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: $855 in Mar del Plata versus $981 in Ushuaia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Mar del Plata versus $1,605 in Ushuaia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Mar del Plata versus $2,230 in Ushuaia.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 13% less than in Ushuaia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 36% lower, Ushuaia 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

$10.35 ARS 14.8K

-9.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

$34.15 ARS 48.8K

11.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

$8.90 ARS 12.7K

-9.33%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ARS 3,529

$2.78 ARS 3,966

-11.15%

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

$2.17 ARS 3,094

$1.63 ARS 2,329

33.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,033

$1.50 ARS 2,139

41.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 ARS 4,687

$2.07 ARS 2,963

58.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ARS 4,721

$3.02 ARS 4,318

9.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,510

$1.26 ARS 1,795

-15.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ARS 2,049

$1.56 ARS 2,235

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ARS 3,082

$1.94 ARS 2,773

11.34%

Eggs

$1.58 ARS 2,261

$2.26 ARS 3,231

-30.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 ARS 9,772

$10.05 ARS 14.4K

-31.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ARS 7,639

$6.16 ARS 8,796

-13.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

$9.31 ARS 13.3K

-16.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ARS 3,946

$2.04 ARS 2,913

35.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,036

$2.15 ARS 3,069

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 ARS 2,140

$1.30 ARS 1,858

15.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,618

$2.53 ARS 3,612

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,829

$1.18 ARS 1,689

8.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 ARS 1,370

$1.25 ARS 1,789

-23.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ARS 885

$1.31 ARS 1,865

-52.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,725

$1.48 ARS 2,109

-18.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.49 ARS 4,979

$3.11 ARS 4,437

12.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.08 ARS 4,399

$4.86 ARS 6,949

-36.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,904

$2.01 ARS 2,867

-33.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ARS 2,805

$3.17 ARS 4,524

-38.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ARS 1,076

$0.84 ARS 1,198

-10.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$1.51 ARS 2,159

-3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ARS 1,051

$0.93 ARS 1,327

-20.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

$5.91 ARS 8,442

32.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,570

$1.10 ARS 1,576

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$27.0K ARS 38.5M

1.12%

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

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

$30.2K ARS 43.1M

29.25%

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

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

$67.1 ARS 95.9K

27.21%

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

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

$16.95 ARS 24.2K

-39.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

$22.86 ARS 32.7K

11.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

$25.91 ARS 37.0K

-33.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

$13.67 ARS 19.5K

-42.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ARS 5,686

$6.18 ARS 8,824

-35.60%

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

$162 ARS 232.1K

$216 ARS 309.1K

-24.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

$2,682 ARS 3.8M

20.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

$73.6 ARS 105.2K

-23.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

$68.3 ARS 97.6K

-8.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

$113 ARS 161.8K

-43.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

$110 ARS 157.0K

-42.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 ARS 406.9K

$344 ARS 490.7K

-17.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$206 ARS 294.8K

$235 ARS 335.9K

-12.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ARS 1.0M

$688 ARS 983.4K

4.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$582 ARS 831.8K

$546 ARS 780.3K

6.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,870 ARS 2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,572 ARS 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

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 Ushuaia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Mar del Plata and $344 in Ushuaia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Ushuaia. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Ushuaia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,282 in Mar del Plata and $1,471 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: $285 in Mar del Plata versus $344 in Ushuaia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Ushuaia. 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 $981 in Ushuaia – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $855 in Mar del Plata versus $981 in Ushuaia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Ushuaia. 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 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 Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Ushuaia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.