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: $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,141 in Santa Rosa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,784 in Mar del Plata versus $1,888 in Santa Rosa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Mar del Plata versus $2,636 in Santa Rosa.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 10% less than in Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 25% lower, Santa Rosa 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 ARS 30.5K

$15.00 ARS 22.7K

34.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ARS 91.1K

$60.5 ARS 91.4K

-0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

$13.00 ARS 19.7K

-3.54%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ARS 4,711

$3.52 ARS 5,324

-11.36%

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

$2.47 ARS 3,732

$1.97 ARS 2,973

25.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ARS 3,069

$1.78 ARS 2,695

14.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ARS 6,204

$4.17 ARS 6,300

-1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,565

$4.63 ARS 7,005

-34.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,619

$1.30 ARS 1,973

-17.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ARS 3,319

$2.42 ARS 3,661

-9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,822

$1.62 ARS 2,453

96.91%

Eggs

$2.35 ARS 3,551

$2.25 ARS 3,404

4.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 ARS 8,917

$10.18 ARS 15.4K

-42.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ARS 9,737

$8.28 ARS 12.5K

-22.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 ARS 18.9K

$10.74 ARS 16.2K

16.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ARS 4,917

$2.65 ARS 4,006

22.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,702

$2.37 ARS 3,588

3.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,217

$1.49 ARS 2,254

-1.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,087

$2.50 ARS 3,784

-18.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,545

$1.25 ARS 1,894

-18.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ARS 5,376

$3.43 ARS 5,183

3.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,493

$4.70 ARS 7,102

-36.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,943

$0.89 ARS 1,352

43.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 ARS 2,502

$1.42 ARS 2,149

16.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ARS 1,052

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,814

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,080

$1.04 ARS 1,578

32.69%

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

$81.3 ARS 123.0K

$106 ARS 160.7K

-23.48%

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

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

$19.51 ARS 29.5K

-59.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

$26.42 ARS 39.9K

14.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.56 ARS 47.7K

$28.20 ARS 42.6K

11.91%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$9.56 ARS 14.5K

6.07%

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

$300 ARS 454.2K

$328 ARS 496.0K

-8.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ARS 132.5K

$95.4 ARS 144.2K

-8.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 182.0K

$114 ARS 171.8K

5.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ARS 81.7K

$142 ARS 214.4K

-61.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ARS 496.9K

$466 ARS 704.5K

-29.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 ARS 386.4K

$335 ARS 505.9K

-23.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ARS 1.2M

$913 ARS 1.4M

-10.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 ARS 994.1K

$648 ARS 979.7K

1.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 924.3K

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Rosa: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Mar del Plata and $466 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $60.0 in Mar del Plata vs $60.0 in Santa Rosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $215 per month, with Mar del Plata 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 Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 11% 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 $1,535 in Mar del Plata and $1,711 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: $329 in Mar del Plata versus $466 in Santa Rosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Santa Rosa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,141 in Santa Rosa – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,141 in Santa Rosa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Santa Rosa. 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 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 11% less than in Santa Rosa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.