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: $1,042 in Mar del Plata versus $1,056 in Santa Fe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,777 in Mar del Plata versus $1,621 in Santa Fe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,511 in Mar del Plata versus $2,186 in Santa Fe.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 1% less than in Santa Fe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 24% lower, Santa Fe 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 ARS 30.2K

$10.12 ARS 15.3K

97.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 ARS 89.2K

$37.79 ARS 57.0K

56.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.68 ARS 19.1K

$12.60 ARS 19.0K

0.63%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ARS 4,661

$1.78 ARS 2,682

73.60%

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

$2.54 ARS 3,835

$1.50 ARS 2,255

69.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ARS 3,042

$1.38 ARS 2,074

46.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 ARS 6,093

$3.36 ARS 5,066

20.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ARS 4,578

$5.10 ARS 7,699

-40.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,634

$1.02 ARS 1,532

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ARS 3,303

$1.59 ARS 2,397

37.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,819

$1.02 ARS 1,543

212.75%

Eggs

$2.45 ARS 3,700

$1.54 ARS 2,327

59.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 ARS 8,543

$8.29 ARS 12.5K

-31.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 ARS 10.0K

$6.11 ARS 9,222

8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ARS 18.2K

$10.38 ARS 15.7K

16.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 ARS 5,150

$2.00 ARS 3,011

70.50%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ARS 3,858

$1.53 ARS 2,313

67.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,314

$0.87 ARS 1,310

75.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,075

$2.42 ARS 3,644

-15.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 ARS 821

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,537

$0.69 ARS 1,040

47.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ARS 1,537

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ARS 1,550

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ARS 5,216

$3.22 ARS 4,857

7.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,445

$4.82 ARS 7,269

-38.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ARS 1,903

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ARS 3,084

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,926

$1.02 ARS 1,545

25.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,399

$1.01 ARS 1,527

57.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ARS 1,032

$0.98 ARS 1,475

-30.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 ARS 9,445

$7.30 ARS 11.0K

-14.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ARS 2,055

$1.15 ARS 1,733

18.26%

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

$20.0K ARS 30.2M

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

$30.1K ARS 45.4M

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

$81.4 ARS 122.8K

$60.7 ARS 91.6K

34.11%

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

$8.04 ARS 12.1K

$19.75 ARS 29.8K

-59.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.95 ARS 45.2K

$20.87 ARS 31.5K

43.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 ARS 47.3K

$34.07 ARS 51.4K

-8.04%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$4.75 ARS 7,162

113.47%

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

$304 ARS 459.3K

$300 ARS 453.3K

1.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,212 ARS 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 ARS 134.6K

$88.4 ARS 133.4K

0.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 ARS 92.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ARS 177.8K

$118 ARS 178.0K

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 ARS 83.0K

$139 ARS 209.6K

-60.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ARS 499.8K

$512 ARS 772.2K

-35.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 377.0K

$366 ARS 551.4K

-31.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 ARS 1.2M

$903 ARS 1.4M

-10.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 ARS 985.9K

$592 ARS 892.4K

10.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,384 ARS 3.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 ARS 923.3K

$826 ARS 1.2M

-25.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

56.56

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 8, 2026

Last update for Santa Fe: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Mar del Plata and $512 in Santa Fe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Fe pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Mar del Plata vs $38.00 in Santa Fe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $197 per month, with Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Santa Fe. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 35% 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: $331 in Mar del Plata versus $512 in Santa Fe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Santa Fe pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,042 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,056 in Santa Fe – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,042 in Mar del Plata versus $1,056 in Santa Fe, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Santa Fe. 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 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 Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Santa Fe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.