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: $976 in Ushuaia versus $844 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,579 in Ushuaia versus $1,417 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,183 in Ushuaia versus $1,991 in Mar del Plata.

Living in Ushuaia is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mar del Plata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ushuaia 27% lower, Mar del Plata 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.48 ARS 15.7K

$9.53 ARS 14.2K

9.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.37 ARS 49.9K

$37.25 ARS 55.7K

-10.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 ARS 13.7K

$8.17 ARS 12.2K

12.24%

Cappuccino

$2.71 ARS 4,044

$2.41 ARS 3,603

12.45%

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

$1.64 ARS 2,446

$2.18 ARS 3,260

-24.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ARS 2,334

$2.05 ARS 3,072

-23.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ARS 3,191

$3.34 ARS 4,993

-36.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,378

$3.19 ARS 4,764

-8.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ARS 1,857

$1.05 ARS 1,570

18.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ARS 2,345

$1.38 ARS 2,063

13.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 ARS 2,957

$2.06 ARS 3,084

-3.88%

Eggs

$2.25 ARS 3,356

$1.52 ARS 2,279

48.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 ARS 15.1K

$6.93 ARS 10.4K

45.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.08 ARS 9,095

$5.22 ARS 7,810

16.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 ARS 14.1K

$7.47 ARS 11.2K

26.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 ARS 2,946

$2.74 ARS 4,091

-28.10%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ARS 3,089

$2.17 ARS 3,244

-4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 ARS 1,907

$1.55 ARS 2,318

-17.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 ARS 3,901

$2.45 ARS 3,661

6.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,786

$1.22 ARS 1,827

-2.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 ARS 1,846

$0.95 ARS 1,417

29.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ARS 1,890

$0.63 ARS 945

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ARS 2,118

$1.20 ARS 1,796

18.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 ARS 4,774

$3.48 ARS 5,201

-8.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.96 ARS 7,419

$2.95 ARS 4,406

68.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 ARS 3,060

$1.39 ARS 2,082

47.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 ARS 4,746

$1.98 ARS 2,966

60.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 ARS 1,172

$0.76 ARS 1,136

2.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.94 ARS 14.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ARS 2,262

$1.49 ARS 2,226

1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 ARS 1,354

$0.76 ARS 1,137

19.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 ARS 8,726

$8.18 ARS 12.2K

-28.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,646

$1.15 ARS 1,722

-4.35%

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

$26.9K ARS 40.3M

$28.2K ARS 42.2M

-4.69%

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

$30.2K ARS 45.2M

$38.9K ARS 58.2M

-22.36%

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

$67.6 ARS 101.1K

$85.2 ARS 127.4K

-20.69%

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

$17.03 ARS 25.5K

$10.11 ARS 15.1K

68.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.46 ARS 33.6K

$25.00 ARS 37.4K

-10.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.56 ARS 39.7K

$17.57 ARS 26.3K

51.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.53 ARS 20.2K

$7.84 ARS 11.7K

72.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.35 ARS 9,489

$4.10 ARS 6,124

54.88%

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

$223 ARS 333.5K

$159 ARS 238.4K

39.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,665 ARS 4.0M

$3,177 ARS 4.7M

-16.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.6 ARS 108.5K

$56.7 ARS 84.7K

28.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.7 ARS 104.1K

$61.5 ARS 92.0K

13.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ARS 175.1K

$65.0 ARS 97.2K

80.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ARS 168.0K

$62.7 ARS 93.7K

79.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ARS 497.2K

$283 ARS 422.4K

17.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ARS 358.3K

$202 ARS 301.3K

18.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$684 ARS 1.0M

$726 ARS 1.1M

-5.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$546 ARS 816.7K

$585 ARS 874.5K

-6.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,857 ARS 2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,610 ARS 2.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 ARS 921.3K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Ushuaia and $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ushuaia vs $37.00 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $192, 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 16% 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 $1,463 in Ushuaia and $1,266 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: $333 in Ushuaia versus $283 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Ushuaia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $976 per month in Ushuaia versus $844 in Mar del Plata – a 16% 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 16% less than in Ushuaia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.