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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $866 in San Luis versus $844 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in San Luis versus $1,417 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,950 in San Luis versus $1,991 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Luis is roughly 3% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Luis 35% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.94 ARS 16.2K

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

14.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.35 ARS 59.9K

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

8.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.41 ARS 14.0K

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

15.18%

Cappuccino

$3.77 ARS 5,601

$2.41 ARS 3,579

56.43%

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

$2.36 ARS 3,498

$2.18 ARS 3,238

8.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ARS 2,952

$2.05 ARS 3,051

-2.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 ARS 2,355

$3.34 ARS 4,959

-52.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,332

$3.19 ARS 4,732

-8.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ARS 1,988

$1.05 ARS 1,559

27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ARS 2,274

$1.38 ARS 2,050

10.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,052

$2.06 ARS 3,064

Eggs

$2.20 ARS 3,262

$1.52 ARS 2,264

44.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.54 ARS 9,709

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

-5.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.46 ARS 6,626

$5.22 ARS 7,758

-14.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.70 ARS 8,470

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

-23.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,828

$2.74 ARS 4,063

-55.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ARS 2,257

$2.17 ARS 3,222

-29.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,248

$1.55 ARS 2,302

-2.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ARS 3,113

$2.45 ARS 3,637

-14.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ARS 1,529

$1.22 ARS 1,815

-15.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ARS 1,511

$0.95 ARS 1,408

7.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ARS 1,462

$0.63 ARS 939

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ARS 770

$1.20 ARS 1,784

-56.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 ARS 3,762

$3.48 ARS 5,166

-27.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.07 ARS 6,038

$2.95 ARS 4,377

37.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,942

$1.39 ARS 2,068

42.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ARS 5,153

$1.98 ARS 2,947

75.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ARS 847

$0.76 ARS 1,129

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 ARS 667

$1.49 ARS 2,212

-69.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,525

$0.76 ARS 1,129

35.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.84 ARS 7,182

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

-40.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 ARS 1,448

$1.15 ARS 1,710

-14.78%

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

$31.0K ARS 46.1M

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

9.87%

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

$33.1K ARS 49.1M

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

-15.05%

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

$59.6 ARS 88.5K

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

-30.10%

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

$10.96 ARS 16.3K

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

8.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.52 ARS 32.0K

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

-13.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.14 ARS 38.8K

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

48.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.96 ARS 20.7K

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

78.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.53 ARS 8,206

$4.10 ARS 6,083

34.88%

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

$104 ARS 154.5K

$159 ARS 236.8K

-34.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,124 ARS 3.2M

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

-33.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 ARS 122.8K

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

45.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.0 ARS 112.8K

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

23.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ARS 199.1K

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

106.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ARS 175.1K

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

88.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 ARS 452.4K

$283 ARS 419.6K

7.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 ARS 255.6K

$202 ARS 299.3K

-14.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 ARS 783.3K

$726 ARS 1.1M

-27.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ARS 450.8K

$585 ARS 868.7K

-48.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$992 ARS 1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$593 ARS 880.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ARS 733.1K

$616 ARS 915.1K

-19.89%

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 Luis: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $305 in San Luis and $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mar del Plata pays 25% 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 Luis vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $192, with San Luis 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 Luis vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in San Luis. 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 25% 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: $305 in San Luis versus $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Luis pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $866 per month in San Luis versus $844 in Mar del Plata – a 3% 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 Luis 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 3% less than in San Luis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.