Cost of Living Comparison Between Villa María and Mar del Plata Cost of Living Comparison Between Villa María and Mar del Plata

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,159 in Villa María versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,908 in Villa María versus $1,784 in Mar del Plata.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,657 in Villa María versus $2,544 in Mar del Plata.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Villa María 15% lower, Mar del Plata 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 ARS 22.7K

$20.19 ARS 30.4K

-25.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 ARS 75.4K

$60.2 ARS 90.7K

-16.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 ARS 17.2K

$12.54 ARS 18.9K

-9.09%

Cappuccino

$3.94 ARS 5,938

$3.12 ARS 4,692

26.28%

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

$2.23 ARS 3,364

$2.47 ARS 3,717

-9.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ARS 3,115

$2.03 ARS 3,057

1.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 ARS 5,372

$4.10 ARS 6,179

-12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 ARS 6,892

$3.02 ARS 4,547

51.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 ARS 1,965

$1.07 ARS 1,613

21.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.02 ARS 3,049

$2.20 ARS 3,306

-8.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ARS 2,943

$3.19 ARS 4,803

-38.87%

Eggs

$2.67 ARS 4,023

$2.35 ARS 3,537

13.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 ARS 14.3K

$5.90 ARS 8,881

61.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 ARS 9,582

$6.44 ARS 9,698

-1.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.52 ARS 15.8K

$12.52 ARS 18.9K

-15.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 ARS 3,616

$3.25 ARS 4,897

-26.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 ARS 3,358

$2.45 ARS 3,687

-8.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 ARS 2,149

$1.47 ARS 2,208

-2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 ARS 3,672

$2.04 ARS 3,074

19.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ARS 1,797

$1.02 ARS 1,539

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ARS 4,625

$3.56 ARS 5,355

-13.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.98 ARS 7,494

$2.97 ARS 4,475

67.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ARS 1,349

$1.28 ARS 1,935

-29.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 ARS 2,701

$1.65 ARS 2,492

8.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ARS 1,048

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.49 ARS 9,775

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ARS 1,656

$1.38 ARS 2,071

-20.29%

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

$116 ARS 175.0K

$81.3 ARS 122.5K

42.89%

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

$17.65 ARS 26.6K

$7.94 ARS 12.0K

122.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.80 ARS 44.9K

$30.34 ARS 45.7K

-1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.08 ARS 39.3K

$31.56 ARS 47.5K

-17.36%

Cinema Ticket

$9.31 ARS 14.0K

$10.14 ARS 15.3K

-8.19%

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

$297 ARS 447.9K

$300 ARS 452.4K

-0.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 ARS 155.9K

$87.6 ARS 132.0K

18.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ARS 178.7K

$120 ARS 181.3K

-1.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 ARS 204.8K

$54.0 ARS 81.3K

151.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 ARS 666.7K

$329 ARS 494.9K

34.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ARS 434.7K

$256 ARS 384.9K

12.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$929 ARS 1.4M

$813 ARS 1.2M

14.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 ARS 1.1M

$657 ARS 990.2K

12.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 ARS 920.6K

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Villa María: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mar del Plata: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Villa María and $329 in Mar del Plata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Villa María vs $60.0 in Mar del Plata. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 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

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

Mar del Plata wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Villa María. 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 $1,738 in Villa María and $1,535 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: $443 in Villa María versus $329 in Mar del Plata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Villa María. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,159 per month in Villa María versus $1,023 in Mar del Plata – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,023 in Mar del Plata versus $1,159 in Villa María, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mar del Plata but tight or insufficient in Villa María. 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, Villa María 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 Villa María. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.