Cost of Living Comparison Between San Isidro and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between San Isidro and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $895 in San Isidro versus $855 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in San Isidro versus $1,426 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,038 in San Isidro versus $1,997 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Isidro is roughly 5% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Isidro 33% lower, Mar del Plata 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.25 ARS 13.2K

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

-1.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.40 ARS 43.4K

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

-20.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.23 ARS 13.2K

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

14.37%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ARS 2,326

$2.47 ARS 3,529

-34.01%

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

$1.32 ARS 1,891

$2.17 ARS 3,094

-39.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ARS 1,616

$2.12 ARS 3,033

-46.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ARS 1,780

$3.28 ARS 4,687

-61.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ARS 3,826

$3.30 ARS 4,721

-18.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,801

$1.06 ARS 1,510

18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 ARS 2,347

$1.43 ARS 2,049

14.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 ARS 2,539

$2.16 ARS 3,082

-17.59%

Eggs

$2.15 ARS 3,076

$1.58 ARS 2,261

36.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 ARS 17.6K

$6.84 ARS 9,772

80.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 ARS 8,690

$5.35 ARS 7,639

13.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ARS 13.3K

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

20.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 ARS 2,692

$2.76 ARS 3,946

-31.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 ARS 2,995

$2.13 ARS 3,036

-1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.99 ARS 1,418

$1.50 ARS 2,140

-34.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 ARS 3,632

$2.53 ARS 3,618

0.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,157

$1.28 ARS 1,829

17.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ARS 1,976

$0.96 ARS 1,370

43.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 ARS 1,243

$0.62 ARS 885

40.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ARS 2,059

$1.21 ARS 1,725

19.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ARS 4,551

$3.49 ARS 4,979

-8.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.66 ARS 6,661

$3.08 ARS 4,399

51.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ARS 1,799

$1.33 ARS 1,904

-5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ARS 4,511

$1.96 ARS 2,805

61.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 ARS 1,178

$0.75 ARS 1,076

9.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 ARS 2,220

$1.46 ARS 2,089

6.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ARS 1,291

$0.74 ARS 1,051

21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 ARS 8,732

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

-22.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ARS 1,458

$1.10 ARS 1,570

-7.27%

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

$24.3K ARS 34.7M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

-10.87%

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

$26.4K ARS 37.7M

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

-32.38%

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

$56.3 ARS 80.5K

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

-34.04%

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

$18.20 ARS 26.0K

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

77.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.90 ARS 21.3K

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

-41.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.35 ARS 37.6K

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

52.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.86 ARS 19.8K

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

76.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 ARS 7,099

$3.98 ARS 5,686

24.87%

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

$331 ARS 472.4K

$162 ARS 232.1K

103.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,074 ARS 1.5M

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

-66.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.0 ARS 114.2K

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

41.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.4 ARS 100.5K

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

12.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 ARS 155.4K

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

69.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ARS 135.4K

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

50.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 479.8K

$285 ARS 406.9K

17.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ARS 340.3K

$206 ARS 294.8K

15.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$684 ARS 976.5K

$718 ARS 1.0M

-4.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$537 ARS 767.2K

$582 ARS 831.8K

-7.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 ARS 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,746 ARS 3.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$588 ARS 840.6K

$618 ARS 882.5K

-4.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

52.71

58.5

-9.90%

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

Last update for San Isidro: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in San Isidro and $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in San Isidro vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $195, 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

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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in San Isidro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Mar del Plata earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $336 in San Isidro versus $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in San Isidro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $895 per month in San Isidro versus $855 in Mar del Plata – a 5% 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, San Isidro 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 5% less than in San Isidro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.