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: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $879 in San Rafael.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,436 in San Rafael.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $1,993 in San Rafael.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 5% 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

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$10.17 ARS 14.2K

-2.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$20.39 ARS 28.5K

80.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$5.95 ARS 8,304

39.16%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$1.78 ARS 2,486

35.96%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$1.02 ARS 1,426

115.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$1.01 ARS 1,414

102.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$1.03 ARS 1,435

210.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$1.53 ARS 2,130

116.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$1.04 ARS 1,456

6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$1.50 ARS 2,088

-5.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$1.41 ARS 1,973

47.52%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$1.57 ARS 2,197

-5.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$5.36 ARS 7,480

25.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$7.67 ARS 10.7K

-30.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$6.43 ARS 8,969

15.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.79 ARS 2,494

51.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$1.46 ARS 2,031

45.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$1.54 ARS 2,155

-1.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$0.92 ARS 1,288

173.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$0.71 ARS 993

81.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$0.73 ARS 1,015

36.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$0.65 ARS 902

-3.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$1.22 ARS 1,709

-1.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$1.75 ARS 2,445

102.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$5.13 ARS 7,151

-3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$1.12 ARS 1,557

19.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$1.58 ARS 2,211

23.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$0.77 ARS 1,081

-1.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$0.44 ARS 619

247.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$1.03 ARS 1,434

-25.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$5.01 ARS 6,992

57.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$0.84 ARS 1,169

34.52%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$31.7K ARS 44.3M

-12.20%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$33.2K ARS 46.3M

21.12%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$76.5 ARS 106.8K

9.38%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$6.61 ARS 9,227

56.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$15.28 ARS 21.3K

64.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$25.84 ARS 36.1K

-34.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$13.92 ARS 19.4K

-43.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$6.03 ARS 8,408

-35.49%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$104 ARS 145.0K

52.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$2,131 ARS 3.0M

51.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$83.1 ARS 115.9K

-33.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$78.0 ARS 108.9K

-20.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$149 ARS 207.5K

-57.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$117 ARS 163.1K

-45.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$336 ARS 468.2K

-16.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$234 ARS 326.2K

-11.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$693 ARS 967.1K

5.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$530 ARS 739.6K

8.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$1,882 ARS 2.6M

17.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

$456 ARS 635.7K

32.54%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $336 in San Rafael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 33% 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 $20.00 in San Rafael for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 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 5% 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.

Mar del Plata pays 33% 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 $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 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 $879 in San Rafael – a 5% 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 5% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.