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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $880 in San Rafael.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,409 in San Rafael.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $1,938 in San Rafael.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 4% less than in San Rafael, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, San Rafael 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

-4.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

$19.78 ARS 29.4K

88.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

$6.07 ARS 9,007

34.60%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,579

$1.78 ARS 2,641

35.39%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,238

$1.02 ARS 1,509

113.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,051

$0.98 ARS 1,453

109.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,959

$1.02 ARS 1,516

227.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,732

$1.54 ARS 2,289

107.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,559

$1.01 ARS 1,503

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,050

$1.48 ARS 2,196

-6.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,064

$1.42 ARS 2,112

45.07%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,264

$1.62 ARS 2,409

-6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

$5.53 ARS 8,214

25.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,758

$7.48 ARS 11.1K

-30.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

$6.62 ARS 9,836

12.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,063

$1.79 ARS 2,660

53.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,222

$1.53 ARS 2,268

41.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,302

$1.53 ARS 2,272

1.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,637

$0.89 ARS 1,327

175.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,815

$0.71 ARS 1,056

71.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,408

$0.71 ARS 1,059

33.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 939

$0.60 ARS 895

5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,784

$1.23 ARS 1,830

-2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,166

$1.80 ARS 2,667

93.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,377

$5.11 ARS 7,595

-42.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,068

$1.08 ARS 1,605

28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,947

$1.66 ARS 2,467

19.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$0.81 ARS 1,210

-6.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,212

$0.42 ARS 617

254.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,129

$1.01 ARS 1,505

-24.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$4.78 ARS 7,105

71.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,710

$0.85 ARS 1,258

35.29%

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

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

$31.9K ARS 47.4M

-11.54%

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

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

$33.9K ARS 50.3M

14.89%

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

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

$78.5 ARS 116.6K

8.55%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

$6.56 ARS 9,740

54.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

$15.59 ARS 23.2K

60.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

$26.63 ARS 39.5K

-34.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

$13.92 ARS 20.7K

-43.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,083

$5.92 ARS 8,795

-30.74%

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

$159 ARS 236.8K

$104 ARS 153.8K

53.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$2,127 ARS 3.2M

49.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

$82.8 ARS 122.9K

-31.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

$77.6 ARS 115.3K

-20.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

$149 ARS 221.5K

-56.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

$121 ARS 179.3K

-48.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 419.6K

$336 ARS 498.9K

-15.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 299.3K

$234 ARS 347.4K

-13.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$679 ARS 1.0M

6.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 868.7K

$533 ARS 790.8K

9.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,080 ARS 3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,499 ARS 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 915.1K

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 Rafael: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $336 in San Rafael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $20.00 in San Rafael for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $179 per month, with San Rafael 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 Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in San Rafael. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,266 in Mar del Plata and $1,319 in San Rafael to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Mar del Plata versus $336 in San Rafael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Rafael pay roughly 7% 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 $880 in San Rafael – a 4% 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 Rafael 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 4% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.