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: $880 in San Rafael versus $844 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in San Rafael versus $1,417 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,938 in San Rafael versus $1,991 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Rafael is roughly 4% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Rafael 34% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

$9.53 ARS 14.1K

4.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.78 ARS 29.4K

$37.25 ARS 55.3K

-46.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 ARS 9,007

$8.17 ARS 12.1K

-25.70%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ARS 2,641

$2.41 ARS 3,579

-26.14%

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

$1.02 ARS 1,509

$2.18 ARS 3,238

-53.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ARS 1,453

$2.05 ARS 3,051

-52.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ARS 1,516

$3.34 ARS 4,959

-69.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,289

$3.19 ARS 4,732

-51.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ARS 1,503

$1.05 ARS 1,559

-3.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 ARS 2,196

$1.38 ARS 2,050

7.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,112

$2.06 ARS 3,064

-31.07%

Eggs

$1.62 ARS 2,409

$1.52 ARS 2,264

6.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.53 ARS 8,214

$6.93 ARS 10.3K

-20.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.48 ARS 11.1K

$5.22 ARS 7,758

43.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 ARS 9,836

$7.47 ARS 11.1K

-11.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ARS 2,660

$2.74 ARS 4,063

-34.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,268

$2.17 ARS 3,222

-29.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,272

$1.55 ARS 2,302

-1.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 ARS 1,327

$2.45 ARS 3,637

-63.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ARS 1,056

$1.22 ARS 1,815

-41.80%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 ARS 1,059

$0.95 ARS 1,408

-25.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ARS 895

$0.63 ARS 939

-4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ARS 1,830

$1.20 ARS 1,784

2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 ARS 2,667

$3.48 ARS 5,166

-48.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 ARS 7,595

$2.95 ARS 4,377

73.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ARS 1,605

$1.39 ARS 2,068

-22.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ARS 2,467

$1.98 ARS 2,947

-16.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ARS 1,210

$0.76 ARS 1,129

6.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 ARS 617

$1.49 ARS 2,212

-71.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 ARS 1,505

$0.76 ARS 1,129

32.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 ARS 7,105

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

-41.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ARS 1,258

$1.15 ARS 1,710

-26.09%

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

$31.9K ARS 47.4M

$28.2K ARS 41.9M

13.04%

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

$33.9K ARS 50.3M

$38.9K ARS 57.8M

-12.96%

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

$78.5 ARS 116.6K

$85.2 ARS 126.6K

-7.87%

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

$6.56 ARS 9,740

$10.11 ARS 15.0K

-35.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.59 ARS 23.2K

$25.00 ARS 37.1K

-37.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.63 ARS 39.5K

$17.57 ARS 26.1K

51.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ARS 20.7K

$7.84 ARS 11.6K

77.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ARS 8,795

$4.10 ARS 6,083

44.39%

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

$104 ARS 153.8K

$159 ARS 236.8K

-35.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,127 ARS 3.2M

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

-33.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.8 ARS 122.9K

$56.7 ARS 84.2K

46.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.6 ARS 115.3K

$61.5 ARS 91.3K

26.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 ARS 221.5K

$65.0 ARS 96.5K

129.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 ARS 179.3K

$62.7 ARS 93.1K

92.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 498.9K

$283 ARS 419.6K

18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 ARS 347.4K

$202 ARS 299.3K

16.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 ARS 1.0M

$726 ARS 1.1M

-6.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$533 ARS 790.8K

$585 ARS 868.7K

-8.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,080 ARS 3.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,499 ARS 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 915.1K

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 Rafael: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in San Rafael and $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in San Rafael vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $192 per month, with San Rafael 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 Rafael vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 4% 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 $1,319 in San Rafael and $1,266 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: $336 in San Rafael versus $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in San Rafael pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $880 per month in San Rafael versus $844 in Mar del Plata – a 4% 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 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 4% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.