Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Tandil Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Tandil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $1,034 in Tandil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,648 in Tandil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,262 in Tandil.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 17% less than in Tandil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, Tandil 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$8.82 ARS 12.6K

6.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$40.11 ARS 57.3K

-4.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$10.46 ARS 14.9K

-22.85%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$2.26 ARS 3,228

9.29%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.78 ARS 2,546

21.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$0.97 ARS 1,390

118.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$3.31 ARS 4,725

-0.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$1.97 ARS 2,808

67.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$0.98 ARS 1,402

8.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.14 ARS 1,621

25.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.67 ARS 2,384

29.34%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$4.17 ARS 5,952

-62.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$8.06 ARS 11.5K

-15.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$6.31 ARS 9,019

-15.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$8.91 ARS 12.7K

-13.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$1.95 ARS 2,787

41.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$2.11 ARS 3,017

0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$1.32 ARS 1,889

13.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.61 ARS 3,729

-3.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$1.18 ARS 1,684

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$1.24 ARS 1,775

-22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$1.31 ARS 1,875

-52.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.43 ARS 2,036

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$3.04 ARS 4,343

14.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$5.02 ARS 7,178

-38.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$1.99 ARS 2,842

-33.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$3.17 ARS 4,535

-38.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.73 ARS 1,042

2.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$1.52 ARS 2,173

-3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.91 ARS 1,301

-18.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$5.96 ARS 8,520

31.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.07 ARS 1,531

2.80%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$27.8K ARS 39.7M

-1.92%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$30.2K ARS 43.1M

29.06%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$67.3 ARS 96.2K

26.79%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$14.83 ARS 21.2K

-30.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$18.97 ARS 27.1K

33.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$20.36 ARS 29.1K

-15.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$11.70 ARS 16.7K

-32.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$6.14 ARS 8,766

-35.18%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$216 ARS 308.9K

-24.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$2,724 ARS 3.9M

19.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$69.8 ARS 99.6K

-19.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$74.2 ARS 105.9K

-15.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$100 ARS 143.1K

-35.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$117 ARS 166.9K

-46.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$432 ARS 616.8K

-34.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$326 ARS 465.0K

-36.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$787 ARS 1.1M

-8.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$679 ARS 969.5K

-14.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,641 ARS 2.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,427 ARS 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

$1,196 ARS 1.7M

-48.35%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tandil: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $432 in Tandil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tandil pays 94% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $40.00 in Tandil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $222 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 Tandil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Tandil. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Tandil earns 94% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $432 in Tandil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Tandil. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,034 in Tandil – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $855 in Mar del Plata versus $1,034 in Tandil, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Tandil. 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 Tandil 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 21% less than in Tandil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.