Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Santiago del Estero Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Santiago del Estero

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $956 in Santiago del Estero.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Mar del Plata versus $1,566 in Santiago del Estero.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Mar del Plata versus $2,176 in Santiago del Estero.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Santiago del Estero 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ARS 14.2K

$10.64 ARS 15.2K

-6.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ARS 53.8K

$33.17 ARS 47.3K

13.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ARS 11.7K

$9.26 ARS 13.2K

-11.23%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ARS 3,494

$2.80 ARS 3,994

-12.50%

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

$2.26 ARS 3,222

$1.73 ARS 2,467

30.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,018

$1.53 ARS 2,184

38.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ARS 4,579

$2.17 ARS 3,097

47.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ARS 4,766

$3.02 ARS 4,310

10.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,564

$1.32 ARS 1,881

-16.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 2,031

$1.62 ARS 2,317

-12.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 2,941

$2.04 ARS 2,903

0.98%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,171

$2.24 ARS 3,192

-32.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ARS 9,681

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

-33.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,535

$6.03 ARS 8,608

-12.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ARS 10.8K

$9.44 ARS 13.5K

-20.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ARS 4,094

$1.94 ARS 2,772

47.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,044

$2.12 ARS 3,022

0.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 ARS 2,233

$1.32 ARS 1,880

18.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ARS 3,557

$2.66 ARS 3,790

-6.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,755

$1.19 ARS 1,702

3.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,361

$1.25 ARS 1,787

-24.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 895

$1.26 ARS 1,792

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,676

$1.42 ARS 2,033

-17.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,877

$3.06 ARS 4,366

11.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,163

$4.57 ARS 6,517

-36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 1,971

$2.04 ARS 2,917

-32.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,825

$3.19 ARS 4,554

-37.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,038

$0.77 ARS 1,095

-5.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,179

$1.47 ARS 2,099

4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ARS 1,121

$0.85 ARS 1,214

-7.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.95 ARS 11.3K

$6.08 ARS 8,669

30.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,626

$1.07 ARS 1,522

6.54%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.2M

$27.5K ARS 39.3M

-0.13%

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

$39.9K ARS 57.0M

$29.9K ARS 42.6M

33.68%

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

$84.2 ARS 120.1K

$67.5 ARS 96.4K

24.68%

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

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

$17.26 ARS 24.6K

-40.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.3K

$22.92 ARS 32.7K

10.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.04 ARS 24.3K

$26.07 ARS 37.2K

-34.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.02 ARS 11.4K

$14.01 ARS 20.0K

-42.76%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 ARS 5,557

$6.13 ARS 8,750

-36.38%

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

$163 ARS 232.0K

$222 ARS 317.0K

-26.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

$2,647 ARS 3.8M

18.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 ARS 81.7K

$73.5 ARS 104.9K

-22.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 ARS 89.8K

$68.3 ARS 97.5K

-7.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 91.1K

$114 ARS 162.8K

-44.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 ARS 88.2K

$110 ARS 157.0K

-43.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 ARS 408.1K

$338 ARS 482.0K

-15.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 291.6K

$239 ARS 341.5K

-14.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ARS 1.0M

$681 ARS 971.3K

6.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ARS 816.2K

$529 ARS 754.8K

8.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,053 ARS 2.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 855.1K

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Santiago del Estero: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Mar del Plata and $338 in Santiago del Estero. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Santiago del Estero. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $231, 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 Santiago del Estero: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Santiago del Estero. 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 $1,271 in Mar del Plata and $1,434 in Santiago del Estero 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: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $338 in Santiago del Estero. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Santiago del Estero. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $847 per month in Mar del Plata versus $956 in Santiago del Estero – a 13% 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 Santiago del Estero 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 13% less than in Santiago del Estero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.