Cost of Living Comparison Between Batangas and Santa Marta Cost of Living Comparison Between Batangas and Santa Marta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in Batangas versus $1,047 in Santa Marta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $969 in Batangas versus $1,414 in Santa Marta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,288 in Batangas versus $1,781 in Santa Marta.

Living in Batangas costs roughly 38% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batangas 51% lower, Santa Marta 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.43 ₱149

$3.72 COP 13.5K

-34.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 ₱1,278

$28.78 COP 104.7K

-27.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.59 ₱158

$5.95 COP 21.6K

-56.47%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ₱105

$1.54 COP 5,602

11.69%

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

$0.83 ₱50.9

$0.73 COP 2,661

13.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.67

$0.47 COP 1,698

-21.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₱62.3

$0.83 COP 3,001

22.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₱81.7

$1.70 COP 6,200

-21.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 ₱127

$1.11 COP 4,049

87.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱73.3

$1.20 COP 4,353

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₱55.1

$0.95 COP 3,465

-5.26%

Eggs

$1.85 ₱113

$2.40 COP 8,735

-22.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.79 ₱293

$3.69 COP 13.4K

29.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₱254

$3.84 COP 14.0K

8.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.33 ₱448

$7.78 COP 28.3K

-5.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ₱160

$1.72 COP 6,270

51.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₱96.4

$0.75 COP 2,734

109.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 ₱159

$0.98 COP 3,578

165.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ₱99.4

$0.75 COP 2,711

116.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 ₱154

$0.55 COP 1,990

358.18%

Onion (1kg)

$4.13 ₱253

$1.00 COP 3,639

313.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 ₱85.6

$1.00 COP 3,645

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱62.1

$0.55 COP 1,999

85.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 ₱178

$2.41 COP 8,760

20.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 ₱455

$13.81 COP 50.2K

-46.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₱56.1

$1.47 COP 5,334

-37.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₱120

$1.47 COP 5,339

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.70

$0.72 COP 2,632

-63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.28 COP 52.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱47.18

$1.73 COP 6,305

-55.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.55

$1.84 COP 6,677

-85.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱127

$8.54 COP 31.1K

-75.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ₱66.5

$0.98 COP 3,548

11.22%

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

$25.4K ₱1.6M

$21.1K COP 76.8M

20.55%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$26.5K COP 96.5M

-22.09%

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

$166 ₱10.1K

$191 COP 695.5K

-13.29%

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

$19.22 ₱1,176

$8.70 COP 31.7K

120.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.85 ₱1,826

$24.27 COP 88.3K

22.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.00 ₱1,652

$19.22 COP 69.9K

40.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.56 ₱279

$7.89 COP 28.7K

-42.21%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 ₱316

$4.98 COP 18.1K

3.82%

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

$82.9 ₱5,070

$167 COP 607.9K

-50.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,392 ₱85.2K

$4,881 COP 17.8M

-71.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.53 ₱1,073

$40.77 COP 148.3K

-57.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.41 ₱1,616

$34.85 COP 126.7K

-24.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 ₱3,870

$78.1 COP 284.2K

-19.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.55 ₱2,725

$59.6 COP 216.7K

-25.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 ₱16.4K

$280 COP 1.0M

-4.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.4 ₱4,921

$444 COP 1.6M

-81.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$702 COP 2.6M

-74.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$108 ₱6,626

$566 COP 2.1M

-80.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,586 ₱158.2K

$1,929 COP 7.0M

34.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,646 ₱100.7K

$941 COP 3.4M

74.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 ₱10.3K

$486 COP 1.8M

-65.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.13

8.62

-5.68%

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

Last update for Batangas: April 26, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Batangas and $280 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Marta pays 188% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Batangas vs $29.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $163, with Santa Marta 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

Batangas vs Santa Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batangas and Santa Marta differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($651 vs $1,047 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Santa Marta earns 188% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $267 in Batangas versus $280 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Santa Marta pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $651 per month in Batangas versus $1,047 in Santa Marta – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Batangas 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, Batangas and Santa Marta 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 Batangas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.