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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,302 in San Rafael versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in San Rafael versus $1,784 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,853 in San Rafael versus $2,544 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Rafael is roughly 27% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Rafael 5% lower, Mar del Plata 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.20 ARS 17.0K

$20.19 ARS 30.6K

-44.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 ARS 76.6K

$60.2 ARS 91.2K

-16.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.45 ARS 21.9K

$12.54 ARS 19.0K

15.23%

Cappuccino

$4.51 ARS 6,830

$3.12 ARS 4,717

44.55%

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

$2.34 ARS 3,546

$2.47 ARS 3,737

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,997

$2.03 ARS 3,073

-2.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 ARS 6,224

$4.10 ARS 6,212

0.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ARS 6,618

$3.02 ARS 4,571

44.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,094

$1.07 ARS 1,621

28.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ARS 3,352

$2.20 ARS 3,324

0.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 ARS 4,059

$3.19 ARS 4,828

-15.99%

Eggs

$3.32 ARS 5,025

$2.35 ARS 3,556

41.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 ARS 22.0K

$5.90 ARS 8,929

146.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 ARS 9,412

$6.44 ARS 9,750

-3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ARS 16.4K

$12.52 ARS 19.0K

-13.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ARS 3,512

$3.25 ARS 4,923

-28.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 ARS 3,391

$2.45 ARS 3,707

-8.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,969

$1.47 ARS 2,220

-11.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.30 ARS 5,000

$2.04 ARS 3,091

61.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,083

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 ARS 2,257

$1.02 ARS 1,547

46.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 ARS 2,977

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ARS 3,804

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 ARS 4,044

$3.56 ARS 5,383

-25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ARS 7,527

$2.97 ARS 4,498

67.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ARS 2,671

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ARS 4,515

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ARS 1,598

$1.28 ARS 1,945

-17.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ARS 3,010

$1.65 ARS 2,505

20.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,540

$0.70 ARS 1,053

45.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 ARS 7,215

$6.49 ARS 9,827

-26.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ARS 1,831

$1.38 ARS 2,082

-12.32%

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

$26.8K ARS 40.6M

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

$33.4K ARS 50.5M

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

$135 ARS 204.4K

$81.3 ARS 123.2K

65.95%

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

$17.28 ARS 26.2K

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

117.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.27 ARS 35.2K

$30.34 ARS 45.9K

-23.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 ARS 52.0K

$31.56 ARS 47.8K

8.87%

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 ARS 11.0K

$10.14 ARS 15.4K

-28.21%

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

$176 ARS 267.1K

$300 ARS 454.8K

-41.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,176 ARS 6.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 ARS 175.8K

$87.6 ARS 132.7K

32.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ARS 205.5K

$120 ARS 182.3K

12.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 193.5K

$54.0 ARS 81.8K

136.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ARS 756.4K

$329 ARS 497.5K

52.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ARS 450.6K

$256 ARS 387.0K

16.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$932 ARS 1.4M

$813 ARS 1.2M

14.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$752 ARS 1.1M

$657 ARS 995.4K

14.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 925.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for San Rafael: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in San Rafael and $329 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $51.0 in San Rafael vs $60.0 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $197, with Mar del Plata 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 Rafael vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in San Rafael. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,953 in San Rafael and $1,535 in Mar del Plata to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $500 in San Rafael 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 45% higher in San Rafael. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,302 per month in San Rafael versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,302 in San Rafael, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in San Rafael. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Rafael 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 27% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.