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: $908 in San Isidro versus $844 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,492 in San Isidro versus $1,417 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,076 in San Isidro versus $1,991 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Isidro is roughly 8% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Isidro 32% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.78 ARS 13.0K

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

-7.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.88 ARS 44.4K

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

-19.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.13 ARS 13.6K

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

11.75%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ARS 2,516

$2.41 ARS 3,579

-29.88%

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

$1.27 ARS 1,883

$2.18 ARS 3,238

-41.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ARS 1,748

$2.05 ARS 3,051

-42.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ARS 1,791

$3.34 ARS 4,959

-63.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 ARS 4,163

$3.19 ARS 4,732

-12.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ARS 1,892

$1.05 ARS 1,559

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 ARS 2,393

$1.38 ARS 2,050

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 ARS 2,723

$2.06 ARS 3,064

-11.17%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,338

$1.52 ARS 2,264

48.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.96 ARS 17.8K

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

72.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 ARS 8,657

$5.22 ARS 7,758

11.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 ARS 14.0K

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

26.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ARS 2,763

$2.74 ARS 4,063

-32.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,032

$2.17 ARS 3,222

-5.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 ARS 1,388

$1.55 ARS 2,302

-40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ARS 3,928

$2.45 ARS 3,637

8.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 ARS 2,147

$1.22 ARS 1,815

18.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,110

$0.95 ARS 1,408

49.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 ARS 1,300

$0.63 ARS 939

39.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 ARS 2,125

$1.20 ARS 1,784

19.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ARS 4,764

$3.48 ARS 5,166

-7.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.69 ARS 6,971

$2.95 ARS 4,377

58.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ARS 1,918

$1.39 ARS 2,068

-7.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,742

$1.98 ARS 2,947

61.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 ARS 1,132

$0.76 ARS 1,129

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.57 ARS 2,335

$1.49 ARS 2,212

5.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 ARS 1,287

$0.76 ARS 1,129

14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 ARS 8,986

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

-26.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ARS 1,543

$1.15 ARS 1,710

-9.57%

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

$24.0K ARS 35.7M

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

-14.95%

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

$26.0K ARS 38.6M

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

-33.21%

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

$55.4 ARS 82.2K

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

-35.01%

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

$18.66 ARS 27.7K

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

84.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.79 ARS 22.0K

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

-40.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.01 ARS 38.6K

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

48.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.03 ARS 20.8K

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

78.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.15 ARS 7,645

$4.10 ARS 6,083

25.61%

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

$329 ARS 488.7K

$159 ARS 236.8K

106.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,094 ARS 1.6M

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

-65.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.7 ARS 119.8K

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

42.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.7 ARS 102.1K

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

11.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 ARS 159.0K

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

64.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ARS 142.7K

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

53.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ARS 505.2K

$283 ARS 419.6K

20.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ARS 349.6K

$202 ARS 299.3K

16.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 ARS 999.7K

$726 ARS 1.1M

-7.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$532 ARS 790.0K

$585 ARS 868.7K

-9.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 ARS 3.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,525 ARS 2.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$600 ARS 891.4K

$616 ARS 915.1K

-2.59%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in San Isidro and $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 3% 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 $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $227 vs $192, 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 8% 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, salaries run 3% lower in Mar del Plata. 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: $340 in San Isidro versus $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in San Isidro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $908 per month in San Isidro versus $844 in Mar del Plata – a 8% 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 8% less than in San Isidro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.