Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Mar del Plata: $1,161 a month against $1,264 in Santa Rosa, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mar del Plata, Argentina
Santa Rosa, Argentina
Mar del Plata
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,161
/mo nomad
Santa Rosa
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,264
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mar del Plata and in Santa Rosa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mar del Plata and in Santa Rosa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Mar del Plata versus $1,264 in Santa Rosa.

  • Mar del Plata $1,161
  • Santa Rosa $1,264

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,072 in Mar del Plata versus $2,132 in Santa Rosa.

  • Mar del Plata $2,072
  • Santa Rosa $2,132

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,983 in Mar del Plata versus $3,000 in Santa Rosa.

  • Mar del Plata $2,983
  • Santa Rosa $3,000

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 8% less than in Santa Rosa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 14% lower, Santa Rosa 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.87 ARS 30.7K
$16.70 ARS 25.8K
18.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5 ARS 124.3K
$58.0 ARS 89.6K
38.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.63 ARS 18.0K
$12.98 ARS 20.1K
-10.40%
Cappuccino
$3.28 ARS 5,066
$3.90 ARS 6,030
-15.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 ARS 3,817
$2.26 ARS 3,485
9.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 ARS 3,125
$1.93 ARS 2,988
4.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.58 ARS 5,538
$3.72 ARS 5,751
-3.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 ARS 5,298
$4.06 ARS 6,273
-15.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ARS 1,885
$1.36 ARS 2,101
-10.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 ARS 3,500
$2.17 ARS 3,348
4.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.76 ARS 4,270
$1.78 ARS 2,750
55.06%
Eggs
$3.95 ARS 6,099
$2.73 ARS 4,215
44.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.52 ARS 19.3K
$11.92 ARS 18.4K
5.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 ARS 12.9K
$8.03 ARS 12.4K
3.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.47 ARS 17.7K
$11.68 ARS 18.0K
-1.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 ARS 4,684
$2.48 ARS 3,830
22.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 ARS 3,623
$2.24 ARS 3,456
4.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 ARS 2,992
$1.50 ARS 2,312
29.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 ARS 3,979
$2.65 ARS 4,093
-2.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 ARS 1,133
$1.07 ARS 1,652
-31.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 ARS 1,131
$0.93 ARS 1,441
-21.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ARS 1,065
$1.54 ARS 2,380
-55.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.40 ARS 5,255
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.25 ARS 6,569
$5.10 ARS 7,873
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 ARS 3,604
$2.12 ARS 3,276
9.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17 ARS 7,983
$3.33 ARS 5,146
55.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 ARS 2,089
$1.01 ARS 1,566
33.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 ARS 2,302
$1.47 ARS 2,273
1.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ARS 1,219
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.32 ARS 9,769
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ARS 2,254
$1.20 ARS 1,849
21.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K ARS 49.3M
$25.7K ARS 39.7M
24.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.2K ARS 69.9M
$32.1K ARS 49.6M
40.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 ARS 164.1K
$125 ARS 193.2K
-15.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.59 ARS 16.4K
$16.76 ARS 25.9K
-36.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.56 ARS 36.4K
$23.82 ARS 36.8K
-1.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.16 ARS 48.1K
$31.36 ARS 48.5K
-0.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.29 ARS 49.9K
$20.79 ARS 32.1K
55.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 ARS 15.2K
$9.03 ARS 14.0K
8.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$257 ARS 396.7K
$238 ARS 367.5K
7.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,698 ARS 8.8M
$4,272 ARS 6.6M
33.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125 ARS 192.8K
$115 ARS 178.2K
8.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.8 ARS 109.4K
$82.6 ARS 127.6K
-14.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 ARS 167.0K
$113 ARS 174.8K
-4.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$114 ARS 175.7K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$492 ARS 760.4K
$513 ARS 792.4K
-4.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 ARS 430.7K
$329 ARS 508.6K
-15.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 ARS 1.4M
$1,062 ARS 1.6M
-12.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$777 ARS 1.2M
$836 ARS 1.3M
-7.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,006 ARS 1.6M
$1,283 ARS 2.0M
-21.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mar del Plata
Santa Rosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,336 ARS 2.1M
-
-

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: November 3, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
$279
Santa Rosa
$329 18.1% $50
Eating Out
Mar del Plata
$276
Santa Rosa
$263 4.8% $13
Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
$268 *
Santa Rosa
$260 * 2.8% $7.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
$140
Santa Rosa
$166 18% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
$137 *
Santa Rosa
$191 39.9% $54
Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
$51
Santa Rosa
$49 2.8% $1.4
Getting Around
Mar del Plata
$11 *
Santa Rosa
$5.5 * 49% $5.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $492 in Mar del Plata and $513 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80 in Mar del Plata vs $58 in Santa Rosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $260 per month, with Santa Rosa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Mar del Plata
🇦🇷 Santa Rosa
🕒 Local time
11:03 11:03 AM
11:03 11:03 AM
Same time as Mar del Plata
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
593,337
116,083
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1,545 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.47 USD). 1 EUR = 1,730 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mar del Plata Santa Rosa 620 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mar del Plata
  • Santa Rosa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Mar del Plata or Santa Rosa?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mar del Plata and in Santa Rosa?
You’d need roughly $1,742 in Mar del Plata and $1,896 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mar del Plata compared to Santa Rosa?
Rent for a central apartment: $492 in Mar del Plata versus $513 in Santa Rosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mar del Plata or in Santa Rosa?
Shoppers in Santa Rosa pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Mar del Plata compared to Santa Rosa?
All in, you’ll spend $1,161 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,264 in Santa Rosa – Mar del Plata is about 8% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mar del Plata or in Santa Rosa?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Mar del Plata is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mar del Plata or Santa Rosa?
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.
How safe is Mar del Plata compared to Santa Rosa?
Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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