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$1.34 ARS 1,865

-17.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$1.56 ARS 2,176

-8.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$2.01 ARS 2,806

3.48%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$2.16 ARS 3,019

-31.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$6.59 ARS 9,193

2.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$4.64 ARS 6,473

14.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$5.59 ARS 7,806

33.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.23 ARS 1,714

121.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$1.53 ARS 2,132

38.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$1.46 ARS 2,032

3.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$2.08 ARS 2,909

21.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$0.97 ARS 1,358

32.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$0.99 ARS 1,380

1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$1.02 ARS 1,419

-38.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$0.51 ARS 707

135.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$2.43 ARS 3,386

45.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$4.93 ARS 6,874

0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$2.05 ARS 2,859

-34.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$3.47 ARS 4,848

-43.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$0.54 ARS 753

40.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$0.45 ARS 622

240.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$1.01 ARS 1,410

-23.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$4.91 ARS 6,854

61.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$1.02 ARS 1,425

10.78%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$31.0K ARS 43.2M

-10.08%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$33.7K ARS 47.0M

19.25%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$59.8 ARS 83.4K

40.07%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$10.86 ARS 15.2K

-4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$21.91 ARS 30.6K

15.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$26.00 ARS 36.3K

-34.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$13.60 ARS 19.0K

-41.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$5.56 ARS 7,760

-30.04%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$104 ARS 145.6K

52.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$2,181 ARS 3.0M

47.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$81.9 ARS 114.3K

-32.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$78.2 ARS 109.0K

-21.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$132 ARS 184.8K

-51.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$118 ARS 165.0K

-46.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$297 ARS 414.0K

-5.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$167 ARS 232.9K

23.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$523 ARS 729.3K

40.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$303 ARS 422.8K

89.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$2,074 ARS 2.9M

6.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$605 ARS 844.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

$491 ARS 684.4K

23.10%

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 Luis: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $297 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: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $41.00 in San Luis. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $179, 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 3% 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: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $297 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 $866 in San Luis – a 3% 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 3% less than in San Luis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.