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