Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Rosa, Argentina and Mar del Plata

For one person, living is cheaper in Mar del Plata: $1,161 a month against $1,264 in Santa Rosa, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Santa Rosa, Argentina
Mar del Plata, Argentina
Santa Rosa
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,264
/mo nomad
Mar del Plata
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,161
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santa Rosa and in Mar del Plata

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Santa Rosa and in Mar del Plata actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Santa Rosa versus $1,161 in Mar del Plata.

  • Santa Rosa $1,264
  • Mar del Plata $1,161

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Santa Rosa versus $2,072 in Mar del Plata.

  • Santa Rosa $2,132
  • Mar del Plata $2,072

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Santa Rosa versus $2,983 in Mar del Plata.

  • Santa Rosa $3,000
  • Mar del Plata $2,983

Living in Santa Rosa is roughly 9% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Rosa 7% lower, Mar del Plata 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.70 ARS 25.8K
$19.87 ARS 30.7K
-15.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0 ARS 89.6K
$80.5 ARS 124.3K
-27.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.98 ARS 20.1K
$11.63 ARS 18.0K
11.61%
Cappuccino
$3.90 ARS 6,030
$3.28 ARS 5,066
18.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ARS 3,485
$2.47 ARS 3,817
-8.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ARS 2,988
$2.02 ARS 3,125
-4.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.72 ARS 5,751
$3.58 ARS 5,538
3.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 ARS 6,273
$3.43 ARS 5,298
18.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 2,101
$1.22 ARS 1,885
11.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 ARS 3,348
$2.27 ARS 3,500
-4.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 ARS 2,750
$2.76 ARS 4,270
-35.51%
Eggs
$2.73 ARS 4,215
$3.95 ARS 6,099
-30.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.92 ARS 18.4K
$12.52 ARS 19.3K
-4.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.03 ARS 12.4K
$8.35 ARS 12.9K
-3.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.68 ARS 18.0K
$11.47 ARS 17.7K
1.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 ARS 3,830
$3.03 ARS 4,684
-18.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 ARS 3,456
$2.34 ARS 3,623
-4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 ARS 2,312
$1.94 ARS 2,992
-22.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 ARS 4,093
$2.58 ARS 3,979
2.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 ARS 1,652
$0.73 ARS 1,133
46.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 ARS 1,441
$0.73 ARS 1,131
27.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 ARS 2,380
$0.69 ARS 1,065
123.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.40 ARS 5,255
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.10 ARS 7,873
$4.25 ARS 6,569
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 ARS 3,276
$2.33 ARS 3,604
-9.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 ARS 5,146
$5.17 ARS 7,983
-35.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 ARS 1,566
$1.35 ARS 2,089
-25.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 ARS 2,273
$1.49 ARS 2,302
-1.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.79 ARS 1,219
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.32 ARS 9,769
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ARS 1,849
$1.46 ARS 2,254
-17.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K ARS 39.7M
$31.9K ARS 49.3M
-19.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K ARS 49.6M
$45.2K ARS 69.9M
-29.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ARS 193.2K
$106 ARS 164.1K
17.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.76 ARS 25.9K
$10.59 ARS 16.4K
58.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.82 ARS 36.8K
$23.56 ARS 36.4K
1.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.36 ARS 48.5K
$31.16 ARS 48.1K
0.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.79 ARS 32.1K
$32.29 ARS 49.9K
-35.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03 ARS 14.0K
$9.84 ARS 15.2K
-8.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 ARS 367.5K
$257 ARS 396.7K
-7.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,272 ARS 6.6M
$5,698 ARS 8.8M
-25.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115 ARS 178.2K
$125 ARS 192.8K
-7.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$82.6 ARS 127.6K
$70.8 ARS 109.4K
16.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ARS 174.8K
$108 ARS 167.0K
4.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ARS 175.7K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 ARS 792.4K
$492 ARS 760.4K
4.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 ARS 508.6K
$279 ARS 430.7K
18.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 ARS 1.6M
$932 ARS 1.4M
13.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$836 ARS 1.3M
$777 ARS 1.2M
7.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,283 ARS 2.0M
$1,006 ARS 1.6M
27.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Rosa
Mar del Plata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,336 ARS 2.1M
-

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

Last update for Santa Rosa: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santa Rosa
$329
Mar del Plata
$279 15.3% $50
Eating Out
Santa Rosa
$263
Mar del Plata
$276 5% $13
Groceries & Markets
Santa Rosa
$260 *
Mar del Plata
$268 * 2.8% $7.4
Clothing & Footwear
Santa Rosa
$191
Mar del Plata
$137 * 28.5% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Rosa
$166
Mar del Plata
$140 15.3% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Santa Rosa
$49
Mar del Plata
$51 2.9% $1.4
Getting Around
Santa Rosa
$5.5 *
Mar del Plata
$11 * 96% $5.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $513 in Santa Rosa and $492 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58 in Santa Rosa vs $80 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $268 per month, with Santa Rosa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Santa Rosa
🇦🇷 Mar del Plata
🕒 Local time
11:55 11:55 AM
11:55 11:55 AM
Same time as Santa Rosa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,083
593,337
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1,545 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.47 USD). 1 EUR = 1,730 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santa Rosa Mar del Plata 620 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Santa Rosa
  • Mar del Plata

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rosa vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santa Rosa or Mar del Plata?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Santa Rosa. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Santa Rosa and in Mar del Plata?
You’d need roughly $1,896 in Santa Rosa and $1,742 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Santa Rosa compared to Mar del Plata?
Rent for a central apartment: $513 in Santa Rosa versus $492 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Santa Rosa or in Mar del Plata?
Shoppers in Santa Rosa pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Santa Rosa compared to Mar del Plata?
All in, you’ll spend $1,264 per month in Santa Rosa versus $1,161 in Mar del Plata – Mar del Plata is about 8% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Santa Rosa or in Mar del Plata?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Mar del Plata is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa compared to Mar del Plata?
Safety-wise, Santa Rosa and Mar del Plata are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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