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: $984 in Paso de los Libres versus $841 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,593 in Paso de los Libres versus $1,452 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,201 in Paso de los Libres versus $2,062 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Paso de los Libres is roughly 17% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Paso de los Libres 26% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.46 ARS 15.5K

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

9.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.11 ARS 50.4K

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

-7.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 ARS 13.0K

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

8.25%

Cappuccino

$2.74 ARS 4,052

$2.49 ARS 3,674

10.04%

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

$1.65 ARS 2,436

$2.27 ARS 3,353

-27.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,273

$2.15 ARS 3,176

-28.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 ARS 3,212

$3.29 ARS 4,870

-34.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 ARS 4,538

$3.18 ARS 4,707

-3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,873

$1.05 ARS 1,557

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,312

$1.43 ARS 2,114

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 ARS 2,907

$2.15 ARS 3,180

-8.37%

Eggs

$2.21 ARS 3,266

$1.55 ARS 2,296

42.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 ARS 15.1K

$6.64 ARS 9,818

53.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 ARS 9,254

$5.13 ARS 7,584

22.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

23.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 3,003

$2.72 ARS 4,014

-25.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,051

$2.11 ARS 3,119

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,891

$1.55 ARS 2,296

-17.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 ARS 3,756

$2.50 ARS 3,689

1.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,760

$1.22 ARS 1,796

-2.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,757

$1.03 ARS 1,519

15.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ARS 1,867

$0.67 ARS 985

88.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ARS 2,108

$1.16 ARS 1,717

23.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 ARS 4,507

$3.55 ARS 5,251

-14.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.09 ARS 7,519

$2.97 ARS 4,394

71.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 3,044

$1.38 ARS 2,039

49.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 ARS 4,513

$2.05 ARS 3,030

48.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 ARS 1,231

$0.71 ARS 1,051

16.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.65 ARS 40.9K

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

179.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,201

$1.47 ARS 2,167

1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ARS 1,275

$0.77 ARS 1,133

11.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 ARS 8,769

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

-27.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,572

$1.14 ARS 1,685

-7.02%

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

$27.8K ARS 41.1M

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

1.04%

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

$30.4K ARS 44.9M

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

-23.49%

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

$67.8 ARS 100.2K

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

-21.80%

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

$17.44 ARS 25.8K

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

70.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.74 ARS 33.6K

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

-8.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.91 ARS 38.3K

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

51.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.03 ARS 20.7K

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

80.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.34 ARS 9,363

$4.01 ARS 5,930

58.10%

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

$222 ARS 328.5K

$162 ARS 239.1K

37.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,711 ARS 4.0M

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

-14.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.0 ARS 107.9K

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

31.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 ARS 101.0K

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

8.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ARS 170.7K

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

77.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ARS 164.8K

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

81.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 ARS 499.7K

$278 ARS 411.3K

21.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 ARS 346.4K

$203 ARS 300.2K

15.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$683 ARS 1.0M

$707 ARS 1.0M

-3.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 ARS 785.1K

$581 ARS 859.4K

-8.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,531 ARS 3.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,406 ARS 2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ARS 890.3K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $338 in Paso de los Libres and $278 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 $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $193, 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 17% 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 $1,476 in Paso de los Libres and $1,262 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: $338 in Paso de los Libres versus $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $984 per month in Paso de los Libres versus $841 in Mar del Plata – a 17% 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 180% 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 17% less than in Paso de los Libres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.