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: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $906 in San Rafael.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,433 in San Rafael.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $1,959 in San Rafael.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 6% less than in San Rafael, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, San Rafael 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$10.17 ARS 14.5K

-7.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$19.75 ARS 28.2K

93.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$6.11 ARS 8,726

32.08%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$1.76 ARS 2,513

40.34%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.02 ARS 1,457

112.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$1.01 ARS 1,444

109.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$0.98 ARS 1,404

234.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$1.54 ARS 2,205

114.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$1.05 ARS 1,493

0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.54 ARS 2,203

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.42 ARS 2,035

52.11%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$1.63 ARS 2,325

-3.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$5.53 ARS 7,894

23.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$7.43 ARS 10.6K

-27.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$6.55 ARS 9,353

18.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.72 ARS 2,452

60.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$1.52 ARS 2,170

40.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$1.53 ARS 2,181

-1.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$0.92 ARS 1,314

175.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$0.65 ARS 927

96.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$0.73 ARS 1,044

31.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$0.59 ARS 846

5.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.21 ARS 1,733

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$1.76 ARS 2,513

98.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$4.89 ARS 6,985

-37.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$1.07 ARS 1,534

24.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$1.60 ARS 2,286

22.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.84 ARS 1,194

-10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$0.45 ARS 643

224.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.98 ARS 1,396

-24.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$4.97 ARS 7,096

57.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$0.83 ARS 1,191

32.53%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$31.9K ARS 45.6M

-14.53%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$33.0K ARS 47.1M

18.22%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$76.2 ARS 108.9K

12.05%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$6.71 ARS 9,590

53.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$15.38 ARS 22.0K

65.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$25.70 ARS 36.7K

-32.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$13.55 ARS 19.4K

-41.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$6.03 ARS 8,617

-34.00%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$102 ARS 145.7K

59.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$2,199 ARS 3.1M

47.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$80.7 ARS 115.3K

-30.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$77.2 ARS 110.3K

-19.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$147 ARS 209.5K

-56.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$117 ARS 167.3K

-46.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$340 ARS 485.2K

-16.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$238 ARS 339.8K

-13.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$690 ARS 985.3K

4.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$530 ARS 757.8K

9.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,309 ARS 3.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $340 in San Rafael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $20.00 in San Rafael for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 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 6% 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 $1,282 in Mar del Plata and $1,359 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: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $340 in San Rafael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mar del Plata versus $906 in San Rafael – a 6% 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 6% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.