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: $954 in Quilmes versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,568 in Quilmes versus $1,784 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,183 in Quilmes versus $2,544 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Quilmes costs roughly 7% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quilmes 30% lower, Mar del Plata 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.74 ARS 8,688

$20.19 ARS 30.6K

-71.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.51 ARS 53.8K

$60.2 ARS 91.2K

-41.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 ARS 13.3K

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

-29.98%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ARS 4,484

$3.12 ARS 4,717

-5.13%

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

$1.69 ARS 2,555

$2.47 ARS 3,737

-31.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ARS 2,576

$2.03 ARS 3,073

-16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 ARS 6,149

$4.10 ARS 6,212

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 ARS 3,367

$3.02 ARS 4,571

-26.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 ARS 1,545

$1.07 ARS 1,621

-4.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ARS 2,459

$2.20 ARS 3,324

-26.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ARS 2,430

$3.19 ARS 4,828

-49.53%

Eggs

$2.27 ARS 3,439

$2.35 ARS 3,556

-3.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.57 ARS 20.5K

$5.90 ARS 8,929

130.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 ARS 8,776

$6.44 ARS 9,750

-9.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.99 ARS 15.1K

$12.52 ARS 19.0K

-20.21%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 ARS 2,895

$3.25 ARS 4,923

-41.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ARS 2,413

$2.45 ARS 3,707

-35.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 ARS 1,616

$1.47 ARS 2,220

-27.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 ARS 3,727

$2.04 ARS 3,091

20.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ARS 1,509

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ARS 964

$1.02 ARS 1,547

-37.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ARS 1,028

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ARS 1,041

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.94 ARS 7,474

$3.56 ARS 5,383

38.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.18 ARS 6,327

$2.97 ARS 4,498

40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,837

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ARS 2,934

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ARS 1,610

$1.28 ARS 1,945

-17.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 ARS 2,407

$1.65 ARS 2,505

-3.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ARS 1,536

$0.70 ARS 1,053

44.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,827

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,722

$1.38 ARS 2,082

-17.39%

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

$49.2K ARS 74.5M

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

$38.3K ARS 58.1M

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

$61.1 ARS 92.6K

$81.3 ARS 123.2K

-24.83%

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

$14.74 ARS 22.3K

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

85.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.26 ARS 33.7K

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

-26.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.03 ARS 51.5K

$31.56 ARS 47.8K

7.83%

Cinema Ticket

$9.81 ARS 14.9K

$10.14 ARS 15.4K

-3.25%

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

$258 ARS 390.2K

$300 ARS 454.8K

-14.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.3 ARS 144.2K

$87.6 ARS 132.7K

8.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.38 ARS 52.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.2 ARS 98.7K

$120 ARS 182.3K

-45.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 ARS 105.6K

$54.0 ARS 81.8K

29.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 ARS 725.9K

$329 ARS 497.5K

45.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 ARS 491.5K

$256 ARS 387.0K

27.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$922 ARS 1.4M

$813 ARS 1.2M

13.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ARS 1.1M

$657 ARS 995.4K

11.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 ARS 3.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,813 ARS 2.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 ARS 1.6M

$611 ARS 925.5K

77.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

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

Last update for Quilmes: September 12, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Quilmes and $329 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 77% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Quilmes vs $60.0 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $197, 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

Quilmes wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Quilmes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 77% 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: $479 in Quilmes versus $329 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $954 per month in Quilmes versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $954 in Quilmes versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quilmes but tight or insufficient in Mar del Plata. The gap between the two cities makes Quilmes 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, 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 Quilmes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.