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: $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,302 in San Rafael.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,784 in Mar del Plata versus $2,078 in San Rafael.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Mar del Plata versus $2,853 in San Rafael.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 21% less than in San Rafael, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 25% lower, San Rafael 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 ARS 30.6K

$11.20 ARS 17.0K

80.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ARS 91.2K

$50.6 ARS 76.6K

19.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

$14.45 ARS 21.9K

-13.22%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ARS 4,717

$4.51 ARS 6,830

-30.82%

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

$2.47 ARS 3,737

$2.34 ARS 3,546

5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ARS 3,073

$1.98 ARS 2,997

2.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ARS 6,212

$4.11 ARS 6,224

-0.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,571

$4.37 ARS 6,618

-30.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,621

$1.38 ARS 2,094

-22.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ARS 3,324

$2.21 ARS 3,352

-0.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,828

$2.68 ARS 4,059

19.03%

Eggs

$2.35 ARS 3,556

$3.32 ARS 5,025

-29.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 ARS 8,929

$14.53 ARS 22.0K

-59.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ARS 9,750

$6.22 ARS 9,412

3.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 ARS 19.0K

$10.80 ARS 16.4K

15.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ARS 4,923

$2.32 ARS 3,512

40.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,707

$2.24 ARS 3,391

9.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,220

$1.30 ARS 1,969

13.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,091

$3.30 ARS 5,000

-38.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,083

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,547

$1.49 ARS 2,257

-31.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 ARS 2,977

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ARS 3,804

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ARS 5,383

$2.67 ARS 4,044

33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,498

$4.97 ARS 7,527

-40.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ARS 2,671

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ARS 4,515

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,945

$1.06 ARS 1,598

20.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 ARS 2,505

$1.99 ARS 3,010

-17.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ARS 1,053

$1.02 ARS 1,540

-31.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,827

$4.77 ARS 7,215

36.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,082

$1.21 ARS 1,831

14.05%

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

$26.8K ARS 40.6M

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

$33.4K ARS 50.5M

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

$81.3 ARS 123.2K

$135 ARS 204.4K

-39.74%

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

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

$17.28 ARS 26.2K

-54.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

$23.27 ARS 35.2K

30.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.56 ARS 47.8K

$34.36 ARS 52.0K

-8.15%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.4K

$7.28 ARS 11.0K

39.29%

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

$300 ARS 454.8K

$176 ARS 267.1K

70.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,176 ARS 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ARS 132.7K

$116 ARS 175.8K

-24.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 182.3K

$136 ARS 205.5K

-11.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ARS 81.8K

$128 ARS 193.5K

-57.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ARS 497.5K

$500 ARS 756.4K

-34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 ARS 387.0K

$298 ARS 450.6K

-14.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ARS 1.2M

$932 ARS 1.4M

-12.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 ARS 995.4K

$752 ARS 1.1M

-12.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 925.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Mar del Plata and $500 in San Rafael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $60.0 in Mar del Plata vs $51.0 in San Rafael. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $286, with Mar del Plata 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 Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 27% 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 $1,535 in Mar del Plata and $1,953 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: $329 in Mar del Plata versus $500 in San Rafael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in San Rafael. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,302 in San Rafael – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,302 in San Rafael, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in San Rafael. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 27% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.