Cost of Living Comparison Between Ushuaia and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Ushuaia and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $975 in Ushuaia versus $1,042 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,583 in Ushuaia versus $1,777 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Ushuaia versus $2,511 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Ushuaia costs roughly 6% less than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ushuaia 29% lower, Mar del Plata 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.59 ARS 16.0K

$20.02 ARS 30.2K

-47.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.44 ARS 50.4K

$59.1 ARS 89.2K

-43.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 ARS 13.8K

$12.68 ARS 19.1K

-27.68%

Cappuccino

$2.77 ARS 4,177

$3.09 ARS 4,661

-10.36%

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

$1.70 ARS 2,568

$2.54 ARS 3,835

-33.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,323

$2.02 ARS 3,042

-23.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.09 ARS 3,149

$4.04 ARS 6,093

-48.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ARS 4,412

$3.03 ARS 4,578

-3.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ARS 1,891

$1.08 ARS 1,634

15.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ARS 2,457

$2.19 ARS 3,303

-25.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 3,065

$3.19 ARS 4,819

-36.36%

Eggs

$2.19 ARS 3,303

$2.45 ARS 3,700

-10.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 ARS 15.0K

$5.66 ARS 8,543

75.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 ARS 9,217

$6.63 ARS 10.0K

-7.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 ARS 13.9K

$12.10 ARS 18.2K

-24.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 ARS 3,048

$3.41 ARS 5,150

-40.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ARS 3,208

$2.56 ARS 3,858

-16.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ARS 1,993

$1.53 ARS 2,314

-13.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ARS 3,996

$2.04 ARS 3,075

29.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ARS 1,716

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,885

$1.02 ARS 1,537

22.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 ARS 1,913

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,230

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ARS 4,757

$3.46 ARS 5,216

-8.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 ARS 7,371

$2.95 ARS 4,445

65.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 ARS 3,117

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,563

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 ARS 1,172

$1.28 ARS 1,926

-39.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 ARS 2,237

$1.59 ARS 2,399

-6.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 ARS 1,360

$0.68 ARS 1,032

32.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 ARS 9,307

$6.26 ARS 9,445

-1.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,587

$1.36 ARS 2,055

-22.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ARS 41.0M

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

$30.1K ARS 45.5M

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

$67.1 ARS 101.1K

$81.4 ARS 122.8K

-17.65%

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

$16.94 ARS 25.6K

$8.04 ARS 12.1K

110.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.69 ARS 34.2K

$29.95 ARS 45.2K

-24.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.85 ARS 39.0K

$31.33 ARS 47.3K

-17.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.57 ARS 20.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 ARS 9,136

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

-40.24%

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

$224 ARS 337.5K

$304 ARS 459.3K

-26.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,661 ARS 4.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.0 ARS 111.7K

$89.2 ARS 134.6K

-17.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.6 ARS 103.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ARS 173.6K

$118 ARS 177.8K

-2.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ARS 168.5K

$55.0 ARS 83.0K

103.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ARS 508.8K

$331 ARS 499.8K

1.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ARS 360.3K

$250 ARS 377.0K

-4.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$683 ARS 1.0M

$806 ARS 1.2M

-15.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 799.2K

$654 ARS 985.9K

-18.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,900 ARS 2.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,608 ARS 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 ARS 923.3K

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 Ushuaia: September 5, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Ushuaia and $331 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ushuaia vs $59.0 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $198, 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

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

Ushuaia wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Mar del Plata. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ushuaia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,463 in Ushuaia and $1,564 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: $337 in Ushuaia versus $331 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mar del Plata pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $975 per month in Ushuaia versus $1,042 in Mar del Plata – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $975 in Ushuaia versus $1,042 in Mar del Plata, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ushuaia but tight or insufficient in Mar del Plata. The gap between the two cities makes Ushuaia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Mar del Plata. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.