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: $831 in Rustenburg versus $1,020 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,355 in Rustenburg versus $1,783 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,879 in Rustenburg versus $2,545 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Rustenburg costs roughly 19% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rustenburg 40% lower, Mar del Plata 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.12 R 97.9

$19.92 ARS 30.0K

-69.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.53 R 744

$60.9 ARS 91.8K

-23.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 R 106

$12.64 ARS 19.1K

-47.55%

Cappuccino

$2.09 R 33.45

$3.13 ARS 4,716

-33.23%

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

$0.91 R 14.56

$2.55 ARS 3,839

-64.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 R 8.22

$2.05 ARS 3,096

-75.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 R 25.03

$3.98 ARS 6,004

-60.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 R 34.45

$2.97 ARS 4,484

-27.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 R 18.07

$1.11 ARS 1,676

1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 R 17.21

$2.09 ARS 3,159

-48.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 R 27.92

$3.33 ARS 5,020

-47.45%

Eggs

$2.68 R 42.93

$2.46 ARS 3,713

8.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 R 124

$5.84 ARS 8,807

32.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 R 82.8

$6.68 ARS 10.1K

-22.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.59 R 105

$12.22 ARS 18.4K

-46.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 R 30.32

$3.36 ARS 5,074

-43.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 R 26.07

$2.49 ARS 3,752

-34.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 R 29.51

$1.52 ARS 2,297

21.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 R 18.03

$1.96 ARS 2,957

-42.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 R 22.02

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 R 17.79

$0.99 ARS 1,493

12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.38 R 22.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 15.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 R 51.2

$3.55 ARS 5,361

-9.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 R 96.5

$2.96 ARS 4,462

103.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 R 10.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 R 14.17

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 ARS 2,007

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 R 14.26

$1.57 ARS 2,368

-43.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 R 15.54

$0.65 ARS 982

49.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.66 R 234

$6.31 ARS 9,518

132.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 R 22.81

$1.32 ARS 1,996

8.33%

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

$29.6K R 473.4K

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

$28.3K R 452.0K

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

$78.8 R 1,260

$79.3 ARS 119.6K

-0.68%

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

$14.19 R 227

$8.17 ARS 12.3K

73.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.29 R 612

$30.08 ARS 45.4K

27.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.45 R 343

$30.57 ARS 46.1K

-29.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.31 R 101

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 R 80.5

$10.06 ARS 15.2K

-49.90%

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

$115 R 1,844

$301 ARS 454.2K

-61.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,694 R 91.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.56 R 697

$87.3 ARS 131.7K

-50.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.09 R 753

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 R 1,771

$120 ARS 180.7K

-7.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 R 890

$54.3 ARS 81.9K

2.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 R 5,385

$326 ARS 491.7K

3.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 R 3,899

$249 ARS 375.8K

-2.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 R 12.1K

$813 ARS 1.2M

-7.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 R 8,491

$654 ARS 987.1K

-18.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,108 R 17.7K

$613 ARS 923.9K

80.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

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

Last update for Rustenburg: August 29, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Rustenburg and $326 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rustenburg pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Rustenburg vs $61.0 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $198 per month, with Rustenburg cheaper across the board.

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

Rustenburg wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rustenburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 81% 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: $337 in Rustenburg versus $326 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Mar del Plata. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $831 per month in Rustenburg versus $1,020 in Mar del Plata – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.