Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Mar del Plata

For one person, living is cheaper in Mar del Plata: $1,038 a month against $2,530 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Mar del Plata
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,038
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto 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 Toronto and in Mar del Plata actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,530 in Toronto versus $1,038 in Mar del Plata.

  • Toronto $2,530
  • Mar del Plata $1,038

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,646 in Toronto versus $1,787 in Mar del Plata.

  • Toronto $3,646
  • Mar del Plata $1,787

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,761 in Toronto versus $2,536 in Mar del Plata.

  • Toronto $4,761
  • Mar del Plata $2,536

Living in Toronto is roughly 144% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Toronto is 89% above, Mar del Plata is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 CA$25.19
$19.74 ARS 29.9K
-10.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 CA$110
$60.3 ARS 91.4K
28.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 CA$14.93
$12.52 ARS 19.0K
-16.37%
Cappuccino
$4.08 CA$5.81
$3.13 ARS 4,743
30.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.02
$2.51 ARS 3,813
-15.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.51
$2.03 ARS 3,071
-13.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 CA$8.80
$4.06 ARS 6,151
51.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CA$9.82
$3.02 ARS 4,585
128.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.08 ARS 1,634
125.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.92
$2.20 ARS 3,330
25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.18
$3.16 ARS 4,785
-29.43%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.91
$2.36 ARS 3,575
46.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 CA$12.73
$5.86 ARS 8,885
52.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.44 CA$16.31
$6.65 ARS 10.1K
72.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 CA$20.83
$12.52 ARS 19.0K
16.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.34
$3.32 ARS 5,030
12.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 CA$1.64
$2.43 ARS 3,687
-52.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.06
$1.48 ARS 2,242
139.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.10
$2.05 ARS 3,115
108.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.63
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.38
$1.01 ARS 1,532
65.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 CA$3.16
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CA$1.72
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.78
$3.60 ARS 5,463
285.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.31
$2.94 ARS 4,457
384.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.13
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.45
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$1.29 ARS 1,954
87.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$158
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.13
$1.63 ARS 2,468
77.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.80
$0.64 ARS 967
96.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.03 CA$31.40
$6.40 ARS 9,707
244.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$1.36 ARS 2,064
-10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 CA$174
$79.0 ARS 119.8K
54.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 CA$45.66
$8.23 ARS 12.5K
289.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92 CA$68.3
$30.10 ARS 45.6K
59.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.90 CA$55.5
$31.31 ARS 47.5K
24.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24 CA$33.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.61 CA$17.97
$10.07 ARS 15.3K
25.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 CA$1,189
$304 ARS 460.4K
174.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K CA$33.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 CA$75.0
$87.7 ARS 133.1K
-40.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 CA$57.4
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 CA$137
$121 ARS 184.2K
-20.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 CA$175
$54.8 ARS 83.1K
124.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 CA$2,278
$328 ARS 497.2K
387.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 CA$2,045
$253 ARS 383.9K
466.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 CA$3,787
$801 ARS 1.2M
231.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 CA$2,988
$654 ARS 992.3K
220.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 CA$11.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,557 CA$9,347
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Mar del Plata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,743 CA$5,335
$610 ARS 925.5K
513.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
0
-

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Mar del Plata
$253 82.4% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Mar del Plata
$198 * 41.7% $142
Eating Out
Toronto
$282
Mar del Plata
$278 1.5% $4.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$202
Mar del Plata
$117 41.9% $85
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$140
Mar del Plata
$119 * 15.4% $22
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Mar del Plata
$10 * 92.3% $120
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$64
Mar del Plata
$51 19.8% $13

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 $1,598 in Toronto and $328 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 513% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $77.0 in Toronto vs $60.0 in Mar del Plata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $198 per month, with Mar del Plata cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇦🇷 Mar del Plata
🕒 Local time
05:17 5:17 AM
06:17 6:17 AM
1 h ahead of Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
593,337
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,699 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Mar del Plata 9,340 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • 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
Toronto vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or Mar del Plata?
Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 144% lower than in Toronto. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mar del Plata the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Toronto or in Mar del Plata?
Average pay runs 513% higher in Toronto, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Toronto compared to Mar del Plata?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,598 in Toronto versus $328 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Toronto or in Mar del Plata?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Toronto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Toronto compared to Mar del Plata?
All in, you'll spend $2,530 per month in Toronto versus $1,038 in Mar del Plata – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Toronto or in Mar del Plata?
At $1,038 in Mar del Plata versus $2,530 in Toronto, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Toronto 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 Toronto compared to Mar del Plata?
Safety-wise, Toronto 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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