Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Villa María Cost of Living Comparison Between Mar del Plata and Villa María

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Mar del Plata versus $950 in Villa María.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Mar del Plata versus $1,581 in Villa María.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,019 in Mar del Plata versus $2,212 in Villa María.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 11% less than in Villa María, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 37% lower, Villa María 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 ARS 14.3K

$10.56 ARS 15.2K

-5.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.70 ARS 54.2K

$34.05 ARS 49.0K

10.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 ARS 11.8K

$8.86 ARS 12.7K

-7.22%

Cappuccino

$2.45 ARS 3,523

$2.67 ARS 3,839

-8.24%

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

$2.26 ARS 3,249

$1.73 ARS 2,482

30.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ARS 3,044

$1.56 ARS 2,247

35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 ARS 4,618

$2.15 ARS 3,097

49.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ARS 4,806

$2.91 ARS 4,188

14.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,577

$1.30 ARS 1,871

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ARS 2,048

$1.57 ARS 2,263

-9.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 2,966

$1.94 ARS 2,793

6.19%

Eggs

$1.52 ARS 2,189

$2.16 ARS 3,103

-29.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 ARS 9,763

$10.00 ARS 14.4K

-32.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 ARS 7,598

$6.25 ARS 8,990

-15.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 ARS 10.9K

$9.52 ARS 13.7K

-20.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ARS 4,129

$1.95 ARS 2,804

47.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,069

$2.13 ARS 3,057

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 ARS 2,252

$1.27 ARS 1,821

23.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 ARS 3,587

$2.50 ARS 3,601

-0.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,770

$1.18 ARS 1,703

4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 ARS 1,373

$1.19 ARS 1,707

-20.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 ARS 903

$1.28 ARS 1,841

-50.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,690

$1.49 ARS 2,142

-21.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,918

$3.12 ARS 4,486

9.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,198

$4.98 ARS 7,167

-41.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ARS 1,987

$2.00 ARS 2,872

-31.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,848

$3.09 ARS 4,438

-35.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 ARS 1,047

$0.77 ARS 1,109

-5.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,197

$1.48 ARS 2,132

3.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 ARS 1,130

$0.93 ARS 1,333

-15.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.95 ARS 11.4K

$5.91 ARS 8,502

34.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,639

$1.05 ARS 1,513

8.57%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.5M

$27.9K ARS 40.1M

-1.44%

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

$39.9K ARS 57.4M

$30.0K ARS 43.1M

33.23%

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

$84.2 ARS 121.1K

$66.6 ARS 95.8K

26.52%

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

$10.23 ARS 14.7K

$17.04 ARS 24.5K

-39.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.44 ARS 36.6K

$22.97 ARS 33.0K

10.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.04 ARS 24.5K

$26.58 ARS 38.2K

-35.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.02 ARS 11.5K

$13.82 ARS 19.9K

-41.97%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 ARS 5,604

$6.06 ARS 8,711

-35.64%

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

$163 ARS 233.9K

$222 ARS 319.3K

-26.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

$2,676 ARS 3.8M

17.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 ARS 82.4K

$72.4 ARS 104.1K

-20.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.0 ARS 90.6K

$69.5 ARS 100.0K

-9.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.9 ARS 91.9K

$115 ARS 165.2K

-44.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 ARS 89.0K

$112 ARS 161.4K

-44.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 ARS 411.5K

$339 ARS 488.2K

-15.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 294.1K

$233 ARS 335.8K

-12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 ARS 1.0M

$677 ARS 974.2K

6.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 ARS 823.1K

$532 ARS 765.0K

7.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,063 ARS 3.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$754 ARS 1.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 862.3K

$485 ARS 697.9K

23.56%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Villa María: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Mar del Plata and $339 in Villa María. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar 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.

Dining out: $38.00 in Mar del Plata vs $34.00 in Villa María. 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 María: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Villa María. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

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.

Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Mar del Plata versus $339 in Villa María. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $847 per month in Mar del Plata versus $950 in Villa María – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $847 in Mar del Plata versus $950 in Villa María, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Villa María. 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 Villa María 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 12% less than in Villa María. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.