Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $838 in Mar del Plata versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Mar del Plata versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Mar del Plata versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 42% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mar del Plata is 37% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.87 ARS 13.8K
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
176.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.84 ARS 51.4K
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
13.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.28 ARS 11.5K
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
63.31%
Cappuccino
$2.42 ARS 3,371
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-14.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 ARS 3,069
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
64.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 2,865
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
197.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.20 ARS 4,462
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 ARS 4,622
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-14.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 ARS 1,545
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-36.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ARS 1,982
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-44.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 ARS 2,909
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
74.79%
Eggs
$1.49 ARS 2,085
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-38.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.73 ARS 9,388
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-54.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 ARS 7,438
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
27.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.45 ARS 10.4K
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-37.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 ARS 3,794
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-26.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 ARS 2,959
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
31.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 ARS 2,102
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-43.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 ARS 3,519
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
8.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ARS 1,793
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-32.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 ARS 1,389
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-54.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 ARS 873
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-40.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ARS 1,681
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54 ARS 4,941
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
13.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.94 ARS 6,896
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-78.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 ARS 1,874
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-51.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ARS 2,722
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
-32.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 ARS 1,060
$0.29 Rp 5,029
162.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.90 ARS 13.8K
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
21.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ARS 2,139
$0.45 Rp 7,863
240.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 ARS 1,069
$0.42 Rp 7,305
83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.91 ARS 11.0K
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
28.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ARS 1,580
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
34.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ARS 38.9M
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
6.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K ARS 56.0M
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
23.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 ARS 116.8K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
6.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.36 ARS 14.5K
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
162.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.20 ARS 35.2K
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
3.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.02 ARS 23.8K
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-82.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.93 ARS 11.1K
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
24.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 ARS 5,431
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
-3.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 ARS 221.8K
$303 Rp 5.2M
-47.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,227 ARS 4.5M
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-50.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 ARS 77.4K
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
3.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7 ARS 86.1K
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
62.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.9 ARS 89.1K
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-26.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6 ARS 88.7K
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-19.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 ARS 391.5K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-72.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$206 ARS 287.4K
$674 Rp 11.7M
-69.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 ARS 1.0M
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-78.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$575 ARS 802.1K
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-72.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,203 ARS 3.1M
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-26.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mar del Plata
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$604 ARS 842.6K
$173 Rp 3.0M
248.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
58.5
13.28
340.51%

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

Last update for Mar del Plata: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Mar del Plata and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 249% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $298, 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mar del Plata or Ubud, Bali?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mar del Plata or Ubud, Bali?
Mar del Plata pays 249% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $281 in Mar del Plata versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mar del Plata compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $838 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mar del Plata vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Mar del Plata runs roughly 21% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mar del Plata or Ubud, Bali?
At $838 in Mar del Plata versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mar del Plata or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mar del Plata delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $838 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mar del Plata hard to pass up.
How safe is Mar del Plata compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Ubud, Bali 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 Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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