Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Fe and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Fe and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $814 in Santa Fe versus $841 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,245 in Santa Fe versus $1,452 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Santa Fe versus $2,062 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Santa Fe costs roughly 3% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Fe 39% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.84 ARS 10.1K

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

-28.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.80 ARS 24.8K

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

-54.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 ARS 11.2K

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

-6.65%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ARS 2,414

$2.49 ARS 3,674

-34.54%

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

$1.33 ARS 1,961

$2.27 ARS 3,353

-41.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,731

$2.15 ARS 3,176

-45.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ARS 1,845

$3.29 ARS 4,870

-62.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,657

$3.18 ARS 4,707

-22.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ARS 1,463

$1.05 ARS 1,557

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ARS 1,435

$1.43 ARS 2,114

-32.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 ARS 2,669

$2.15 ARS 3,180

-15.81%

Eggs

$1.53 ARS 2,260

$1.55 ARS 2,296

-1.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 ARS 13.0K

$6.64 ARS 9,818

32.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 ARS 8,628

$5.13 ARS 7,584

13.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

5.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ARS 2,795

$2.72 ARS 4,014

-30.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,212

$2.11 ARS 3,119

2.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 ARS 1,449

$1.55 ARS 2,296

-36.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 ARS 3,900

$2.50 ARS 3,689

5.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 ARS 764

$1.22 ARS 1,796

-57.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,101

$1.03 ARS 1,519

37.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ARS 1,351

$0.67 ARS 985

35.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ARS 2,765

$1.16 ARS 1,717

61.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ARS 4,930

$3.55 ARS 5,251

-5.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 ARS 7,226

$2.97 ARS 4,394

64.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ARS 1,862

$1.38 ARS 2,039

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ARS 4,668

$2.05 ARS 3,030

54.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ARS 1,512

$0.71 ARS 1,051

43.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ARS 1,459

$1.47 ARS 2,167

-32.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,366

$0.77 ARS 1,133

19.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 ARS 9,109

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

-25.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,570

$1.14 ARS 1,685

-7.02%

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

$30.2K ARS 44.7M

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

9.83%

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

$29.3K ARS 43.3M

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

-26.24%

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

$54.7 ARS 80.9K

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

-36.91%

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

$8.07 ARS 11.9K

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

-20.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.71 ARS 21.7K

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

-40.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.01 ARS 59.1K

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

134.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.55 ARS 20.0K

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

74.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 ARS 7,187

$4.01 ARS 5,930

21.20%

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

$216 ARS 318.8K

$162 ARS 239.1K

33.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,092 ARS 1.6M

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

-65.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ARS 91.6K

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

11.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.2 ARS 89.0K

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

-4.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 ARS 160.8K

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

66.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ARS 142.1K

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

56.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 ARS 462.9K

$278 ARS 411.3K

12.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ARS 297.0K

$203 ARS 300.2K

-1.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 ARS 858.1K

$707 ARS 1.0M

-17.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 ARS 476.3K

$581 ARS 859.4K

-44.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,247 ARS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,035 ARS 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 ARS 1.2M

$602 ARS 890.3K

37.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

58.5

70.94%

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

Last update for Santa Fe: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $313 in Santa Fe and $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Fe pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17.00 in Santa Fe vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $193, 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

Santa Fe vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Fe wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Fe the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 38% higher in Santa Fe, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $313 in Santa Fe versus $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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

All in, you'll spend $814 per month in Santa Fe versus $841 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 $1,200 a month, though Santa Fe 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, Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.