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 $838 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,488 in Quilmes versus $1,425 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,087 in Quilmes versus $2,011 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Quilmes is roughly 6% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quilmes 34% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 ARS 12.6K

$9.87 ARS 13.9K

-9.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.28 ARS 42.6K

$36.84 ARS 51.9K

-17.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.14 ARS 12.9K

$8.28 ARS 11.7K

10.39%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ARS 2,399

$2.42 ARS 3,402

-29.75%

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

$1.27 ARS 1,791

$2.20 ARS 3,097

-42.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ARS 1,657

$2.05 ARS 2,891

-42.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ARS 1,763

$3.20 ARS 4,503

-60.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 ARS 3,809

$3.31 ARS 4,664

-18.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,779

$1.11 ARS 1,560

13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ARS 2,236

$1.42 ARS 2,000

11.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 ARS 2,580

$2.08 ARS 2,936

-12.02%

Eggs

$2.15 ARS 3,027

$1.49 ARS 2,104

44.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ARS 18.3K

$6.73 ARS 9,475

92.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 ARS 8,459

$5.33 ARS 7,507

12.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 ARS 14.5K

$7.45 ARS 10.5K

38.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ARS 2,571

$2.72 ARS 3,829

-32.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 ARS 3,082

$2.12 ARS 2,987

3.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 ARS 1,390

$1.51 ARS 2,121

-34.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 ARS 3,715

$2.52 ARS 3,551

4.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ARS 1,599

$1.29 ARS 1,810

-11.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 ARS 1,956

$1.00 ARS 1,401

39.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ARS 1,223

$0.63 ARS 881

38.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ARS 2,638

$1.20 ARS 1,696

55.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 ARS 4,671

$3.54 ARS 4,987

-6.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 ARS 7,206

$4.94 ARS 6,960

3.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ARS 1,836

$1.34 ARS 1,892

-2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,252

$1.95 ARS 2,747

54.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 ARS 1,165

$0.76 ARS 1,069

9.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 ARS 3,589

$1.53 ARS 2,158

66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,297

$0.77 ARS 1,079

19.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 ARS 8,254

$7.91 ARS 11.1K

-25.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,496

$1.13 ARS 1,595

-6.19%

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

$24.1K ARS 34.0M

$27.9K ARS 39.2M

-13.41%

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

$26.3K ARS 37.0M

$40.2K ARS 56.6M

-34.53%

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

$56.0 ARS 78.8K

$83.7 ARS 117.8K

-33.10%

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

$18.84 ARS 26.5K

$10.36 ARS 14.6K

81.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 ARS 20.9K

$25.20 ARS 35.5K

-41.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.35 ARS 37.1K

$17.02 ARS 24.0K

54.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.75 ARS 19.4K

$7.93 ARS 11.2K

73.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.96 ARS 6,983

$3.89 ARS 5,481

27.51%

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

$221 ARS 310.7K

$159 ARS 223.8K

38.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,096 ARS 1.5M

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

-66.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 ARS 86.1K

$55.5 ARS 78.1K

10.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.9 ARS 82.9K

$61.7 ARS 86.9K

-4.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 ARS 154.1K

$63.9 ARS 89.9K

71.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.7 ARS 134.7K

$63.6 ARS 89.6K

50.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 ARS 484.6K

$281 ARS 395.1K

22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ARS 333.3K

$206 ARS 290.0K

14.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 ARS 959.5K

$734 ARS 1.0M

-7.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ARS 762.3K

$575 ARS 809.5K

-5.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,314 ARS 3.3M

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

5.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,764 ARS 2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,106 ARS 1.6M

$604 ARS 850.3K

83.15%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Quilmes and $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quilmes pays 83% 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 $239 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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 6% 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 83% 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: $344 in Quilmes versus $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% 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 $838 in Mar del Plata – a 6% 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 6% less than in Quilmes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.