🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $790 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $833 in Mar del Plata.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,425 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $1,421 in Mar del Plata.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,060 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $2,010 in Mar del Plata.
🙂Living in Ubon Ratchathani costs roughly 5% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ubon Ratchathani41% lower, Mar del Plata38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01฿96.6
$9.43ARS 12.8K
-68.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.29฿779
$37.33ARS 50.8K
-34.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.39฿205
$8.19ARS 11.1K
-21.98%
Cappuccino
$1.86฿59.5
$2.37ARS 3,219
-21.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06฿34.00
$2.27ARS 3,084
-53.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿15.82
$2.09ARS 2,839
-76.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿81.1
$3.30ARS 4,482
-23.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84฿91.2
$3.32ARS 4,514
-14.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74฿55.9
$1.07ARS 1,453
62.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33฿42.61
$1.43ARS 1,948
-6.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31฿42.15
$2.16ARS 2,933
-39.35%
Eggs
$2.16฿69.2
$1.58ARS 2,152
36.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.38฿589
$6.97ARS 9,482
163.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09฿99.0
$5.31ARS 7,222
-41.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.60฿340
$7.66ARS 10.4K
38.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10฿99.4
$2.80ARS 3,812
10.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26฿40.55
$2.20ARS 2,994
-42.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89฿60.6
$1.55ARS 2,109
21.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59฿50.9
$2.39ARS 3,254
-33.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48฿47.30
$1.28ARS 1,736
15.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿38.65
$0.96ARS 1,301
26.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿32.96
$0.62ARS 845
66.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.34
$1.20ARS 1,634
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19฿134
$3.42ARS 4,654
22.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.98฿448
$5.11ARS 6,947
173.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72฿55.1
$1.32ARS 1,800
30.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67฿85.6
$2.04ARS 2,770
30.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95฿30.51
$0.71ARS 964
33.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.85ARS 13.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11฿35.49
$1.52ARS 2,072
-26.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15฿36.74
$0.77ARS 1,044
49.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.17฿198
$8.15ARS 11.1K
-24.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.11
$1.14ARS 1,547
12.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿888.5K
$27.8KARS 37.8M
-0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿865.8K
$39.2KARS 53.3M
-31.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.9฿2,432
$86.6ARS 117.8K
-12.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.05฿418
$10.34ARS 14.1K
26.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.08฿483
$25.60ARS 34.8K
-41.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.50฿1,587
$17.00ARS 23.1K
191.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.28฿394
$8.21ARS 11.2K
49.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91฿222
$3.93ARS 5,350
75.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294฿9,438
$161ARS 219.6K
82.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,474฿303.7K
$3,217ARS 4.4M
194.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.84฿1,085
$55.8ARS 75.9K
-39.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.40฿1,103
$63.3ARS 86.1K
-45.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.4฿3,122
$65.8ARS 89.5K
47.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6฿2,264
$62.0ARS 84.3K
13.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242฿7,750
$286ARS 388.4K
-15.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$166฿5,307
$208ARS 282.3K
-20.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$809฿25.9K
$707ARS 961.8K
14.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652฿20.9K
$588ARS 799.1K
10.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,288฿73.4K
$2,164ARS 2.9M
5.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,520฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubon Ratchathani
Mar del Plata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$400฿12.8K
$621ARS 843.9K
-35.59%
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: April 12, 2026
Last update for Mar del Plata: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Ubon Ratchathani and $286 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mar del Plata pays 55% 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: $24 in Ubon Ratchathani vs $37 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $199, 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 5% 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 55% 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: $242 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 22% 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 $790 per month in Ubon Ratchathani versus $833 in Mar del Plata – a 5% 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 5% 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