The cost of living section should not only give a basic monthly cost to live in a specific country but should have the costs broken down....

(Per Month)

Rent On A One Bedroom Apt
Elec
Water
Gas
Tel
Basic Cable
Internet Service
Health Insurance
Food
Transportation
Misc Cash/Travel exp

Lets say it cost $1000 per month to live in certain country,it would cost less if a person didn't want Internet service and cable.Then the cost would be $850 or whatever.Anyway,just an idea.Thanks.

Good idea. Instead of general numbers for food, though, I think it would be nice to know what a beer costs, how much I'd have to spend for a loaf of bread, and what I'd pay for a meal in a diner-type restaurant.

Hi, I would be very happy to give you this information. I will compile a list and then post.

Make it easy on yourselves though. Use your own currency and let people convert to whatever they're comfortable with. Here's a tool for that. OnlineConversion Currency Converter - OANDA Customizable Currency Converter

Just a thought - if you had say US$30,000, you could buy a small studio apartment in the centre of Mar del Pata. If you were prepared to live outside the centre, you could buy a small chalet for the same money. If you had a spare bedroom, you could rent it out for good money, especially during the high season.

I should be lesson planning, but to hell with that!!!!!!

In pesos with rate of 3-1 against the dollar
Monthly
1 bed apart 600-1000 pesos
Gas in winter - 100 pesos (4 bed house)
Gas in summer - 22 pesos (4 bed house)
Electric - 90 pesos (in summer) (for my 4 bed house, 3 bathrooms, 5 mobile phone charges, 4 MP3 chargers, Palm, digital camera, laptop, DVD player, TV, electric kettle, toaster etc. Most of this items, except TV and phones are considered luxury. Electric is considered very expensive, all cookers and heating are generally gas. Most Argentines still boil water on the cooker.
Water - house - 30 pesos
Water - Apartment - 10 pesos
Cable TV and High Speed internet combined - 125 pesos
(without Internet) approx. 90 pesos.
Telephone - Telefonica (A Spanish company) 45 pesos a month with unlimited
local calls.
Mobile phone with CTI various levels, but using mine as an example 52 pesos including 100 minutes and 50 extra SMS.

What I like about the mobile companies here, is when you reach your limit, you must buy a pre-paid card to top-up. You can never get large phone bills. You still get the same price deal when you top-up.

Besides CTI, there is Movistar, Personel and Nextel.

A top medical plan is approx. 180 pesos a month. Please check health care abroad posting.

Transportation - buses are 1.19 peso per ride (using a pre-paid card)
Taxis start at 2 pesos and most rides in and around the city cost from 3 - 6 pesos. To the southern beaches which is about 20 minutes costs about 15 pesos. Long distance coaches cost about 50-60 pesos each way from Mardel to BA (5 hours) with seats that lie down flat and very comfortable.

Anyway, I must go now, but will discuss food and entertainment in another post.

Thank you, Michelle, so much! That's great information. Another place for my list.

3 pesos to 1 dollar

Cinema - first daily performance 7.50 pesos
all other performances 10 pesos
Theatre (last season 06) 30 pesos

Gym membership monthly including spinning classes 50 pesos
(there are many gyms here and they are very popular)

Entrance to clubs and discos from free to 25 pesos. When it is free, you are obliged to buy 1/2 drinks, but they are normally about 5-10 pesos each.

Sheraton dinner and dance (unlimited wine and soft drinks) 60 pesos.
Entrance to Abbey Road (Tribute bands) 15-20 pesos.

A three course meal including half a bottle of wine 27 pesos (nice restaurant)
A three course meal including unlimited wine and soft drinks 33 pesos (nice restaurant)
Tenedor libre - eat as much as you like including deserts - 14 pesos plus drinks

Fortunately there are only 4 or 5 McDonalds and a big meal costs 15 pesos. Children meals cost 14 pesos.

Breakfast in a nice place including a large coffee, large orange juice and croissants 8-12 pesos.

There are also many cheap places where you can eat a meal for 7 pesos.
My son buys extra large ham and cheese sandwiches for 2.5 pesos!!

In fact, it is very difficult to spend more than 5 pounds ($10 a person) anywhere in Mar del Plata.

This city is full of restaurants and cafeterias and even after a year, it has been impossible to sample them all. I doubt even in 10 years we will have tried them all.

I will list some more prices when I get a chance

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www.mar-del-plata-argentina.net

A wonderful place to live