🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $781 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $847 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $1,433 in Mar del Plata.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,034 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $2,019 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Living in Ubon Ratchathani costs roughly 8% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ubon Ratchathani42% lower, Mar del Plata37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99฿98.0
$9.93ARS 14.3K
-69.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.81฿814
$37.70ARS 54.3K
-34.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.35฿208
$8.22ARS 11.8K
-22.75%
Cappuccino
$1.95฿63.9
$2.45ARS 3,528
-20.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10฿35.99
$2.26ARS 3,254
-51.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.32
$2.12ARS 3,048
-75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.4
$3.21ARS 4,624
-25.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86฿93.8
$3.34ARS 4,812
-14.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67฿54.9
$1.10ARS 1,579
51.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40฿45.93
$1.42ARS 2,051
-1.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26฿41.22
$2.06ARS 2,970
-38.83%
Eggs
$2.24฿73.4
$1.52ARS 2,192
47.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.18฿596
$6.79ARS 9,776
167.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12฿102
$5.28ARS 7,609
-40.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.98฿360
$7.55ARS 10.9K
45.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21฿105
$2.87ARS 4,135
11.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿40.00
$2.13ARS 3,073
-42.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96฿64.3
$1.57ARS 2,255
24.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60฿52.5
$2.49ARS 3,592
-35.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49฿48.80
$1.23ARS 1,772
21.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.58
$0.95ARS 1,375
27.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.41
$0.63ARS 904
57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.89
$1.17ARS 1,692
-58.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30฿141
$3.42ARS 4,925
25.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.02฿460
$2.92ARS 4,204
380.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.6
$1.38ARS 1,990
27.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿90.5
$1.98ARS 2,852
39.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96฿31.48
$0.73ARS 1,048
31.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.97ARS 14.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06฿34.66
$1.53ARS 2,200
-30.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16฿37.88
$0.79ARS 1,132
46.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.00฿197
$7.95ARS 11.5K
-24.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24฿40.62
$1.14ARS 1,642
8.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K฿904.0K
$27.5KARS 39.6M
0.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K฿896.8K
$39.9KARS 57.5M
-31.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.1฿2,464
$84.2ARS 121.3K
-10.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89฿423
$10.23ARS 14.7K
26.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.15฿497
$25.44ARS 36.6K
-40.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.88฿1,603
$17.04ARS 24.5K
186.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.13฿398
$8.02ARS 11.6K
51.25%
Cinema Ticket
$7.24฿238
$3.90ARS 5,611
85.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302฿9,915
$163ARS 234.2K
85.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,663฿316.9K
$3,145ARS 4.5M
207.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.14฿1,119
$57.3ARS 82.5K
-40.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.44฿1,129
$63.0ARS 90.7K
-45.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.9฿3,243
$63.9ARS 92.0K
54.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9฿2,290
$61.9ARS 89.1K
12.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$248฿8,143
$286ARS 412.1K
-13.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$163฿5,341
$204ARS 294.5K
-20.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825฿27.1K
$723ARS 1.0M
14.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$666฿21.8K
$572ARS 824.3K
16.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,725฿56.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,338฿43.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$371฿12.2K
$599ARS 863.5K
-38.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
58.5
-90.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubon Ratchathani: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mar del Plata: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Ubon Ratchathani and $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mar del Plata pays 62% 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: $25.00 in Ubon Ratchathani vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 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
Ubon Ratchathani vs Mar del Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubon Ratchathani or Mar del Plata?
Ubon Ratchathani wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubon Ratchathani the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubon Ratchathani or Mar del Plata?
On paper, Mar del Plata earns 62% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubon Ratchathani vs Mar del Plata?
Rent for a central apartment: $248 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubon Ratchathani or Mar del Plata?
Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Ubon Ratchathani compared to Mar del Plata?
All in, you'll spend $781 per month in Ubon Ratchathani versus $847 in Mar del Plata – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubon Ratchathani or Mar del Plata?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Ubon Ratchathani gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubon Ratchathani 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 Ubon Ratchathani compared to Mar del Plata?
Safety-wise, Ubon Ratchathani 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 Ubon Ratchathani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubon Ratchathani vs other spots: cost of living compared