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: $1,042 in Mar del Plata versus $1,204 in Santiago del Estero.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,777 in Mar del Plata versus $1,988 in Santiago del Estero.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,511 in Mar del Plata versus $2,772 in Santiago del Estero.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 13% less than in Santiago del Estero, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 24% lower, Santiago del Estero 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 ARS 30.3K

$15.42 ARS 23.3K

29.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 ARS 89.5K

$53.1 ARS 80.4K

11.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.68 ARS 19.2K

$13.16 ARS 19.9K

-3.65%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ARS 4,677

$3.83 ARS 5,791

-19.32%

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

$2.54 ARS 3,847

$2.15 ARS 3,253

18.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ARS 3,052

$1.68 ARS 2,539

20.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 ARS 6,113

$3.65 ARS 5,523

10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ARS 4,593

$3.63 ARS 5,497

-16.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,640

$1.38 ARS 2,091

-21.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ARS 3,314

$2.11 ARS 3,191

3.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,835

$1.52 ARS 2,295

109.87%

Eggs

$2.45 ARS 3,713

$2.49 ARS 3,764

-1.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 ARS 8,572

$10.09 ARS 15.3K

-43.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 ARS 10.0K

$6.31 ARS 9,545

5.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ARS 18.3K

$11.63 ARS 17.6K

4.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 ARS 5,167

$2.31 ARS 3,492

47.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ARS 3,871

$2.23 ARS 3,371

14.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,321

$1.36 ARS 2,057

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,085

$2.14 ARS 3,240

-4.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ARS 1,666

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,542

$0.97 ARS 1,470

5.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ARS 2,360

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 ARS 2,518

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ARS 5,233

$3.28 ARS 4,962

5.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,460

$4.86 ARS 7,351

-39.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 ARS 3,088

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ARS 4,243

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,932

$0.98 ARS 1,476

30.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,407

$1.56 ARS 2,366

1.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ARS 1,035

$0.98 ARS 1,481

-30.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 ARS 9,476

$7.41 ARS 11.2K

-15.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ARS 2,062

$1.20 ARS 1,813

13.33%

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

$27.9K ARS 42.2M

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

$33.9K ARS 51.4M

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

$81.4 ARS 123.2K

$85.0 ARS 128.7K

-4.26%

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

$8.04 ARS 12.2K

$17.24 ARS 26.1K

-53.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.95 ARS 45.3K

$26.96 ARS 40.8K

11.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 ARS 47.4K

$30.73 ARS 46.5K

1.95%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$8.65 ARS 13.1K

17.23%

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

$304 ARS 460.8K

$303 ARS 458.9K

0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,149 ARS 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 ARS 135.0K

$109 ARS 164.7K

-18.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 ARS 116.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ARS 178.4K

$117 ARS 176.5K

1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 ARS 83.3K

$124 ARS 187.4K

-55.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ARS 501.5K

$473 ARS 715.7K

-29.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 378.2K

$311 ARS 470.1K

-19.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 ARS 1.2M

$1,006 ARS 1.5M

-19.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 ARS 989.2K

$762 ARS 1.2M

-14.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,357 ARS 3.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 ARS 926.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

56.56

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 8, 2026

Last update for Santiago del Estero: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Mar del Plata and $473 in Santiago del Estero. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Mar del Plata vs $53.0 in Santiago del Estero. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $246, 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 15% 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 $1,564 in Mar del Plata and $1,806 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: $331 in Mar del Plata versus $473 in Santiago del Estero. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Santiago del Estero. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,042 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,204 in Santiago del Estero – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,042 in Mar del Plata versus $1,204 in Santiago del Estero, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Santiago del Estero. 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 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 15% less than in Santiago del Estero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.