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: $981 in Ushuaia versus $855 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Ushuaia versus $1,426 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,230 in Ushuaia versus $1,997 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Ushuaia is roughly 15% more expensive than Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ushuaia 27% lower, Mar del Plata 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.35 ARS 14.8K

$9.39 ARS 13.4K

10.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.15 ARS 48.8K

$38.16 ARS 54.5K

-10.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ARS 12.7K

$8.07 ARS 11.5K

10.29%

Cappuccino

$2.78 ARS 3,966

$2.47 ARS 3,529

12.55%

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

$1.63 ARS 2,329

$2.17 ARS 3,094

-24.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ARS 2,139

$2.12 ARS 3,033

-29.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ARS 2,963

$3.28 ARS 4,687

-36.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ARS 4,318

$3.30 ARS 4,721

-8.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 ARS 1,795

$1.06 ARS 1,510

18.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ARS 2,235

$1.43 ARS 2,049

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ARS 2,773

$2.16 ARS 3,082

-10.19%

Eggs

$2.26 ARS 3,231

$1.58 ARS 2,261

43.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 ARS 14.4K

$6.84 ARS 9,772

46.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 ARS 8,796

$5.35 ARS 7,639

15.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ARS 13.3K

$7.74 ARS 11.1K

20.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 2,913

$2.76 ARS 3,946

-26.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,069

$2.13 ARS 3,036

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,858

$1.50 ARS 2,140

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 ARS 3,612

$2.53 ARS 3,618

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 ARS 1,689

$1.28 ARS 1,829

-7.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 ARS 1,789

$0.96 ARS 1,370

30.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 ARS 1,865

$0.62 ARS 885

111.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,109

$1.21 ARS 1,725

22.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.11 ARS 4,437

$3.49 ARS 4,979

-10.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.86 ARS 6,949

$3.08 ARS 4,399

57.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ARS 2,867

$1.33 ARS 1,904

51.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ARS 4,524

$1.96 ARS 2,805

61.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ARS 1,198

$0.75 ARS 1,076

12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ARS 2,159

$1.46 ARS 2,089

3.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 ARS 1,327

$0.74 ARS 1,051

25.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ARS 8,442

$7.84 ARS 11.2K

-24.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,576

$1.10 ARS 1,570

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

$27.0K ARS 38.5M

$27.3K ARS 38.9M

-1.11%

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

$30.2K ARS 43.1M

$39.0K ARS 55.7M

-22.63%

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

$67.1 ARS 95.9K

$85.4 ARS 122.0K

-21.39%

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

$16.95 ARS 24.2K

$10.27 ARS 14.7K

65.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.86 ARS 32.7K

$25.40 ARS 36.3K

-10.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.91 ARS 37.0K

$17.28 ARS 24.7K

49.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.67 ARS 19.5K

$7.86 ARS 11.2K

73.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 ARS 8,824

$3.98 ARS 5,686

55.28%

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

$216 ARS 309.1K

$162 ARS 232.1K

33.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,682 ARS 3.8M

$3,242 ARS 4.6M

-17.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 ARS 105.2K

$56.5 ARS 80.7K

30.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.3 ARS 97.6K

$62.4 ARS 89.1K

9.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ARS 161.8K

$64.2 ARS 91.7K

76.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 ARS 157.0K

$62.9 ARS 89.9K

74.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 ARS 490.7K

$285 ARS 406.9K

20.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ARS 335.9K

$206 ARS 294.8K

13.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$688 ARS 983.4K

$718 ARS 1.0M

-4.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$546 ARS 780.3K

$582 ARS 831.8K

-6.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,870 ARS 2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,572 ARS 2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$618 ARS 882.5K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Ushuaia and $285 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Ushuaia vs $38.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $195, 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 15% 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 $1,471 in Ushuaia and $1,282 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: $344 in Ushuaia versus $285 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 $981 per month in Ushuaia versus $855 in Mar del Plata – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $855 in Mar del Plata versus $981 in Ushuaia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Ushuaia. The gap between the two cities makes Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Ushuaia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.