Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Santa Fe Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Santa Fe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $841 in Mar del Plata versus $814 in Santa Fe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,452 in Mar del Plata versus $1,245 in Santa Fe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,062 in Mar del Plata versus $1,677 in Santa Fe.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 3% more expensive than in Santa Fe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Santa Fe 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

$6.84 ARS 10.1K

40.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 ARS 54.7K

$16.80 ARS 24.9K

119.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

$7.58 ARS 11.2K

7.12%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ARS 3,682

$1.63 ARS 2,419

52.76%

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

$2.27 ARS 3,360

$1.33 ARS 1,965

70.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ARS 3,182

$1.17 ARS 1,735

83.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ARS 4,880

$1.25 ARS 1,849

163.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ARS 4,717

$2.47 ARS 3,665

28.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,560

$0.99 ARS 1,466

6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,118

$0.97 ARS 1,438

47.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,187

$1.81 ARS 2,674

18.78%

Eggs

$1.55 ARS 2,301

$1.53 ARS 2,265

1.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 ARS 9,838

$8.83 ARS 13.1K

-24.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ARS 7,600

$5.84 ARS 8,646

-12.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

-5.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 4,022

$1.89 ARS 2,801

43.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ARS 3,125

$2.17 ARS 3,219

-2.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,301

$0.98 ARS 1,452

58.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ARS 3,697

$2.64 ARS 3,908

-5.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,800

$0.52 ARS 766

134.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,522

$1.42 ARS 2,105

-27.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ARS 987

$0.91 ARS 1,354

-26.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ARS 1,721

$1.87 ARS 2,771

-37.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.55 ARS 5,261

$3.34 ARS 4,940

6.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,403

$4.89 ARS 7,240

-39.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 2,043

$1.26 ARS 1,865

9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,036

$3.16 ARS 4,678

-35.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ARS 1,053

$1.02 ARS 1,515

-30.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ARS 2,172

$0.99 ARS 1,462

48.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,135

$0.92 ARS 1,368

-16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

$6.16 ARS 9,128

33.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,688

$1.06 ARS 1,573

7.55%

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

$27.5K ARS 40.8M

$30.2K ARS 44.8M

-8.95%

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

$39.7K ARS 58.8M

$29.3K ARS 43.4M

35.58%

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

$86.7 ARS 128.4K

$54.7 ARS 81.0K

58.50%

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

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

$8.07 ARS 12.0K

26.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.91 ARS 36.9K

$14.71 ARS 21.8K

69.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.08 ARS 25.3K

$40.01 ARS 59.3K

-57.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

$13.55 ARS 20.1K

-42.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 ARS 5,942

$4.86 ARS 7,201

-17.49%

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

$162 ARS 239.6K

$216 ARS 319.4K

-24.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

$1,092 ARS 1.6M

191.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 82.3K

$62.0 ARS 91.8K

-10.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.8 ARS 93.1K

$60.2 ARS 89.2K

4.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ARS 96.6K

$109 ARS 161.1K

-40.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.4 ARS 91.0K

$96.1 ARS 142.4K

-36.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 ARS 412.2K

$313 ARS 463.8K

-11.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 ARS 300.8K

$201 ARS 297.6K

1.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 ARS 1.0M

$581 ARS 859.9K

21.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 ARS 861.1K

$322 ARS 477.3K

80.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,247 ARS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,035 ARS 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ARS 892.1K

$831 ARS 1.2M

-27.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

100

-41.50%

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Fe: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Mar del Plata and $313 in Santa Fe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Fe pays 38% 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 $17.00 in Santa Fe. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $206, 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 Santa Fe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Fe wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Fe the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Santa Fe. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Mar del Plata versus $313 in Santa Fe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $841 per month in Mar del Plata versus $814 in Santa Fe – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.