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

😐 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 4.2% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 26.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 13% cheaper than Santa Marta without rent, and 14.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16 COP 13.2K
$3.58 COP 14.9K
-11.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11 COP 79.7K
$28.04 COP 116.9K
-31.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.9 COP 28.8K
$5.99 COP 25K
15.19%
Cappuccino
$1.31 COP 5,446
$1.57 COP 6,540
-16.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.7 COP 2,927
$0.67 COP 2,787
4.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 COP 2,460
$0.47 COP 1,950
25.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 COP 5,877
$0.88 COP 3,674
60.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 COP 8,524
$1.7 COP 7,106
20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 COP 4,864
$1.15 COP 4,812
1.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 COP 4,497
$1.25 COP 5,219
-13.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 COP 4,958
$0.92 COP 3,834
29.35%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 9,222
$2.38 COP 9,911
-7.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.21 COP 17.5K
$3.65 COP 15.2K
15.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 COP 24.9K
$3.9 COP 16.3K
53.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.14 COP 29.8K
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-9.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.78 COP 7,405
39.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,936
$0.76 COP 3,166
55.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 COP 3,570
$0.99 COP 4,125
-13.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 COP 3,611
$0.71 COP 2,960
22.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 COP 5,170
$0.51 COP 2,128
143.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 COP 4,239
$1.01 COP 4,213
0.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 COP 3,819
$1.01 COP 4,200
-8.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 COP 3,312
$0.55 COP 2,300
43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 COP 6,879
$2.42 COP 10.1K
-31.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.9 COP 32.9K
$9.98 COP 41.6K
-20.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 3,248
$1.42 COP 5,913
-45.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.5 COP 6,273
$1.48 COP 6,172
1.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,826
$0.67 COP 2,806
1.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.21 COP 163.5K
$14.71 COP 61.3K
166.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 7,329
$1.67 COP 6,957
5.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 COP 6,724
$1.77 COP 7,393
-9.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 COP 24.7K
$8.32 COP 34.7K
-28.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 4,093
$0.97 COP 4,042
1.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K COP 80.1M
$21.8K COP 90.9M
-11.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K COP 118M
$25.7K COP 107.1M
10.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74 COP 308.5K
$192 COP 801.3K
-61.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84 COP 36.9K
$8.75 COP 36.5K
1.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.51 COP 85.5K
$24.35 COP 101.5K
-15.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.08 COP 96.2K
$19.33 COP 80.6K
19.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.01 COP 66.8K
$7.84 COP 32.7K
104.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.94 COP 16.4K
$4.91 COP 20.5K
-19.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 COP 995.6K
$163 COP 677.5K
46.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,491 COP 10.4M
$4,838 COP 20.2M
-48.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 COP 267.7K
$40.43 COP 168.6K
58.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.95 COP 137.4K
$35.79 COP 149.2K
-7.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.8 COP 345.2K
$79 COP 329.4K
4.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.54 COP 156.5K
$59.8 COP 249.1K
-37.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$289 COP 1.2M
$285 COP 1.2M
1.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 COP 1M
$444 COP 1.8M
-45.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 COP 2M
$690 COP 2.9M
-30.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 COP 1.6M
$548 COP 2.3M
-31.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,376 COP 5.7M
$1,825 COP 7.6M
-24.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,140 COP 4.8M
$930 COP 3.9M
22.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$456 COP 1.9M
$414 COP 1.7M
10.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15.25
8.62
76.91%

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

Last update for Bucaramanga: October 27, 2025

Last update for Santa Marta: October 28, 2025

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