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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,042 in Mar del Plata versus $975 in Ushuaia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,777 in Mar del Plata versus $1,583 in Ushuaia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,511 in Mar del Plata versus $2,191 in Ushuaia.

Living in Mar del Plata is roughly 7% more expensive than in Ushuaia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 24% lower, Ushuaia 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 ARS 30.2K

$10.59 ARS 16.0K

89.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 ARS 89.2K

$33.44 ARS 50.4K

76.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.68 ARS 19.1K

$9.17 ARS 13.8K

38.28%

Cappuccino

$3.09 ARS 4,661

$2.77 ARS 4,177

11.55%

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

$2.54 ARS 3,835

$1.70 ARS 2,568

49.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ARS 3,042

$1.54 ARS 2,323

31.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.04 ARS 6,093

$2.09 ARS 3,149

93.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ARS 4,578

$2.92 ARS 4,412

3.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,634

$1.25 ARS 1,891

-13.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 ARS 3,303

$1.63 ARS 2,457

34.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,819

$2.03 ARS 3,065

57.14%

Eggs

$2.45 ARS 3,700

$2.19 ARS 3,303

11.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 ARS 8,543

$9.92 ARS 15.0K

-42.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 ARS 10.0K

$6.11 ARS 9,217

8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ARS 18.2K

$9.19 ARS 13.9K

31.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.41 ARS 5,150

$2.02 ARS 3,048

68.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ARS 3,858

$2.13 ARS 3,208

20.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,314

$1.32 ARS 1,993

15.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,075

$2.65 ARS 3,996

-23.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ARS 1,716

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,537

$1.25 ARS 1,885

-18.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 ARS 1,913

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,230

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.46 ARS 5,216

$3.15 ARS 4,757

9.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,445

$4.89 ARS 7,371

-39.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 ARS 3,117

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,563

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,926

$0.78 ARS 1,172

64.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,399

$1.48 ARS 2,237

7.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ARS 1,032

$0.90 ARS 1,360

-24.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.26 ARS 9,445

$6.17 ARS 9,307

1.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ARS 2,055

$1.05 ARS 1,587

29.52%

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

$27.2K ARS 41.0M

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

$30.1K ARS 45.5M

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

$81.4 ARS 122.8K

$67.1 ARS 101.1K

21.43%

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

$8.04 ARS 12.1K

$16.94 ARS 25.6K

-52.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.95 ARS 45.2K

$22.69 ARS 34.2K

32.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.33 ARS 47.3K

$25.85 ARS 39.0K

21.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.57 ARS 20.5K

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$6.06 ARS 9,136

67.33%

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

$304 ARS 459.3K

$224 ARS 337.5K

36.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,661 ARS 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.2 ARS 134.6K

$74.0 ARS 111.7K

20.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.6 ARS 103.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ARS 177.8K

$115 ARS 173.6K

2.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.0 ARS 83.0K

$112 ARS 168.5K

-50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ARS 499.8K

$337 ARS 508.8K

-1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 377.0K

$239 ARS 360.3K

4.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 ARS 1.2M

$683 ARS 1.0M

18.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 ARS 985.9K

$530 ARS 799.2K

23.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,900 ARS 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,608 ARS 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 ARS 923.3K

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: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ushuaia: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Mar del Plata and $337 in Ushuaia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Ushuaia. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $230, 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 Ushuaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ushuaia wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ushuaia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,564 in Mar del Plata and $1,463 in Ushuaia 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: $331 in Mar del Plata versus $337 in Ushuaia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,042 per month in Mar del Plata versus $975 in Ushuaia – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $975 in Ushuaia versus $1,042 in Mar del Plata, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ushuaia but tight or insufficient in Mar del Plata. The gap between the two cities makes Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.