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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $610 in San Juan versus $844 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,003 in San Juan versus $1,417 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,395 in San Juan versus $1,991 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Juan costs roughly 28% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Juan 54% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.04 ARS 8,975

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

-36.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.49 ARS 45.3K

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

-18.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 ARS 11.5K

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

-5.02%

Cappuccino

$1.55 ARS 2,300

$2.41 ARS 3,579

-35.68%

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

$0.97 ARS 1,439

$2.18 ARS 3,238

-55.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 ARS 1,320

$2.05 ARS 3,051

-56.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ARS 3,007

$3.34 ARS 4,959

-39.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ARS 4,322

$3.19 ARS 4,732

-8.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 ARS 1,061

$1.05 ARS 1,559

-32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ARS 993

$1.38 ARS 2,050

-51.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ARS 1,889

$2.06 ARS 3,064

-38.35%

Eggs

$1.67 ARS 2,486

$1.52 ARS 2,264

9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.47 ARS 5,146

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

-49.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ARS 5,051

$5.22 ARS 7,758

-34.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 ARS 5,794

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

-47.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ARS 2,194

$2.74 ARS 4,063

-45.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 ARS 2,203

$2.17 ARS 3,222

-31.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,286

$1.55 ARS 2,302

-0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,227

$2.45 ARS 3,637

-11.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 ARS 936

$1.22 ARS 1,815

-48.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ARS 931

$0.95 ARS 1,408

-33.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 ARS 611

$0.63 ARS 939

-34.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ARS 1,293

$1.20 ARS 1,784

-27.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 ARS 2,667

$3.48 ARS 5,166

-48.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.06 ARS 7,510

$2.95 ARS 4,377

71.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ARS 2,190

$1.39 ARS 2,068

5.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ARS 2,648

$1.98 ARS 2,947

-10.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ARS 467

$0.76 ARS 1,129

-59.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.94 ARS 7,338

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

-50.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 ARS 623

$1.49 ARS 2,212

-71.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ARS 1,469

$0.76 ARS 1,129

30.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 ARS 7,352

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

-39.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 ARS 1,695

$1.15 ARS 1,710

-0.87%

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

$31.5K ARS 46.7M

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

11.40%

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

$20.7K ARS 30.8M

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

-46.73%

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

$76.5 ARS 113.6K

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

-10.21%

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

$5.02 ARS 7,454

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

-50.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.04 ARS 14.9K

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

-59.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.67 ARS 26.2K

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

0.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 ARS 8,692

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

-25.38%

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 ARS 3,030

$4.10 ARS 6,083

-50.24%

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

$102 ARS 151.2K

$159 ARS 236.8K

-36.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,150 ARS 3.2M

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

-32.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 ARS 74.8K

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

-11.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.15 ARS 73.0K

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

-20.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ARS 149.8K

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

55.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ARS 177.0K

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

90.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 ARS 222.1K

$283 ARS 419.6K

-47.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.8 ARS 133.3K

$202 ARS 299.3K

-55.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$251 ARS 373.4K

$726 ARS 1.1M

-65.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ARS 299.2K

$585 ARS 868.7K

-65.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,460 ARS 3.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,094 ARS 3.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 ARS 1.1M

$616 ARS 915.1K

15.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

35.04%

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

Last update for San Juan: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in San Juan and $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 15% 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 Juan vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $192 per month, with San Juan 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

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

San Juan wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Juan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 15% higher in San Juan, 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: $150 in San Juan versus $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $610 per month in San Juan versus $844 in Mar del Plata – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Juan runs roughly 101% less than in Mar del Plata. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though San Juan 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 Juan 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 San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.