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: $882 in Quilmes versus $855 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,462 in Quilmes versus $1,426 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,043 in Quilmes versus $1,997 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Quilmes is roughly 3% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quilmes 34% lower, Mar del Plata 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 ARS 13.1K

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

-2.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.02 ARS 42.9K

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

-21.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ARS 13.2K

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

14.25%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ARS 2,425

$2.47 ARS 3,529

-31.17%

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

$1.27 ARS 1,807

$2.17 ARS 3,094

-41.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ARS 1,594

$2.12 ARS 3,033

-47.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ARS 1,718

$3.28 ARS 4,687

-63.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ARS 3,910

$3.30 ARS 4,721

-16.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,815

$1.06 ARS 1,510

19.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,228

$1.43 ARS 2,049

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 ARS 2,664

$2.16 ARS 3,082

-13.43%

Eggs

$2.17 ARS 3,106

$1.58 ARS 2,261

37.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 ARS 19.0K

$6.84 ARS 9,772

94.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 ARS 8,384

$5.35 ARS 7,639

9.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.69 ARS 15.3K

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

38.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ARS 2,593

$2.76 ARS 3,946

-34.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ARS 3,022

$2.13 ARS 3,036

-0.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 ARS 1,389

$1.50 ARS 2,140

-35.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.58 ARS 3,680

$2.53 ARS 3,618

1.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,698

$1.28 ARS 1,829

-7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ARS 1,975

$0.96 ARS 1,370

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ARS 1,328

$0.62 ARS 885

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ARS 2,640

$1.21 ARS 1,725

52.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 ARS 4,885

$3.49 ARS 4,979

-2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.20 ARS 5,999

$3.08 ARS 4,399

36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ARS 1,852

$1.33 ARS 1,904

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 ARS 4,468

$1.96 ARS 2,805

59.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 ARS 1,185

$0.75 ARS 1,076

10.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 ARS 3,630

$1.46 ARS 2,089

73.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 ARS 1,334

$0.74 ARS 1,051

25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 ARS 8,770

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

-21.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ARS 1,539

$1.10 ARS 1,570

-1.82%

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

$24.0K ARS 34.3M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

-11.82%

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

$26.2K ARS 37.4M

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

-32.87%

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

$55.3 ARS 79.1K

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

-35.18%

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

$18.56 ARS 26.5K

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

80.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 ARS 21.2K

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

-41.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 ARS 37.3K

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

51.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.99 ARS 20.0K

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

77.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ARS 7,176

$3.98 ARS 5,686

26.13%

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

$217 ARS 310.0K

$162 ARS 232.1K

33.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 ARS 1.6M

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

-66.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.7 ARS 86.7K

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

7.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ARS 86.8K

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

-2.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ARS 154.8K

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

68.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.5 ARS 137.8K

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

53.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ARS 481.2K

$285 ARS 406.9K

18.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 ARS 332.5K

$206 ARS 294.8K

12.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 ARS 978.0K

$718 ARS 1.0M

-4.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$528 ARS 754.2K

$582 ARS 831.8K

-9.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,389 ARS 3.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,801 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,103 ARS 1.6M

$618 ARS 882.5K

78.58%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Quilmes and $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 79% 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 $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 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

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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 3% 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.

Quilmes pays 79% more on average, 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: $337 in Quilmes 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 22% higher in Quilmes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $882 per month in Quilmes versus $855 in Mar del Plata – a 3% 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 3% less than in Quilmes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.