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: $888 in San Juan versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,375 in San Juan versus $1,784 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in San Juan versus $2,544 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Juan costs roughly 13% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Juan 35% lower, Mar del Plata 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.15 ARS 10.8K

$20.19 ARS 30.5K

-64.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.74 ARS 60.1K

$60.2 ARS 91.1K

-34.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.33 ARS 18.6K

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

-1.67%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ARS 3,808

$3.12 ARS 4,711

-19.23%

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

$2.12 ARS 3,208

$2.47 ARS 3,732

-14.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ARS 2,673

$2.03 ARS 3,069

-12.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 ARS 5,968

$4.10 ARS 6,204

-3.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ARS 6,653

$3.02 ARS 4,565

45.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,083

$1.07 ARS 1,619

28.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ARS 2,128

$2.20 ARS 3,319

-35.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ARS 2,102

$3.19 ARS 4,822

-56.43%

Eggs

$1.38 ARS 2,087

$2.35 ARS 3,551

-41.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.83 ARS 4,279

$5.90 ARS 8,917

-52.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.09 ARS 9,211

$6.44 ARS 9,737

-5.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 ARS 16.8K

$12.52 ARS 18.9K

-11.50%

Apples (1kg)

$1.44 ARS 2,173

$3.25 ARS 4,917

-55.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ARS 2,083

$2.45 ARS 3,702

-43.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 ARS 2,071

$1.47 ARS 2,217

-6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ARS 2,181

$2.04 ARS 3,087

-29.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ARS 2,118

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 ARS 2,116

$1.02 ARS 1,545

37.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ARS 2,100

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,108

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 ARS 4,189

$3.56 ARS 5,376

-22.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 ARS 7,748

$2.97 ARS 4,493

72.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 ARS 2,100

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 ARS 2,201

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ARS 1,559

$1.28 ARS 1,943

-19.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ARS 3,009

$1.65 ARS 2,502

20.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ARS 1,490

$0.70 ARS 1,052

41.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 ARS 7,569

$6.49 ARS 9,814

-22.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ARS 1,766

$1.38 ARS 2,080

-15.22%

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

$27.4K ARS 41.4M

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

$33.0K ARS 49.9M

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

$136 ARS 205.9K

$81.3 ARS 123.0K

67.42%

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

$9.91 ARS 15.0K

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

24.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.77 ARS 26.9K

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

-41.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.13 ARS 45.6K

$31.56 ARS 47.7K

-4.53%

Cinema Ticket

$7.26 ARS 11.0K

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

-28.40%

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

$173 ARS 261.9K

$300 ARS 454.2K

-42.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,210 ARS 6.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$109 ARS 164.5K

$87.6 ARS 132.5K

24.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.02 ARS 65.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.2 ARS 86.5K

$120 ARS 182.0K

-52.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.33 ARS 53.4K

$54.0 ARS 81.7K

-34.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ARS 373.6K

$329 ARS 496.9K

-24.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 ARS 299.7K

$256 ARS 386.4K

-22.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ARS 759.0K

$813 ARS 1.2M

-38.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 ARS 612.2K

$657 ARS 994.1K

-38.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$693 ARS 1.0M

$611 ARS 924.3K

13.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for San Juan: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $247 in San Juan and $329 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: $40.00 in San Juan vs $60.0 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $197 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 15% 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 13% 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: $247 in San Juan versus $329 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Mar del Plata. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $888 per month in San Juan versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 15% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.