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: $841 in Mar del Plata versus $956 in Santiago del Estero.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,452 in Mar del Plata versus $1,556 in Santiago del Estero.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,062 in Mar del Plata versus $2,156 in Santiago del Estero.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 12% 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 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

$10.70 ARS 15.8K

-10.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

$33.80 ARS 49.9K

9.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

$9.08 ARS 13.4K

-10.57%

Cappuccino

$2.49 ARS 3,674

$2.74 ARS 4,045

-9.12%

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

$2.27 ARS 3,353

$1.66 ARS 2,453

36.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ARS 3,176

$1.48 ARS 2,190

45.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 ARS 4,870

$2.07 ARS 3,065

58.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ARS 4,707

$2.91 ARS 4,308

9.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,557

$1.30 ARS 1,919

-19.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,114

$1.64 ARS 2,423

-12.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,180

$1.95 ARS 2,888

10.26%

Eggs

$1.55 ARS 2,296

$2.20 ARS 3,255

-29.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 ARS 9,818

$10.25 ARS 15.2K

-35.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ARS 7,584

$6.29 ARS 9,303

-18.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

$9.12 ARS 13.5K

-15.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 4,014

$1.94 ARS 2,862

40.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ARS 3,119

$2.14 ARS 3,170

-1.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,296

$1.30 ARS 1,927

19.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ARS 3,689

$2.64 ARS 3,909

-5.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,796

$1.13 ARS 1,665

7.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,519

$1.19 ARS 1,758

-13.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ARS 985

$1.26 ARS 1,858

-46.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ARS 1,717

$1.42 ARS 2,095

-18.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.55 ARS 5,251

$3.12 ARS 4,605

13.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,394

$5.20 ARS 7,683

-42.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 2,039

$2.06 ARS 3,047

-33.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,030

$3.03 ARS 4,480

-32.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 ARS 1,051

$0.78 ARS 1,160

-8.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ARS 2,167

$1.47 ARS 2,178

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 ARS 1,133

$0.91 ARS 1,341

-15.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

$5.87 ARS 8,673

40.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,685

$1.06 ARS 1,570

7.55%

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

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

$27.9K ARS 41.2M

-1.23%

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

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

$30.5K ARS 45.0M

30.42%

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

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

$67.2 ARS 99.3K

29.11%

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

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

$17.49 ARS 25.8K

-41.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

$22.75 ARS 33.6K

9.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

$26.32 ARS 38.9K

-35.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

$13.62 ARS 20.1K

-42.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 ARS 5,930

$6.30 ARS 9,309

-36.35%

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

$162 ARS 239.1K

$223 ARS 329.3K

-27.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

$2,651 ARS 3.9M

20.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

$74.4 ARS 109.9K

-25.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

$70.6 ARS 104.4K

-11.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

$115 ARS 169.8K

-43.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

$114 ARS 168.1K

-46.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 ARS 411.3K

$332 ARS 490.6K

-16.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 ARS 300.2K

$239 ARS 353.8K

-15.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$707 ARS 1.0M

$682 ARS 1.0M

3.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 ARS 859.4K

$540 ARS 797.5K

7.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,270 ARS 3.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,769 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ARS 890.3K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Santiago del Estero: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Mar del Plata and $332 in Santiago del Estero. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Santiago del Estero. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 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 14% 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 $1,262 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: $278 in Mar del Plata versus $332 in Santiago del Estero. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Santiago del Estero. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $841 per month in Mar del Plata versus $956 in Santiago del Estero – a 14% 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 14% less than in Santiago del Estero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.