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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $958 in Santa Rosa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,572 in Santa Rosa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,186 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 11% less than in Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, Santa Rosa 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$10.57 ARS 15.1K

-11.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$33.14 ARS 47.3K

15.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$8.82 ARS 12.6K

-8.50%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$2.78 ARS 3,969

-11.15%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.71 ARS 2,449

26.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$1.48 ARS 2,118

43.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$2.08 ARS 2,964

57.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$3.02 ARS 4,316

9.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$1.25 ARS 1,788

-15.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.55 ARS 2,218

-7.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.95 ARS 2,785

10.77%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$2.25 ARS 3,217

-29.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$10.20 ARS 14.6K

-32.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$6.03 ARS 8,615

-11.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$9.50 ARS 13.6K

-18.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.94 ARS 2,776

42.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$2.06 ARS 2,937

3.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$1.32 ARS 1,886

13.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.53 ARS 3,620

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$1.18 ARS 1,684

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$1.20 ARS 1,711

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$1.32 ARS 1,891

-53.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.49 ARS 2,131

-18.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$3.08 ARS 4,401

13.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$4.50 ARS 6,422

-31.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$2.05 ARS 2,921

-35.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$3.18 ARS 4,543

-38.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.78 ARS 1,120

-3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$1.52 ARS 2,170

-3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.92 ARS 1,320

-19.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$6.13 ARS 8,752

27.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.06 ARS 1,508

3.77%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$27.2K ARS 38.9M

0.17%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$30.8K ARS 44.0M

26.54%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$66.2 ARS 94.5K

29.03%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$17.37 ARS 24.8K

-40.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$22.56 ARS 32.2K

12.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$26.37 ARS 37.7K

-34.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$13.91 ARS 19.9K

-43.49%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$6.14 ARS 8,768

-35.18%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$219 ARS 313.5K

-25.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$2,700 ARS 3.9M

20.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$74.5 ARS 106.5K

-24.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$69.2 ARS 98.8K

-9.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$113 ARS 161.1K

-43.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$111 ARS 159.2K

-43.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$332 ARS 474.2K

-14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$241 ARS 344.3K

-14.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$693 ARS 990.2K

3.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$537 ARS 767.7K

8.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,808 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

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 Santa Rosa: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $332 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Santa Rosa. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $229, 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 Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Santa Rosa. 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 $1,437 in Santa Rosa 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 $332 in Santa Rosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Santa Rosa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mar del Plata versus $958 in Santa Rosa – a 12% 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 Santa Rosa 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 12% less than in Santa Rosa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.