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: $948 in Ushuaia versus $838 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,569 in Ushuaia versus $1,425 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,189 in Ushuaia versus $2,011 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Ushuaia is roughly 13% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ushuaia 29% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.68 ARS 14.9K

$9.87 ARS 13.8K

8.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.62 ARS 46.9K

$36.84 ARS 51.4K

-8.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 ARS 12.9K

$8.28 ARS 11.5K

11.35%

Cappuccino

$2.68 ARS 3,736

$2.42 ARS 3,371

10.74%

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

$1.72 ARS 2,406

$2.20 ARS 3,069

-21.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,150

$2.05 ARS 2,865

-24.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ARS 2,988

$3.20 ARS 4,462

-33.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ARS 4,103

$3.31 ARS 4,622

-11.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,807

$1.11 ARS 1,545

17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 ARS 2,212

$1.42 ARS 1,982

11.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 ARS 2,830

$2.08 ARS 2,909

-2.40%

Eggs

$2.28 ARS 3,184

$1.49 ARS 2,085

53.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.30 ARS 14.4K

$6.73 ARS 9,388

53.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 ARS 8,844

$5.33 ARS 7,438

18.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.12 ARS 12.7K

$7.45 ARS 10.4K

22.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ARS 2,809

$2.72 ARS 3,794

-26.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 2,876

$2.12 ARS 2,959

-2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ARS 1,824

$1.51 ARS 2,102

-13.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 ARS 3,691

$2.52 ARS 3,519

5.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,662

$1.29 ARS 1,793

-7.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,727

$1.00 ARS 1,389

24.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 ARS 1,839

$0.63 ARS 873

109.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ARS 2,006

$1.20 ARS 1,681

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 ARS 4,435

$3.54 ARS 4,941

-10.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.93 ARS 6,886

$4.94 ARS 6,896

-0.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 ARS 2,898

$1.34 ARS 1,874

55.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 ARS 4,308

$1.95 ARS 2,722

58.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 ARS 1,133

$0.76 ARS 1,060

6.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.90 ARS 13.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ARS 2,079

$1.53 ARS 2,139

-2.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 ARS 1,206

$0.77 ARS 1,069

11.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 ARS 8,467

$7.91 ARS 11.0K

-23.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,524

$1.13 ARS 1,580

-3.54%

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

$27.4K ARS 38.2M

$27.9K ARS 38.9M

-1.80%

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

$30.6K ARS 42.6M

$40.2K ARS 56.0M

-23.94%

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

$67.7 ARS 94.5K

$83.7 ARS 116.8K

-19.07%

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

$17.41 ARS 24.3K

$10.36 ARS 14.5K

68.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.47 ARS 31.3K

$25.20 ARS 35.2K

-10.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.40 ARS 36.8K

$17.02 ARS 23.8K

55.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.71 ARS 19.1K

$7.93 ARS 11.1K

72.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.05 ARS 8,447

$3.89 ARS 5,431

55.53%

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

$224 ARS 312.8K

$159 ARS 221.8K

41.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,666 ARS 3.7M

$3,227 ARS 4.5M

-17.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.5 ARS 101.2K

$55.5 ARS 77.4K

30.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.4 ARS 98.2K

$61.7 ARS 86.1K

13.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ARS 161.5K

$63.9 ARS 89.1K

81.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ARS 157.5K

$63.6 ARS 88.7K

77.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 ARS 476.4K

$281 ARS 391.5K

21.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 ARS 335.7K

$206 ARS 287.4K

16.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 ARS 955.4K

$734 ARS 1.0M

-6.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$538 ARS 750.8K

$575 ARS 802.1K

-6.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,864 ARS 2.6M

$2,203 ARS 3.1M

-15.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,567 ARS 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 ARS 842.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Ushuaia and $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Ushuaia vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $197, 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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Ushuaia. 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 $1,422 in Ushuaia and $1,257 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: $341 in Ushuaia versus $281 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Ushuaia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $948 per month in Ushuaia versus $838 in Mar del Plata – a 13% 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, 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 Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Ushuaia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.