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: $801 in Santa Fe versus $847 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,216 in Santa Fe versus $1,433 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,632 in Santa Fe versus $2,019 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Santa Fe costs roughly 5% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Fe 40% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.08 ARS 10.1K

$9.93 ARS 14.2K

-28.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.21 ARS 23.1K

$37.70 ARS 53.8K

-57.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 ARS 10.7K

$8.22 ARS 11.7K

-8.39%

Cappuccino

$1.68 ARS 2,402

$2.45 ARS 3,494

-31.43%

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

$1.33 ARS 1,893

$2.26 ARS 3,222

-41.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ARS 1,656

$2.12 ARS 3,018

-45.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 ARS 1,694

$3.21 ARS 4,579

-62.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 ARS 3,647

$3.34 ARS 4,766

-23.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ARS 1,443

$1.10 ARS 1,564

-8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ARS 1,412

$1.42 ARS 2,031

-30.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 ARS 2,557

$2.06 ARS 2,941

-13.11%

Eggs

$1.46 ARS 2,089

$1.52 ARS 2,171

-3.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 ARS 12.8K

$6.79 ARS 9,681

32.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 ARS 8,643

$5.28 ARS 7,535

14.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 ARS 11.5K

$7.55 ARS 10.8K

7.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ARS 2,696

$2.87 ARS 4,094

-34.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,973

$2.13 ARS 3,044

-2.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 ARS 1,309

$1.57 ARS 2,233

-41.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.72 ARS 3,886

$2.49 ARS 3,557

9.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 ARS 734

$1.23 ARS 1,755

-58.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ARS 1,960

$0.95 ARS 1,361

44.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ARS 1,319

$0.63 ARS 895

46.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ARS 2,659

$1.17 ARS 1,676

58.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ARS 4,751

$3.42 ARS 4,877

-2.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.86 ARS 6,937

$2.92 ARS 4,163

66.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 ARS 1,778

$1.38 ARS 1,971

-9.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ARS 4,535

$1.98 ARS 2,825

60.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ARS 1,462

$0.73 ARS 1,038

41.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ARS 1,412

$1.53 ARS 2,179

-35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 ARS 1,240

$0.79 ARS 1,121

10.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.90 ARS 8,410

$7.95 ARS 11.3K

-25.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ARS 1,524

$1.14 ARS 1,626

-6.14%

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

$29.8K ARS 42.6M

$27.5K ARS 39.2M

8.53%

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

$29.5K ARS 42.1M

$39.9K ARS 57.0M

-26.10%

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

$55.0 ARS 78.5K

$84.2 ARS 120.1K

-34.69%

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

$7.76 ARS 11.1K

$10.23 ARS 14.6K

-24.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.82 ARS 21.1K

$25.44 ARS 36.3K

-41.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.67 ARS 56.6K

$17.04 ARS 24.3K

132.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.54 ARS 19.3K

$8.02 ARS 11.4K

68.83%

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ARS 7,168

$3.90 ARS 5,557

28.72%

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

$221 ARS 315.2K

$163 ARS 232.0K

35.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,061 ARS 1.5M

$3,145 ARS 4.5M

-66.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ARS 88.6K

$57.3 ARS 81.7K

8.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.9 ARS 84.0K

$63.0 ARS 89.8K

-6.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 ARS 154.5K

$63.9 ARS 91.1K

69.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.4 ARS 136.0K

$61.9 ARS 88.2K

54.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 ARS 454.5K

$286 ARS 408.1K

11.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ARS 285.1K

$204 ARS 291.6K

-2.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 ARS 834.3K

$723 ARS 1.0M

-19.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 ARS 467.1K

$572 ARS 816.2K

-42.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,268 ARS 1.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,037 ARS 1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$824 ARS 1.2M

$599 ARS 855.1K

37.52%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Santa Fe and $286 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: $16.00 in Santa Fe vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $194, 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 6% 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.

Santa Fe pays 38% more on average, 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: $319 in Santa Fe versus $286 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 $801 per month in Santa Fe versus $847 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 $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 6% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.