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: $615 in San Juan versus $855 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,006 in San Juan versus $1,426 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,396 in San Juan versus $1,997 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.13 ARS 8,750

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

-34.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.55 ARS 43.6K

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

-19.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 ARS 11.6K

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

0.74%

Cappuccino

$1.51 ARS 2,152

$2.47 ARS 3,529

-38.87%

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

$0.96 ARS 1,368

$2.17 ARS 3,094

-55.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ARS 1,209

$2.12 ARS 3,033

-59.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 ARS 2,787

$3.28 ARS 4,687

-40.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,165

$3.30 ARS 4,721

-11.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ARS 1,120

$1.06 ARS 1,510

-26.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 ARS 944

$1.43 ARS 2,049

-53.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 ARS 1,733

$2.16 ARS 3,082

-43.98%

Eggs

$1.65 ARS 2,361

$1.58 ARS 2,261

4.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 ARS 4,772

$6.84 ARS 9,772

-51.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.44 ARS 4,920

$5.35 ARS 7,639

-35.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.09 ARS 5,838

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

-47.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ARS 2,110

$2.76 ARS 3,946

-46.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,097

$2.13 ARS 3,036

-30.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 ARS 2,080

$1.50 ARS 2,140

-2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ARS 3,001

$2.53 ARS 3,618

-17.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ARS 950

$1.28 ARS 1,829

-48.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ARS 947

$0.96 ARS 1,370

-31.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 ARS 547

$0.62 ARS 885

-38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,234

$1.21 ARS 1,725

-28.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 ARS 2,514

$3.49 ARS 4,979

-49.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.05 ARS 7,208

$3.08 ARS 4,399

63.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 ARS 2,107

$1.33 ARS 1,904

10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ARS 2,503

$1.96 ARS 2,805

-10.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ARS 412

$0.75 ARS 1,076

-61.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.97 ARS 7,106

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

-50.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 ARS 644

$1.46 ARS 2,089

-69.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,462

$0.74 ARS 1,051

37.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 ARS 7,123

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

-36.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,568

$1.10 ARS 1,570

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

$31.1K ARS 44.4M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

14.12%

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

$20.7K ARS 29.6M

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

-46.85%

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

$76.0 ARS 108.5K

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

-11.01%

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

$4.99 ARS 7,127

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

-51.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.87 ARS 14.1K

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

-61.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.65 ARS 25.2K

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

2.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.13 ARS 8,757

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

-22.01%

Cinema Ticket

$2.03 ARS 2,900

$3.98 ARS 5,686

-48.99%

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

$102 ARS 145.6K

$162 ARS 232.1K

-37.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,116 ARS 3.0M

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

-34.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 ARS 72.2K

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

-10.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.3 ARS 71.9K

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

-19.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ARS 143.1K

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

56.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 ARS 170.4K

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

89.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 ARS 218.2K

$285 ARS 406.9K

-46.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.6 ARS 128.0K

$206 ARS 294.8K

-56.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ARS 353.2K

$718 ARS 1.0M

-65.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ARS 280.3K

$582 ARS 831.8K

-66.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,502 ARS 3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,087 ARS 3.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$697 ARS 996.0K

$618 ARS 882.5K

12.87%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $153 in San Juan and $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $31.00 in San Juan vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $195 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 39% 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.

San Juan pays 13% more on average, 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: $153 in San Juan versus $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $615 per month in San Juan versus $855 in Mar del Plata – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in San Juan runs roughly 100% 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 39% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.