Cost of Living Comparison Between Paso de los Libres and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Paso de los Libres and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,010 in Paso de los Libres versus $847 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,645 in Paso de los Libres versus $1,433 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,281 in Paso de los Libres versus $2,019 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Paso de los Libres is roughly 19% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Paso de los Libres 25% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.38 ARS 14.8K

$9.93 ARS 14.2K

4.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.66 ARS 48.0K

$37.70 ARS 53.8K

-10.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.97 ARS 12.8K

$8.22 ARS 11.7K

9.12%

Cappuccino

$2.65 ARS 3,785

$2.45 ARS 3,494

8.16%

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

$1.64 ARS 2,341

$2.26 ARS 3,222

-27.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ARS 2,222

$2.12 ARS 3,018

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 ARS 2,979

$3.21 ARS 4,579

-34.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ARS 4,352

$3.34 ARS 4,766

-8.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ARS 1,873

$1.10 ARS 1,564

19.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 ARS 2,351

$1.42 ARS 2,031

16.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 ARS 2,921

$2.06 ARS 2,941

-0.49%

Eggs

$2.19 ARS 3,122

$1.52 ARS 2,171

44.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 ARS 14.3K

$6.79 ARS 9,681

48.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 ARS 8,691

$5.28 ARS 7,535

15.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.64 ARS 13.8K

$7.55 ARS 10.8K

27.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 ARS 2,787

$2.87 ARS 4,094

-32.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,040

$2.13 ARS 3,044

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ARS 1,795

$1.57 ARS 2,233

-19.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ARS 3,776

$2.49 ARS 3,557

6.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ARS 1,686

$1.23 ARS 1,755

-4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,774

$0.95 ARS 1,361

30.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ARS 1,887

$0.63 ARS 895

109.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ARS 2,097

$1.17 ARS 1,676

25.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 ARS 4,388

$3.42 ARS 4,877

-9.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.39 ARS 6,268

$2.92 ARS 4,163

50.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 ARS 2,951

$1.38 ARS 1,971

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ARS 4,559

$1.98 ARS 2,825

61.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 ARS 1,172

$0.73 ARS 1,038

12.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.72 ARS 39.5K

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

178.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 ARS 2,177

$1.53 ARS 2,179

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ARS 1,284

$0.79 ARS 1,121

13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 ARS 8,742

$7.95 ARS 11.3K

-22.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,515

$1.14 ARS 1,626

-7.02%

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

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

$27.5K ARS 39.2M

-0.75%

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

$30.3K ARS 43.2M

$39.9K ARS 57.0M

-24.07%

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

$66.4 ARS 94.8K

$84.2 ARS 120.1K

-21.11%

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

$17.22 ARS 24.6K

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

68.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.18 ARS 31.6K

$25.44 ARS 36.3K

-12.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.77 ARS 36.8K

$17.04 ARS 24.3K

51.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.89 ARS 19.8K

$8.02 ARS 11.4K

73.19%

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 ARS 8,664

$3.90 ARS 5,557

55.64%

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

$219 ARS 312.6K

$163 ARS 232.0K

34.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,699 ARS 3.9M

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

-14.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.2 ARS 107.2K

$57.3 ARS 81.7K

31.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ARS 99.8K

$63.0 ARS 89.8K

11.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ARS 162.0K

$63.9 ARS 91.1K

77.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ARS 157.5K

$61.9 ARS 88.2K

78.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$332 ARS 473.5K

$286 ARS 408.1K

16.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ARS 342.4K

$204 ARS 291.6K

17.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$671 ARS 957.0K

$723 ARS 1.0M

-7.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ARS 772.2K

$572 ARS 816.2K

-5.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,171 ARS 3.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 ARS 855.1K

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 Paso de los Libres: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $332 in Paso de los Libres and $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Paso de los Libres vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $194, 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

Paso de los Libres vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Paso de los Libres. 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 $1,514 in Paso de los Libres and $1,271 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: $332 in Paso de los Libres versus $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,010 per month in Paso de los Libres versus $847 in Mar del Plata – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mar del Plata runs roughly 178% less than in Paso de los Libres. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Paso de los Libres 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 19% less than in Paso de los Libres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.