😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $781 in Ubon Ratchathani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Mar del Plata versus $1,408 in Ubon Ratchathani.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Mar del Plata versus $2,034 in Ubon Ratchathani.
😐Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 8% more expensive than Ubon Ratchathani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata37% lower, Ubon Ratchathani42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93ARS 14.3K
$2.99฿98.0
232.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.70ARS 54.3K
$24.81฿814
51.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22ARS 11.8K
$6.35฿208
29.45%
Cappuccino
$2.45ARS 3,528
$1.95฿63.9
25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26ARS 3,254
$1.10฿35.99
105.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12ARS 3,048
$0.53฿17.32
300.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21ARS 4,624
$2.39฿78.4
34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34ARS 4,812
$2.86฿93.8
16.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10ARS 1,579
$1.67฿54.9
-34.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42ARS 2,051
$1.40฿45.93
1.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06ARS 2,970
$1.26฿41.22
63.49%
Eggs
$1.52ARS 2,192
$2.24฿73.4
-32.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79ARS 9,776
$18.18฿596
-62.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.28ARS 7,609
$3.12฿102
69.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55ARS 10.9K
$10.98฿360
-31.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87ARS 4,135
$3.21฿105
-10.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13ARS 3,073
$1.22฿40.00
74.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57ARS 2,255
$1.96฿64.3
-19.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49ARS 3,592
$1.60฿52.5
55.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23ARS 1,772
$1.49฿48.80
-17.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95ARS 1,375
$1.21฿39.58
-21.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63ARS 904
$0.99฿32.41
-36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ARS 1,692
$0.48฿15.89
143.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42ARS 4,925
$4.30฿141
-20.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.92ARS 4,204
$14.02฿460
-79.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38ARS 1,990
$1.76฿57.6
-21.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98ARS 2,852
$2.76฿90.5
-28.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73ARS 1,048
$0.96฿31.48
-23.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97ARS 14.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53ARS 2,200
$1.06฿34.66
44.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79ARS 1,132
$1.16฿37.88
-31.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.95ARS 11.5K
$6.00฿197
32.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14ARS 1,642
$1.24฿40.62
-8.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KARS 39.6M
$27.6K฿904.0K
-0.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KARS 57.5M
$27.3K฿896.8K
45.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.2ARS 121.3K
$75.1฿2,464
12.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23ARS 14.7K
$12.89฿423
-20.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.44ARS 36.6K
$15.15฿497
67.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.04ARS 24.5K
$48.88฿1,603
-65.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.02ARS 11.6K
$12.13฿398
-33.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.90ARS 5,611
$7.24฿238
-46.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163ARS 234.2K
$302฿9,915
-46.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,145ARS 4.5M
$9,663฿316.9K
-67.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3ARS 82.5K
$34.14฿1,119
67.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.0ARS 90.7K
$34.44฿1,129
82.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.9ARS 92.0K
$98.9฿3,243
-35.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9ARS 89.1K
$69.9฿2,290
-11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286ARS 412.1K
$248฿8,143
15.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204ARS 294.5K
$163฿5,341
25.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$723ARS 1.0M
$825฿27.1K
-12.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572ARS 824.3K
$666฿21.8K
-14.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,725฿56.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,338฿43.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mar del Plata
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$599ARS 863.5K
$371฿12.2K
61.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
58.5
5.45
973.39%
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 Ubon Ratchathani: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Mar del Plata and $248 in Ubon Ratchathani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mar del Plata pays 62% 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 $25.00 in Ubon Ratchathani. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 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 Ubon Ratchathani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mar del Plata or Ubon Ratchathani?
Ubon Ratchathani wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubon Ratchathani the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mar del Plata or Ubon Ratchathani?
Mar del Plata pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mar del Plata vs Ubon Ratchathani?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $248 in Ubon Ratchathani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mar del Plata or Ubon Ratchathani?
Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Mar del Plata compared to Ubon Ratchathani?
All in, you'll spend $847 per month in Mar del Plata versus $781 in Ubon Ratchathani – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mar del Plata or Ubon Ratchathani?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ubon Ratchathani gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mar del Plata or Ubon Ratchathani?
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.
How safe is Mar del Plata compared to Ubon Ratchathani?
Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Ubon Ratchathani are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubon Ratchathani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mar del Plata vs other spots: cost of living compared