๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $950 in Villa Marรญa.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Mar del Plata versus $1,581 in Villa Marรญa.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Mar del Plata versus $2,212 in Villa Marรญa.
๐Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 11% less than in Villa Marรญa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata37% lower, Villa Marรญa29% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93ARSย 14.3K
$10.56ARSย 15.2K
-5.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.70ARSย 54.2K
$34.05ARSย 49.0K
10.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22ARSย 11.8K
$8.86ARSย 12.7K
-7.22%
Cappuccino
$2.45ARSย 3,523
$2.67ARSย 3,839
-8.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26ARSย 3,249
$1.73ARSย 2,482
30.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12ARSย 3,044
$1.56ARSย 2,247
35.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21ARSย 4,618
$2.15ARSย 3,097
49.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34ARSย 4,806
$2.91ARSย 4,188
14.78%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10ARSย 1,577
$1.30ARSย 1,871
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42ARSย 2,048
$1.57ARSย 2,263
-9.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06ARSย 2,966
$1.94ARSย 2,793
6.19%
Eggs
$1.52ARSย 2,189
$2.16ARSย 3,103
-29.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79ARSย 9,763
$10.00ARSย 14.4K
-32.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.28ARSย 7,598
$6.25ARSย 8,990
-15.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55ARSย 10.9K
$9.52ARSย 13.7K
-20.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87ARSย 4,129
$1.95ARSย 2,804
47.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13ARSย 3,069
$2.13ARSย 3,057
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57ARSย 2,252
$1.27ARSย 1,821
23.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49ARSย 3,587
$2.50ARSย 3,601
-0.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23ARSย 1,770
$1.18ARSย 1,703
4.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95ARSย 1,373
$1.19ARSย 1,707
-20.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63ARSย 903
$1.28ARSย 1,841
-50.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17ARSย 1,690
$1.49ARSย 2,142
-21.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42ARSย 4,918
$3.12ARSย 4,486
9.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.92ARSย 4,198
$4.98ARSย 7,167
-41.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38ARSย 1,987
$2.00ARSย 2,872
-31.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98ARSย 2,848
$3.09ARSย 4,438
-35.92%
๐ Getting Around
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73ARSย 1,047
$0.77ARSย 1,109
-5.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97ARSย 14.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53ARSย 2,197
$1.48ARSย 2,132
3.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79ARSย 1,130
$0.93ARSย 1,333
-15.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.95ARSย 11.4K
$5.91ARSย 8,502
34.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14ARSย 1,639
$1.05ARSย 1,513
8.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KARSย 39.5M
$27.9KARSย 40.1M
-1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KARSย 57.4M
$30.0KARSย 43.1M
33.23%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.2ARSย 121.1K
$66.6ARSย 95.8K
26.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.23ARSย 14.7K
$17.04ARSย 24.5K
-39.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.44ARSย 36.6K
$22.97ARSย 33.0K
10.75%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.04ARSย 24.5K
$26.58ARSย 38.2K
-35.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.02ARSย 11.5K
$13.82ARSย 19.9K
-41.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.90ARSย 5,604
$6.06ARSย 8,711
-35.64%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163ARSย 233.9K
$222ARSย 319.3K
-26.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,145ARSย 4.5M
$2,676ARSย 3.8M
17.52%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3ARSย 82.4K
$72.4ARSย 104.1K
-20.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.0ARSย 90.6K
$69.5ARSย 100.0K
-9.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.9ARSย 91.9K
$115ARSย 165.2K
-44.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9ARSย 89.0K
$112ARSย 161.4K
-44.86%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286ARSย 411.5K
$339ARSย 488.2K
-15.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204ARSย 294.1K
$233ARSย 335.8K
-12.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$723ARSย 1.0M
$677ARSย 974.2K
6.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572ARSย 823.1K
$532ARSย 765.0K
7.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,063ARSย 3.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$754ARSย 1.1M
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mar del Plata
Villa Marรญa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$599ARSย 862.3K
$485ARSย 697.9K
23.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
58.5
58.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026
Last update for Villa Marรญa: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Mar del Plata and $339 in Villa Marรญa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMar del Plata pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Villa Marรญa. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 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 Villa Marรญa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mar del Plata or Villa Marรญa?
Mar del Plata wins on cost โ living expenses run 12% lower than in Villa Marรญa. 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 Villa Marรญa?
Mar del Plata pays 24% 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 Villa Marรญa?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $339 in Villa Marรญa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mar del Plata or Villa Marรญa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Villa Marรญa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Mar del Plata compared to Villa Marรญa?
All in, you'll spend $847 per month in Mar del Plata versus $950 in Villa Marรญa โ a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mar del Plata or Villa Marรญa?
At $847 in Mar del Plata versus $950 in Villa Marรญa, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Villa Marรญa. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mar del Plata or Villa Marรญa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Mar del Plata compared to Villa Marรญa?
Safety-wise, Mar del Plata and Villa Marรญa 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 โ expenses run 12% less than in Villa Marรญa. 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