Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuquen and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Neuquen and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Neuquen versus $855 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,695 in Neuquen versus $1,426 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,427 in Neuquen versus $1,997 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Neuquen is roughly 13% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Neuquen 28% lower, Mar del Plata 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.33 ARS 14.8K

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

10.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.54 ARS 47.9K

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

-12.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 ARS 13.2K

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

14.75%

Cappuccino

$2.76 ARS 3,945

$2.47 ARS 3,529

11.74%

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

$1.64 ARS 2,341

$2.17 ARS 3,094

-24.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,193

$2.12 ARS 3,033

-27.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ARS 3,072

$3.28 ARS 4,687

-34.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ARS 4,193

$3.30 ARS 4,721

-10.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,859

$1.06 ARS 1,510

22.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ARS 2,264

$1.43 ARS 2,049

10.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,768

$2.16 ARS 3,082

-10.19%

Eggs

$2.17 ARS 3,095

$1.58 ARS 2,261

37.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

$6.84 ARS 9,772

45.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 ARS 9,059

$5.35 ARS 7,639

18.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ARS 13.0K

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

17.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ARS 2,821

$2.76 ARS 3,946

-28.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,069

$2.13 ARS 3,036

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,859

$1.50 ARS 2,140

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 ARS 3,639

$2.53 ARS 3,618

0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,706

$1.28 ARS 1,829

-7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,790

$0.96 ARS 1,370

30.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ARS 1,802

$0.62 ARS 885

103.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,118

$1.21 ARS 1,725

22.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ARS 4,567

$3.49 ARS 4,979

-8.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.35 ARS 6,214

$3.08 ARS 4,399

41.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 ARS 2,821

$1.33 ARS 1,904

48.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 ARS 4,503

$1.96 ARS 2,805

60.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,087

$0.75 ARS 1,076

1.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,188

$1.46 ARS 2,089

4.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 ARS 1,322

$0.74 ARS 1,051

25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 ARS 8,387

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

-25.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,525

$1.10 ARS 1,570

-2.73%

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

$27.5K ARS 39.3M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

0.83%

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

$30.7K ARS 43.9M

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

-21.15%

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

$67.2 ARS 96.0K

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

-21.32%

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

$17.50 ARS 25.0K

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

70.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.09 ARS 31.6K

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

-13.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.29 ARS 43.3K

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

75.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.72 ARS 19.6K

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

74.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 ARS 8,769

$3.98 ARS 5,686

54.27%

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

$216 ARS 308.3K

$162 ARS 232.1K

32.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,736 ARS 3.9M

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

-15.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.5 ARS 103.6K

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

28.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 ARS 97.6K

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

9.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ARS 165.3K

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

80.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ARS 162.3K

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

80.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$688 ARS 982.8K

$285 ARS 406.9K

141.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 332.8K

$206 ARS 294.8K

12.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,489 ARS 2.1M

$718 ARS 1.0M

107.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$799 ARS 1.1M

$582 ARS 831.8K

37.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,781 ARS 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,229 ARS 1.8M

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 Neuquen: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $688 in Neuquen and $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Neuquen vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $195, 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

Neuquen vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Neuquen. 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 $1,445 in Neuquen and $1,282 in Mar del Plata 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: $688 in Neuquen versus $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Neuquen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $964 per month in Neuquen versus $855 in Mar del Plata – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $855 in Mar del Plata versus $964 in Neuquen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Neuquen. 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, Neuquen and Mar del Plata 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 Neuquen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.