Cost of Living Comparison Between Río Tercero and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Río Tercero and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $978 in Río Tercero versus $847 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,591 in Río Tercero versus $1,433 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,204 in Río Tercero versus $2,019 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Río Tercero is roughly 15% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Río Tercero 27% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 ARS 15.1K
$9.93 ARS 14.2K
6.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.61 ARS 47.9K
$37.70 ARS 53.8K
-10.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.30 ARS 13.3K
$8.22 ARS 11.7K
13.14%
Cappuccino
$2.79 ARS 3,978
$2.45 ARS 3,494
13.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ARS 2,437
$2.26 ARS 3,222
-24.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,216
$2.12 ARS 3,018
-26.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.08 ARS 2,970
$3.21 ARS 4,579
-35.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 ARS 4,306
$3.34 ARS 4,766
-9.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ARS 1,778
$1.10 ARS 1,564
13.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ARS 2,342
$1.42 ARS 2,031
15.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 ARS 2,890
$2.06 ARS 2,941
-1.46%
Eggs
$2.19 ARS 3,122
$1.52 ARS 2,171
44.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.17 ARS 14.5K
$6.79 ARS 9,681
49.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 ARS 9,053
$5.28 ARS 7,535
20.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.56 ARS 13.6K
$7.55 ARS 10.8K
26.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ARS 2,893
$2.87 ARS 4,094
-29.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 ARS 3,051
$2.13 ARS 3,044
0.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 ARS 1,890
$1.57 ARS 2,233
-15.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 ARS 3,619
$2.49 ARS 3,557
2.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 ARS 1,611
$1.23 ARS 1,755
-8.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.26 ARS 1,792
$0.95 ARS 1,361
32.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ARS 1,811
$0.63 ARS 895
101.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 ARS 2,052
$1.17 ARS 1,676
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 ARS 4,371
$3.42 ARS 4,877
-10.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.33 ARS 7,598
$2.92 ARS 4,163
82.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 ARS 2,830
$1.38 ARS 1,971
43.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 ARS 4,421
$1.98 ARS 2,825
56.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 ARS 1,161
$0.73 ARS 1,038
10.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.97 ARS 14.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 ARS 2,196
$1.53 ARS 2,179
0.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ARS 1,215
$0.79 ARS 1,121
7.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.96 ARS 8,503
$7.95 ARS 11.3K
-25.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ARS 1,507
$1.14 ARS 1,626
-7.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ARS 39.5M
$27.5K ARS 39.2M
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K ARS 44.2M
$39.9K ARS 57.0M
-22.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.1 ARS 94.4K
$84.2 ARS 120.1K
-21.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.93 ARS 24.1K
$10.23 ARS 14.6K
65.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.21 ARS 31.7K
$25.44 ARS 36.3K
-12.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 ARS 37.3K
$17.04 ARS 24.3K
53.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67 ARS 19.5K
$8.02 ARS 11.4K
70.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.08 ARS 8,666
$3.90 ARS 5,557
55.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 ARS 312.2K
$163 ARS 232.0K
34.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,723 ARS 3.9M
$3,145 ARS 4.5M
-13.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.8 ARS 106.7K
$57.3 ARS 81.7K
30.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.2 ARS 98.7K
$63.0 ARS 89.8K
9.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ARS 165.2K
$63.9 ARS 91.1K
81.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 ARS 159.7K
$61.9 ARS 88.2K
80.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$338 ARS 482.4K
$286 ARS 408.1K
18.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ARS 340.7K
$204 ARS 291.6K
16.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$694 ARS 990.4K
$723 ARS 1.0M
-3.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 ARS 781.2K
$572 ARS 816.2K
-4.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,068 ARS 2.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Río Tercero
Mar del Plata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$660 ARS 941.4K
$599 ARS 855.1K
10.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
58.5
58.5
-

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

Last update for Río Tercero: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $338 in Río Tercero and $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Río Tercero pays 10% 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: $34.00 in Río Tercero vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $194, 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
Río Tercero vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Río Tercero or Mar del Plata?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Río Tercero. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Río Tercero or Mar del Plata?
Río Tercero pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Río Tercero vs Mar del Plata?
Rent for a central apartment: $338 in Río Tercero versus $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Río Tercero or Mar del Plata?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Río Tercero. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Río Tercero compared to Mar del Plata?
All in, you'll spend $978 per month in Río Tercero versus $847 in Mar del Plata – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Río Tercero or Mar del Plata?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Río Tercero or Mar del Plata?
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.
How safe is Río Tercero compared to Mar del Plata?
Safety-wise, Río Tercero 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Río Tercero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Río Tercero vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities