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: $844 in Mar del Plata versus $976 in Ushuaia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,417 in Mar del Plata versus $1,579 in Ushuaia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,991 in Mar del Plata versus $2,183 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 37% lower, Ushuaia 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.53 ARS 14.2K

$10.48 ARS 15.7K

-9.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.25 ARS 55.7K

$33.37 ARS 49.9K

11.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 ARS 12.2K

$9.17 ARS 13.7K

-10.91%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ARS 3,603

$2.71 ARS 4,044

-11.07%

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

$2.18 ARS 3,260

$1.64 ARS 2,446

32.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,072

$1.56 ARS 2,334

31.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 ARS 4,993

$2.13 ARS 3,191

56.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,764

$2.93 ARS 4,378

8.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,570

$1.24 ARS 1,857

-15.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 ARS 2,063

$1.57 ARS 2,345

-12.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,084

$1.98 ARS 2,957

4.04%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,279

$2.25 ARS 3,356

-32.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.93 ARS 10.4K

$10.08 ARS 15.1K

-31.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ARS 7,810

$6.08 ARS 9,095

-14.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 ARS 11.2K

$9.45 ARS 14.1K

-20.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ARS 4,091

$1.97 ARS 2,946

39.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,244

$2.07 ARS 3,089

4.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 ARS 2,318

$1.28 ARS 1,907

21.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,661

$2.61 ARS 3,901

-6.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,827

$1.19 ARS 1,786

2.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,417

$1.23 ARS 1,846

-22.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 945

$1.26 ARS 1,890

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ARS 1,796

$1.42 ARS 2,118

-15.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 ARS 5,201

$3.19 ARS 4,774

9.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.95 ARS 4,406

$4.96 ARS 7,419

-40.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,082

$2.05 ARS 3,060

-32.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,966

$3.17 ARS 4,746

-37.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,136

$0.78 ARS 1,172

-2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,226

$1.51 ARS 2,262

-1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ARS 1,137

$0.91 ARS 1,354

-16.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.18 ARS 12.2K

$5.84 ARS 8,726

40.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 ARS 1,722

$1.10 ARS 1,646

4.55%

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

$28.2K ARS 42.2M

$26.9K ARS 40.3M

4.92%

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

$38.9K ARS 58.2M

$30.2K ARS 45.2M

28.80%

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

$85.2 ARS 127.4K

$67.6 ARS 101.1K

26.08%

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

$10.11 ARS 15.1K

$17.03 ARS 25.5K

-40.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.00 ARS 37.4K

$22.46 ARS 33.6K

11.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 ARS 26.3K

$26.56 ARS 39.7K

-33.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.84 ARS 11.7K

$13.53 ARS 20.2K

-42.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 ARS 6,124

$6.35 ARS 9,489

-35.43%

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

$159 ARS 238.4K

$223 ARS 333.5K

-28.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

$2,665 ARS 4.0M

19.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ARS 84.7K

$72.6 ARS 108.5K

-21.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 ARS 92.0K

$69.7 ARS 104.1K

-11.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ARS 97.2K

$117 ARS 175.1K

-44.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 ARS 93.7K

$112 ARS 168.0K

-44.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$283 ARS 422.4K

$333 ARS 497.2K

-15.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ARS 301.3K

$240 ARS 358.3K

-15.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 ARS 1.1M

$684 ARS 1.0M

6.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 874.5K

$546 ARS 816.7K

7.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,857 ARS 2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,610 ARS 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 921.3K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ushuaia: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Mar del Plata and $333 in Ushuaia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $37.00 in Mar del Plata vs $33.00 in Ushuaia. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $229, 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 16% 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 $1,266 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: $283 in Mar del Plata versus $333 in Ushuaia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Ushuaia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $844 per month in Mar del Plata versus $976 in Ushuaia – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Mar del Plata gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 16% less than in Ushuaia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.