🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $612 in San Juan versus $838 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $991 in San Juan versus $1,425 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,370 in San Juan versus $2,011 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Living in San Juan costs roughly 27% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Juan54% lower, Mar del Plata37% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.02ARS 8,484
$9.87ARS 13.9K
-39.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.50ARS 41.5K
$36.84ARS 51.9K
-19.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19ARS 11.5K
$8.28ARS 11.7K
-1.09%
Cappuccino
$1.49ARS 2,101
$2.42ARS 3,402
-38.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95ARS 1,332
$2.20ARS 3,097
-56.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85ARS 1,199
$2.05ARS 2,891
-58.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97ARS 2,770
$3.20ARS 4,503
-38.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95ARS 4,151
$3.31ARS 4,664
-10.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79ARS 1,108
$1.11ARS 1,560
-28.83%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70ARS 991
$1.42ARS 2,000
-50.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22ARS 1,724
$2.08ARS 2,936
-41.35%
Eggs
$1.66ARS 2,334
$1.49ARS 2,104
11.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.50ARS 4,924
$6.73ARS 9,475
-47.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57ARS 5,032
$5.33ARS 7,507
-33.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.03ARS 5,680
$7.45ARS 10.5K
-45.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54ARS 2,163
$2.72ARS 3,829
-43.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52ARS 2,136
$2.12ARS 2,987
-28.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52ARS 2,140
$1.51ARS 2,121
0.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10ARS 2,951
$2.52ARS 3,551
-16.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67ARS 945
$1.29ARS 1,810
-48.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62ARS 879
$1.00ARS 1,401
-38.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39ARS 543
$0.63ARS 881
-38.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87ARS 1,225
$1.20ARS 1,696
-27.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.72ARS 2,428
$3.54ARS 4,987
-51.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.55ARS 6,402
$4.94ARS 6,960
-7.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54ARS 2,174
$1.34ARS 1,892
14.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78ARS 2,506
$1.95ARS 2,747
-8.72%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29ARS 403
$0.76ARS 1,069
-61.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.94ARS 6,957
$9.90ARS 13.9K
-50.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41ARS 584
$1.53ARS 2,158
-73.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02ARS 1,432
$0.77ARS 1,079
32.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.96ARS 6,984
$7.91ARS 11.1K
-37.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10ARS 1,551
$1.13ARS 1,595
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KARS 43.5M
$27.9KARS 39.2M
10.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KARS 29.0M
$40.2KARS 56.6M
-48.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.0ARS 109.8K
$83.7ARS 117.8K
-6.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.04ARS 7,094
$10.36ARS 14.6K
-51.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.12ARS 14.2K
$25.20ARS 35.5K
-59.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.92ARS 25.2K
$17.02ARS 24.0K
5.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.84ARS 8,227
$7.93ARS 11.2K
-26.36%
Cinema Ticket
$2.02ARS 2,851
$3.89ARS 5,481
-48.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104ARS 147.1K
$159ARS 223.8K
-34.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,123ARS 3.0M
$3,227ARS 4.5M
-34.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0ARS 70.4K
$55.5ARS 78.1K
-9.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7ARS 71.4K
$61.7ARS 86.9K
-17.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9ARS 140.7K
$63.9ARS 89.9K
56.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119ARS 167.7K
$63.6ARS 89.6K
87.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$147ARS 207.3K
$281ARS 395.1K
-47.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.0ARS 128.1K
$206ARS 290.0K
-55.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250ARS 351.7K
$734ARS 1.0M
-65.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$202ARS 285.0K
$575ARS 809.5K
-64.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,054ARS 2.9M
$2,203ARS 3.1M
-6.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,059ARS 2.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$699ARS 983.9K
$604ARS 850.3K
15.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
79
58.5
35.04%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para San Juan: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Mar del Plata: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $147 in San Juan and $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰San Juan pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in San Juan vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $136 vs $197 per month, with San Juan cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
San Juan vs Mar del Plata: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, San Juan or Mar del Plata?
San Juan wins on cost – living expenses run 37% 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.
Are salaries higher in San Juan or Mar del Plata?
San Juan pays 16% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in San Juan vs Mar del Plata?
Rent for a central apartment: $147 in San Juan versus $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in San Juan compared to Mar del Plata?
All in, you'll spend $612 per month in San Juan versus $838 in Mar del Plata – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in San Juan vs Mar del Plata?
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.
Can you live on $800/month in San Juan or Mar del Plata?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: San Juan or Mar del Plata?
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.
How safe is San Juan compared to Mar del Plata?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.