😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in San Rafael versus $838 in Mar del Plata.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,436 in San Rafael versus $1,425 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in San Rafael versus $2,011 in Mar del Plata.
😐Living in San Rafael is roughly 5% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Rafael34% lower, Mar del Plata37% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17ARS 14.3K
$9.87ARS 13.9K
3.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.39ARS 28.7K
$36.84ARS 51.9K
-44.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.95ARS 8,380
$8.28ARS 11.7K
-28.14%
Cappuccino
$1.78ARS 2,509
$2.42ARS 3,402
-26.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02ARS 1,439
$2.20ARS 3,097
-53.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01ARS 1,427
$2.05ARS 2,891
-50.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03ARS 1,448
$3.20ARS 4,503
-67.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53ARS 2,150
$3.31ARS 4,664
-53.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04ARS 1,470
$1.11ARS 1,560
-6.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50ARS 2,107
$1.42ARS 2,000
5.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41ARS 1,992
$2.08ARS 2,936
-32.21%
Eggs
$1.57ARS 2,217
$1.49ARS 2,104
5.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.36ARS 7,549
$6.73ARS 9,475
-20.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.67ARS 10.8K
$5.33ARS 7,507
43.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.43ARS 9,052
$7.45ARS 10.5K
-13.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79ARS 2,517
$2.72ARS 3,829
-34.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46ARS 2,050
$2.12ARS 2,987
-31.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54ARS 2,175
$1.51ARS 2,121
1.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92ARS 1,300
$2.52ARS 3,551
-63.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71ARS 1,002
$1.29ARS 1,810
-44.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73ARS 1,024
$1.00ARS 1,401
-27.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65ARS 910
$0.63ARS 881
3.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22ARS 1,725
$1.20ARS 1,696
1.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.75ARS 2,468
$3.54ARS 4,987
-50.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.13ARS 7,217
$4.94ARS 6,960
3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12ARS 1,571
$1.34ARS 1,892
-16.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58ARS 2,231
$1.95ARS 2,747
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77ARS 1,091
$0.76ARS 1,069
1.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.90ARS 13.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44ARS 625
$1.53ARS 2,158
-71.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03ARS 1,447
$0.77ARS 1,079
33.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.01ARS 7,056
$7.91ARS 11.1K
-36.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84ARS 1,179
$1.13ARS 1,595
-25.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KARS 44.7M
$27.9KARS 39.2M
13.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KARS 46.7M
$40.2KARS 56.6M
-17.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.5ARS 107.7K
$83.7ARS 117.8K
-8.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.61ARS 9,312
$10.36ARS 14.6K
-36.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.28ARS 21.5K
$25.20ARS 35.5K
-39.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.84ARS 36.4K
$17.02ARS 24.0K
51.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.92ARS 19.6K
$7.93ARS 11.2K
75.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.03ARS 8,485
$3.89ARS 5,481
55.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104ARS 146.3K
$159ARS 223.8K
-34.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,131ARS 3.0M
$3,227ARS 4.5M
-33.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.1ARS 116.9K
$55.5ARS 78.1K
49.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$78.0ARS 109.9K
$61.7ARS 86.9K
26.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149ARS 209.4K
$63.9ARS 89.9K
132.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117ARS 164.6K
$63.6ARS 89.6K
83.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$336ARS 472.5K
$281ARS 395.1K
19.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234ARS 329.2K
$206ARS 290.0K
13.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693ARS 976.0K
$734ARS 1.0M
-5.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$530ARS 746.4K
$575ARS 809.5K
-7.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,882ARS 2.6M
$2,203ARS 3.1M
-14.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Rafael
Mar del Plata
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$456ARS 641.6K
$604ARS 850.3K
-24.55%
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 Rafael: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Mar del Plata: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in San Rafael and $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mar del Plata pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒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 $197 per month, with San Rafael 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 Rafael vs Mar del Plata: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, San Rafael or Mar del Plata?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 5% 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.
Are salaries higher in San Rafael or Mar del Plata?
On paper, Mar del Plata earns 33% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in San Rafael vs Mar del Plata?
Rent for a central apartment: $336 in San Rafael versus $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in San Rafael or Mar del Plata?
Shoppers in San Rafael pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in San Rafael compared to Mar del Plata?
All in, you'll spend $879 per month in San Rafael versus $838 in Mar del Plata – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in San Rafael or Mar del Plata?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: San Rafael 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 Rafael compared to Mar del Plata?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
San Rafael vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado