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

😐 Solo nomad: Bucaramanga is 25.7% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 25.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bucaramanga is 7.6% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13 COP 11.3K
$3.58 COP 12.9K
-12.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.12 COP 68.8K
$28.44 COP 102.4K
-32.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 COP 24.7K
$5.91 COP 21.3K
16.07%
Cappuccino
$1.32 COP 4,736
$1.56 COP 5,606
-15.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,720
$0.73 COP 2,637
4.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 COP 2,126
$0.43 COP 1,558
37.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.41 COP 5,083
$0.86 COP 3,100
63.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 COP 7,627
$1.66 COP 5,973
27.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 COP 4,252
$1.13 COP 4,065
4.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 COP 4,014
$1.20 COP 4,318
-7.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 COP 4,355
$0.91 COP 3,261
32.97%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,134
$2.38 COP 8,557
-5.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.05 COP 14.6K
$3.57 COP 12.9K
13.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 20.7K
$3.84 COP 13.8K
49.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.52 COP 27.1K
$7.97 COP 28.7K
-5.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 COP 9,294
$1.80 COP 6,487
43.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 COP 4,282
$0.75 COP 2,690
58.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.98 COP 3,523
-9.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.86 COP 3,080
$0.76 COP 2,723
13.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,331
$0.54 COP 1,953
122.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 COP 3,415
$1.01 COP 3,632
-5.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 COP 3,277
$1.00 COP 3,611
-9.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 COP 2,663
$0.51 COP 1,852
45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.65 COP 5,950
$2.50 COP 9,016
-34.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.37 COP 30.2K
$10.31 COP 37.1K
-18.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,056
$1.41 COP 5,073
-39.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 COP 5,390
$1.43 COP 5,139
4.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,500
$0.68 COP 2,445
1.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.46 COP 142.1K
$14.29 COP 51.4K
176.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 COP 6,325
$1.68 COP 6,056
4.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 COP 5,560
$1.83 COP 6,577
-15.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.01 COP 21.6K
$8.35 COP 30.1K
-28.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 3,523
$0.91 COP 3,272
7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K COP 69.1M
$21.7K COP 78.1M
-11.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K COP 99.5M
$25.8K COP 93.0M
6.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.4 COP 267.9K
$196 COP 705.3K
-62.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.61 COP 31.0K
$8.68 COP 31.3K
-0.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.49 COP 73.8K
$23.74 COP 85.5K
-13.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.37 COP 84.1K
$19.50 COP 70.2K
19.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.44 COP 55.6K
$7.86 COP 28.3K
96.44%
Cinema Ticket
$3.90 COP 14.1K
$4.97 COP 17.9K
-21.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$241 COP 868.3K
$163 COP 588.3K
47.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,430 COP 8.8M
$4,797 COP 17.3M
-49.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.2 COP 234.8K
$40.52 COP 145.9K
60.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.34 COP 116.4K
$35.89 COP 129.2K
-9.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.0 COP 302.4K
$80.2 COP 288.8K
4.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.15 COP 137.4K
$58.8 COP 211.8K
-35.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 COP 1.0M
$283 COP 1.0M
0.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 COP 847.3K
$452 COP 1.6M
-47.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.7M
$699 COP 2.5M
-30.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 COP 1.3M
$546 COP 2.0M
-32.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,060 COP 3.8M
$1,921 COP 6.9M
-44.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,424 COP 5.1M
$971 COP 3.5M
46.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucaramanga
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 COP 1.8M
$440 COP 1.6M
15.36%
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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: April 13, 2026

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

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