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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $888 in Quilmes versus $844 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Quilmes versus $1,417 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,075 in Quilmes versus $1,991 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Quilmes is roughly 5% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quilmes 33% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 ARS 13.1K

$9.53 ARS 14.2K

-7.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.08 ARS 45.0K

$37.25 ARS 55.7K

-19.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.94 ARS 13.4K

$8.17 ARS 12.2K

9.42%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ARS 2,566

$2.41 ARS 3,603

-28.63%

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

$1.31 ARS 1,960

$2.18 ARS 3,260

-39.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ARS 1,704

$2.05 ARS 3,072

-44.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ARS 1,786

$3.34 ARS 4,993

-64.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ARS 4,063

$3.19 ARS 4,764

-14.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,903

$1.05 ARS 1,570

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 ARS 2,388

$1.38 ARS 2,063

15.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 ARS 2,684

$2.06 ARS 3,084

-12.62%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,362

$1.52 ARS 2,279

48.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.33 ARS 19.9K

$6.93 ARS 10.4K

92.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 ARS 9,089

$5.22 ARS 7,810

16.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.34 ARS 15.5K

$7.47 ARS 11.2K

38.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ARS 2,838

$2.74 ARS 4,091

-30.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,214

$2.17 ARS 3,244

-0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,497

$1.55 ARS 2,318

-35.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.60 ARS 3,882

$2.45 ARS 3,661

6.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ARS 1,688

$1.22 ARS 1,827

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ARS 2,046

$0.95 ARS 1,417

44.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ARS 1,293

$0.63 ARS 945

36.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ARS 2,743

$1.20 ARS 1,796

52.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 ARS 5,234

$3.48 ARS 5,201

0.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 ARS 6,377

$2.95 ARS 4,406

44.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ARS 1,919

$1.39 ARS 2,082

-7.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ARS 4,684

$1.98 ARS 2,966

58.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 ARS 1,177

$0.76 ARS 1,136

3.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 ARS 3,695

$1.49 ARS 2,226

65.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,383

$0.76 ARS 1,137

21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 ARS 9,220

$8.18 ARS 12.2K

-24.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,595

$1.15 ARS 1,722

-6.96%

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

$24.4K ARS 36.5M

$28.2K ARS 42.2M

-13.63%

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

$25.6K ARS 38.3M

$38.9K ARS 58.2M

-34.25%

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

$56.3 ARS 84.1K

$85.2 ARS 127.4K

-33.98%

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

$18.53 ARS 27.7K

$10.11 ARS 15.1K

83.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.83 ARS 22.2K

$25.00 ARS 37.4K

-40.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.27 ARS 39.3K

$17.57 ARS 26.3K

49.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.51 ARS 20.2K

$7.84 ARS 11.7K

72.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 ARS 7,627

$4.10 ARS 6,124

24.39%

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

$219 ARS 326.9K

$159 ARS 238.4K

37.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,087 ARS 1.6M

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

-65.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 ARS 92.1K

$56.7 ARS 84.7K

8.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.0 ARS 91.2K

$61.5 ARS 92.0K

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ARS 160.6K

$65.0 ARS 97.2K

65.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ARS 142.8K

$62.7 ARS 93.7K

52.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 502.1K

$283 ARS 422.4K

18.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 348.8K

$202 ARS 301.3K

15.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$671 ARS 1.0M

$726 ARS 1.1M

-7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 ARS 812.2K

$585 ARS 874.5K

-7.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,390 ARS 3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ARS 1.7M

$616 ARS 921.3K

79.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

58.5

70.94%

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

Last update for Quilmes: July 28, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Quilmes and $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Quilmes vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $192, 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

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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Quilmes. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 80% higher in Quilmes, 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: $336 in Quilmes versus $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Quilmes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $888 per month in Quilmes versus $844 in Mar del Plata – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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, Quilmes 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 5% less than in Quilmes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.