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: $906 in San Rafael versus $855 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in San Rafael versus $1,426 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,959 in San Rafael versus $1,997 in Mar del Plata.

Living in San Rafael is roughly 6% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Rafael 33% lower, Mar del Plata 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ARS 14.5K

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

8.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ARS 28.2K

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

-48.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 ARS 8,726

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

-24.29%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ARS 2,513

$2.47 ARS 3,529

-28.74%

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

$1.02 ARS 1,457

$2.17 ARS 3,094

-53.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ARS 1,444

$2.12 ARS 3,033

-52.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ARS 1,404

$3.28 ARS 4,687

-70.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,205

$3.30 ARS 4,721

-53.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,493

$1.06 ARS 1,510

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ARS 2,203

$1.43 ARS 2,049

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,035

$2.16 ARS 3,082

-34.26%

Eggs

$1.63 ARS 2,325

$1.58 ARS 2,261

3.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.53 ARS 7,894

$6.84 ARS 9,772

-19.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 ARS 10.6K

$5.35 ARS 7,639

38.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.55 ARS 9,353

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

-15.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 ARS 2,452

$2.76 ARS 3,946

-37.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ARS 2,170

$2.13 ARS 3,036

-28.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,181

$1.50 ARS 2,140

2.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 ARS 1,314

$2.53 ARS 3,618

-63.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ARS 927

$1.28 ARS 1,829

-49.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ARS 1,044

$0.96 ARS 1,370

-23.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 ARS 846

$0.62 ARS 885

-4.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,733

$1.21 ARS 1,725

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 ARS 2,513

$3.49 ARS 4,979

-49.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 ARS 6,985

$3.08 ARS 4,399

58.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ARS 1,534

$1.33 ARS 1,904

-19.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ARS 2,286

$1.96 ARS 2,805

-18.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ARS 1,194

$0.75 ARS 1,076

12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 ARS 643

$1.46 ARS 2,089

-69.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,396

$0.74 ARS 1,051

32.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 ARS 7,096

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

-36.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ARS 1,191

$1.10 ARS 1,570

-24.55%

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

$31.9K ARS 45.6M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

17.00%

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

$33.0K ARS 47.1M

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

-15.41%

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

$76.2 ARS 108.9K

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

-10.75%

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

$6.71 ARS 9,590

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

-34.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.38 ARS 22.0K

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

-39.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.70 ARS 36.7K

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

48.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.55 ARS 19.4K

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

72.39%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ARS 8,617

$3.98 ARS 5,686

51.51%

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

$102 ARS 145.7K

$162 ARS 232.1K

-37.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,199 ARS 3.1M

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

-32.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.7 ARS 115.3K

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

42.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.2 ARS 110.3K

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

23.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 ARS 209.5K

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

128.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ARS 167.3K

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

86.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ARS 485.2K

$285 ARS 406.9K

19.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ARS 339.8K

$206 ARS 294.8K

15.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$690 ARS 985.3K

$718 ARS 1.0M

-3.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 757.8K

$582 ARS 831.8K

-8.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,309 ARS 3.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in San Rafael and $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in San Rafael vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $195 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 6% 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 $1,359 in San Rafael and $1,282 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: $340 in San Rafael versus $285 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 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $906 per month in San Rafael versus $855 in Mar del Plata – a 6% 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 6% less than in San Rafael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.