Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago del Estero and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago del Estero and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $956 in Santiago del Estero versus $841 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,556 in Santiago del Estero versus $1,452 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,156 in Santiago del Estero versus $2,062 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Santiago del Estero is roughly 14% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago del Estero 28% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.70 ARS 15.8K

$9.58 ARS 14.2K

11.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.80 ARS 49.9K

$36.91 ARS 54.5K

-8.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.08 ARS 13.4K

$8.12 ARS 12.0K

11.82%

Cappuccino

$2.74 ARS 4,045

$2.49 ARS 3,674

10.04%

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

$1.66 ARS 2,453

$2.27 ARS 3,353

-26.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,190

$2.15 ARS 3,176

-31.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ARS 3,065

$3.29 ARS 4,870

-37.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ARS 4,308

$3.18 ARS 4,707

-8.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,919

$1.05 ARS 1,557

23.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 ARS 2,423

$1.43 ARS 2,114

14.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ARS 2,888

$2.15 ARS 3,180

-9.30%

Eggs

$2.20 ARS 3,255

$1.55 ARS 2,296

41.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.25 ARS 15.2K

$6.64 ARS 9,818

54.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 ARS 9,303

$5.13 ARS 7,584

22.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.12 ARS 13.5K

$7.75 ARS 11.5K

17.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,862

$2.72 ARS 4,014

-28.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 ARS 3,170

$2.11 ARS 3,119

1.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,927

$1.55 ARS 2,296

-16.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 ARS 3,909

$2.50 ARS 3,689

5.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ARS 1,665

$1.22 ARS 1,796

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,758

$1.03 ARS 1,519

15.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ARS 1,858

$0.67 ARS 985

88.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ARS 2,095

$1.16 ARS 1,717

22.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ARS 4,605

$3.55 ARS 5,251

-12.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 ARS 7,683

$2.97 ARS 4,394

75.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 ARS 3,047

$1.38 ARS 2,039

49.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 ARS 4,480

$2.05 ARS 3,030

47.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 ARS 1,160

$0.71 ARS 1,051

9.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 ARS 14.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ARS 2,178

$1.47 ARS 2,167

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 ARS 1,341

$0.77 ARS 1,133

18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 ARS 8,673

$8.23 ARS 12.2K

-28.68%

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)

$27.9K ARS 41.2M

$27.5K ARS 40.7M

1.25%

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

$30.5K ARS 45.0M

$39.7K ARS 58.7M

-23.32%

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

$67.2 ARS 99.3K

$86.7 ARS 128.1K

-22.55%

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

$17.49 ARS 25.8K

$10.21 ARS 15.1K

71.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.75 ARS 33.6K

$24.91 ARS 36.8K

-8.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.32 ARS 38.9K

$17.08 ARS 25.2K

54.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.62 ARS 20.1K

$7.77 ARS 11.5K

75.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ARS 9,309

$4.01 ARS 5,930

57.11%

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

$223 ARS 329.3K

$162 ARS 239.1K

37.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,651 ARS 3.9M

$3,184 ARS 4.7M

-16.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 ARS 109.9K

$55.5 ARS 82.1K

33.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.6 ARS 104.4K

$62.8 ARS 92.9K

12.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ARS 169.8K

$65.2 ARS 96.4K

76.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 ARS 168.1K

$61.4 ARS 90.8K

85.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$332 ARS 490.6K

$278 ARS 411.3K

19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ARS 353.8K

$203 ARS 300.2K

17.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 ARS 1.0M

$707 ARS 1.0M

-3.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 ARS 797.5K

$581 ARS 859.4K

-7.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,270 ARS 3.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,769 ARS 2.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ARS 890.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

58.5

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

Last update for Santiago del Estero: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $332 in Santiago del Estero and $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Santiago del Estero vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 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

Santiago del Estero vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Santiago del Estero. 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 $1,434 in Santiago del Estero and $1,262 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: $332 in Santiago del Estero versus $278 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Santiago del Estero. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $956 per month in Santiago del Estero versus $841 in Mar del Plata – a 14% 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, Santiago del Estero 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 14% less than in Santiago del Estero. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.