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: $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,159 in Villa María.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,784 in Mar del Plata versus $1,908 in Villa María.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,544 in Mar del Plata versus $2,657 in Villa María.

Living in Mar del Plata costs roughly 12% less than in Villa María, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mar del Plata 25% lower, Villa María 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.19 ARS 30.4K

$15.06 ARS 22.7K

34.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 ARS 90.7K

$50.1 ARS 75.4K

20.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 ARS 18.9K

$11.40 ARS 17.2K

10.00%

Cappuccino

$3.12 ARS 4,692

$3.94 ARS 5,938

-20.81%

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

$2.47 ARS 3,717

$2.23 ARS 3,364

10.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ARS 3,057

$2.07 ARS 3,115

-1.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ARS 6,179

$3.57 ARS 5,372

14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,547

$4.58 ARS 6,892

-34.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,613

$1.30 ARS 1,965

-17.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ARS 3,306

$2.02 ARS 3,049

8.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ARS 4,803

$1.95 ARS 2,943

63.59%

Eggs

$2.35 ARS 3,537

$2.67 ARS 4,023

-11.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 ARS 8,881

$9.50 ARS 14.3K

-37.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 ARS 9,698

$6.36 ARS 9,582

1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 ARS 18.9K

$10.52 ARS 15.8K

19.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ARS 4,897

$2.40 ARS 3,616

35.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 ARS 3,687

$2.23 ARS 3,358

9.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,208

$1.43 ARS 2,149

2.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,074

$2.44 ARS 3,672

-16.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,539

$1.19 ARS 1,797

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 ARS 5,355

$3.07 ARS 4,625

15.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,475

$4.98 ARS 7,494

-40.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 ARS 1,935

$0.90 ARS 1,349

42.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 ARS 2,492

$1.79 ARS 2,701

-7.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ARS 1,048

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,775

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,071

$1.10 ARS 1,656

25.45%

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

$81.3 ARS 122.5K

$116 ARS 175.0K

-30.02%

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

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

$17.65 ARS 26.6K

-55.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.34 ARS 45.7K

$29.80 ARS 44.9K

1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.56 ARS 47.5K

$26.08 ARS 39.3K

21.01%

Cinema Ticket

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

$9.31 ARS 14.0K

8.92%

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

$300 ARS 452.4K

$297 ARS 447.9K

0.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ARS 132.0K

$104 ARS 155.9K

-15.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ARS 181.3K

$119 ARS 178.7K

1.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ARS 81.3K

$136 ARS 204.8K

-60.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ARS 494.9K

$443 ARS 666.7K

-25.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 ARS 384.9K

$289 ARS 434.7K

-11.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 ARS 1.2M

$929 ARS 1.4M

-12.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 ARS 990.2K

$742 ARS 1.1M

-11.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 920.6K

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Last update for Villa María: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Mar del Plata and $443 in Villa María. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $60.0 in Mar del Plata vs $50.0 in Villa María. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $199, 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 13% 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.

You'd need roughly $1,535 in Mar del Plata and $1,738 in Villa María 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: $329 in Mar del Plata versus $443 in Villa María. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Villa María. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Mar del Plata versus $1,159 in Villa María – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,159 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 13% less than in Villa María. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.