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: $665 in Batangas versus $1,069 in Santa Marta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $973 in Batangas versus $1,416 in Santa Marta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,282 in Batangas versus $1,762 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 50% lower, Santa Marta 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 ₱143

$3.59 COP 11.3K

-34.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.67 ₱1,326

$28.43 COP 89.6K

-23.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.61 ₱159

$5.90 COP 18.6K

-55.76%

Cappuccino

$1.70 ₱104

$1.55 COP 4,899

9.68%

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

$0.82 ₱49.88

$0.69 COP 2,165

18.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.74

$0.44 COP 1,374

-15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₱60.0

$0.82 COP 2,594

19.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₱85.4

$1.66 COP 5,231

-16.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₱129

$1.17 COP 3,700

80.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₱76.2

$1.26 COP 3,960

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 ₱53.5

$0.95 COP 2,986

-8.42%

Eggs

$1.89 ₱116

$2.33 COP 7,350

-18.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.98 ₱305

$3.56 COP 11.2K

39.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₱259

$3.92 COP 12.4K

7.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.08 ₱433

$7.94 COP 25.0K

-10.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ₱162

$1.73 COP 5,460

53.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₱94.1

$0.76 COP 2,390

102.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 ₱167

$0.99 COP 3,119

175.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.70 ₱104

$0.76 COP 2,403

123.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱153

$0.55 COP 1,730

354.55%

Onion (1kg)

$4.05 ₱248

$1.01 COP 3,199

300.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 ₱88.9

$1.05 COP 3,321

38.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱64.3

$0.51 COP 1,602

105.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₱177

$2.44 COP 7,683

18.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.91 ₱484

$15.42 COP 48.6K

-48.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₱52.7

$1.47 COP 4,635

-41.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₱125

$1.42 COP 4,480

44.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.88

$0.72 COP 2,272

-63.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.34 COP 45.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱50.9

$1.73 COP 5,445

-52.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.12

$1.83 COP 5,754

-86.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 ₱134

$8.68 COP 27.4K

-74.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱67.6

$0.90 COP 2,839

22.22%

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

$26.0K ₱1.6M

$21.7K COP 68.5M

19.56%

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

$20.4K ₱1.2M

$26.3K COP 83.0M

-22.67%

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

$162 ₱9,916

$192 COP 604.3K

-15.50%

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

$19.09 ₱1,168

$8.62 COP 27.2K

121.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.60 ₱1,811

$24.37 COP 76.8K

21.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.76 ₱1,699

$18.99 COP 59.9K

46.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 ₱263

$7.88 COP 24.8K

-45.43%

Cinema Ticket

$5.30 ₱324

$4.79 COP 15.1K

10.65%

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

$79.9 ₱4,891

$164 COP 517.2K

-51.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,412 ₱86.4K

$4,844 COP 15.3M

-70.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.48 ₱1,070

$41.10 COP 129.5K

-57.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.00 ₱1,652

$35.71 COP 112.6K

-24.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 ₱3,731

$79.1 COP 249.2K

-22.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.85 ₱2,684

$58.6 COP 184.8K

-25.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱16.5K

$278 COP 876.2K

-2.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.6 ₱4,810

$452 COP 1.4M

-82.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₱10.9K

$680 COP 2.1M

-73.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 ₱6,493

$562 COP 1.8M

-81.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,508 ₱153.5K

$2,100 COP 6.6M

19.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,652 ₱101.1K

$983 COP 3.1M

68.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 ₱10.3K

$540 COP 1.7M

-68.72%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Batangas and $278 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Marta pays 220% 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: $22.00 in Batangas vs $28.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $168, 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 ($665 vs $1,069 including rent). Batangas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 220% lower in Santa Marta. 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: $270 in Batangas versus $278 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Santa Marta pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $665 per month in Batangas versus $1,069 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.