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: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $981 in Santa Rosa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $1,592 in Santa Rosa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $2,203 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 15% less than in Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Santa Rosa 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

$10.42 ARS 14.5K

-5.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

$33.83 ARS 47.2K

8.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

$9.01 ARS 12.6K

-8.10%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ARS 3,371

$2.76 ARS 3,848

-12.32%

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

$2.20 ARS 3,069

$1.69 ARS 2,363

30.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 2,865

$1.55 ARS 2,163

32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ARS 4,462

$2.06 ARS 2,875

55.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 ARS 4,622

$2.96 ARS 4,123

11.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,545

$1.29 ARS 1,802

-13.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 1,982

$1.58 ARS 2,201

-10.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,909

$2.00 ARS 2,795

4.00%

Eggs

$1.49 ARS 2,085

$2.20 ARS 3,065

-32.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 ARS 9,388

$10.14 ARS 14.2K

-33.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 ARS 7,438

$6.28 ARS 8,756

-15.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

$9.64 ARS 13.5K

-22.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,794

$1.98 ARS 2,760

37.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 2,959

$2.07 ARS 2,891

2.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,102

$1.32 ARS 1,840

14.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,519

$2.53 ARS 3,533

-0.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ARS 1,793

$1.18 ARS 1,649

9.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,389

$1.25 ARS 1,745

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 873

$1.31 ARS 1,824

-51.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,681

$1.43 ARS 1,997

-16.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.54 ARS 4,941

$3.05 ARS 4,252

16.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.94 ARS 6,896

$5.52 ARS 7,705

-10.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ARS 1,874

$2.09 ARS 2,912

-35.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ARS 2,722

$3.02 ARS 4,212

-35.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,060

$0.76 ARS 1,065

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,139

$1.47 ARS 2,052

4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,069

$0.92 ARS 1,285

-16.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

$6.07 ARS 8,472

30.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ARS 1,580

$1.07 ARS 1,493

5.61%

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

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

$27.0K ARS 37.7M

3.26%

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

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

$30.6K ARS 42.7M

31.20%

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

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

$67.7 ARS 94.4K

23.67%

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

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

$17.20 ARS 24.0K

-39.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

$22.64 ARS 31.6K

11.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

$25.77 ARS 36.0K

-33.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

$13.72 ARS 19.1K

-42.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 ARS 5,431

$6.13 ARS 8,556

-36.54%

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

$159 ARS 221.8K

$218 ARS 303.9K

-27.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

$2,748 ARS 3.8M

17.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

$72.9 ARS 101.7K

-23.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

$68.4 ARS 95.4K

-9.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

$115 ARS 160.0K

-44.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

$111 ARS 154.7K

-42.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 ARS 391.5K

$335 ARS 467.3K

-16.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 287.4K

$241 ARS 336.4K

-14.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.0M

$692 ARS 966.2K

6.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 ARS 802.1K

$532 ARS 742.4K

8.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

$2,130 ARS 3.0M

3.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $335 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Santa Rosa. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $232, 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 17% 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 $1,257 in Mar del Plata and $1,472 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: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $335 in Santa Rosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Santa Rosa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Mar del Plata versus $981 in Santa Rosa – a 17% 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 17% less than in Santa Rosa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.