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: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $866 in San Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,408 in San Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $1,950 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

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

$10.94 ARS 16.2K

-12.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

$40.35 ARS 59.9K

-7.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

$9.41 ARS 14.0K

-13.18%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,579

$3.77 ARS 5,601

-36.07%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,238

$2.36 ARS 3,498

-7.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,051

$1.99 ARS 2,952

3.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,959

$1.59 ARS 2,355

110.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,732

$2.92 ARS 4,332

9.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,559

$1.34 ARS 1,988

-21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,050

$1.53 ARS 2,274

-9.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,064

$2.06 ARS 3,052

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,264

$2.20 ARS 3,262

-30.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

$6.54 ARS 9,709

5.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,758

$4.46 ARS 6,626

17.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

$5.70 ARS 8,470

31.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,063

$1.23 ARS 1,828

122.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,222

$1.52 ARS 2,257

42.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,302

$1.51 ARS 2,248

2.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,637

$2.10 ARS 3,113

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,815

$1.03 ARS 1,529

18.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,408

$1.02 ARS 1,511

-6.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 939

$0.98 ARS 1,462

-35.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,784

$0.52 ARS 770

130.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,166

$2.53 ARS 3,762

37.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,377

$4.07 ARS 6,038

-27.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,068

$1.98 ARS 2,942

-29.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,947

$3.47 ARS 5,153

-42.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.57 ARS 847

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,212

$0.45 ARS 667

231.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$1.03 ARS 1,525

-26.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$4.84 ARS 7,182

69.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,710

$0.98 ARS 1,448

17.35%

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

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

$31.0K ARS 46.1M

-8.99%

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

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

$33.1K ARS 49.1M

17.72%

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

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

$59.6 ARS 88.5K

43.05%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

$10.96 ARS 16.3K

-7.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

$21.52 ARS 32.0K

16.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

$26.14 ARS 38.8K

-32.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

$13.96 ARS 20.7K

-43.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,083

$5.53 ARS 8,206

-25.86%

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

$159 ARS 236.8K

$104 ARS 154.5K

53.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$2,124 ARS 3.2M

49.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

$82.7 ARS 122.8K

-31.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

$76.0 ARS 112.8K

-19.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

$134 ARS 199.1K

-51.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

$118 ARS 175.1K

-46.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 419.6K

$305 ARS 452.4K

-7.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 299.3K

$172 ARS 255.6K

17.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$527 ARS 783.3K

37.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 868.7K

$304 ARS 450.8K

92.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$992 ARS 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$593 ARS 880.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 915.1K

$494 ARS 733.1K

24.83%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for San Luis: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $305 in San Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 25% 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 $40.00 in San Luis. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 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 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.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Mar del Plata, 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: $283 in Mar del Plata versus $305 in San Luis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Luis pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $844 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.