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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $952 in Rustenburg versus $841 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,505 in Rustenburg versus $1,452 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,058 in Rustenburg versus $2,062 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Rustenburg is roughly 13% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rustenburg 29% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.38 R 188

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

18.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.54 R 737

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

20.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.81 R 63.1

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

-53.08%

Cappuccino

$1.95 R 32.26

$2.49 ARS 3,674

-21.69%

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

$0.86 R 14.23

$2.27 ARS 3,353

-62.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 R 7.56

$2.15 ARS 3,176

-78.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 R 23.56

$3.29 ARS 4,870

-56.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 R 32.79

$3.18 ARS 4,707

-37.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 R 17.66

$1.05 ARS 1,557

1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 R 14.49

$1.43 ARS 2,114

-38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 R 28.09

$2.15 ARS 3,180

-20.93%

Eggs

$1.97 R 32.62

$1.55 ARS 2,296

27.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.77 R 95.5

$6.64 ARS 9,818

-13.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 R 70.9

$5.13 ARS 7,584

-16.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.59 R 109

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

-14.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 R 27.22

$2.72 ARS 4,014

-39.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 R 22.04

$2.11 ARS 3,119

-36.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 R 22.02

$1.55 ARS 2,296

-14.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 R 26.48

$2.50 ARS 3,689

-36.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 R 13.42

$1.22 ARS 1,796

-33.61%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 R 13.39

$1.03 ARS 1,519

-21.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 R 17.22

$0.67 ARS 985

55.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.94

$1.16 ARS 1,717

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 R 41.52

$3.55 ARS 5,251

-29.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.45 R 73.7

$2.97 ARS 4,394

49.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 R 19.17

$1.38 ARS 2,039

-15.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 R 18.95

$2.05 ARS 3,030

-44.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 R 18.02

$0.71 ARS 1,051

53.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.55 R 754

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

360.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 R 15.18

$1.47 ARS 2,167

-37.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.94 R 15.59

$0.77 ARS 1,133

22.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 R 65.1

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

-52.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 R 20.48

$1.14 ARS 1,685

8.77%

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

$22.2K R 366.7K

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

-19.53%

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

$24.2K R 400.8K

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

-39.06%

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

$70.4 R 1,166

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

-18.75%

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

$12.52 R 207

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

22.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.42 R 702

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

70.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.94 R 380

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

34.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.63 R 93.1

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

-27.54%

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 R 73.3

$4.01 ARS 5,930

10.47%

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

$102 R 1,685

$162 ARS 239.1K

-37.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,924 R 81.5K

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

54.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 R 837

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

-9.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.14 R 565

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

-45.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.0 R 1,507

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

39.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 R 1,325

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

30.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$307 R 5,089

$278 ARS 411.3K

10.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 R 5,547

$203 ARS 300.2K

64.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$684 R 11.3K

$707 ARS 1.0M

-3.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 R 9,461

$581 ARS 859.4K

-1.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,331 R 22.0K

$602 ARS 890.3K

120.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

58.5

-83.08%

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

Last update for Rustenburg: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $307 in Rustenburg and $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rustenburg pays 121% 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: $45.00 in Rustenburg vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $159 vs $193, with Rustenburg 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

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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Rustenburg. 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 121% higher in Rustenburg, 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: $307 in Rustenburg versus $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $952 per month in Rustenburg versus $841 in Mar del Plata – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mar del Plata runs roughly 361% less than in Rustenburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Rustenburg 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 13% less than in Rustenburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.