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

😐 Solo nomad: Cali is 28.7% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 28.7% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cali is 29% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 7.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70 COP 13.7K
$3.53 COP 13.0K
4.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.94 COP 107.1K
$28.72 COP 106.3K
0.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COP 26.7K
$6.12 COP 22.6K
18.14%
Cappuccino
$1.55 COP 5,749
$1.51 COP 5,595
2.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 COP 3,409
$0.68 COP 2,512
35.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 COP 2,218
$0.47 COP 1,746
27.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 COP 3,757
$0.83 COP 3,057
22.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 9,221
$1.71 COP 6,345
45.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 COP 4,487
$1.16 COP 4,277
4.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 COP 5,641
$1.26 COP 4,648
20.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 COP 4,601
$0.90 COP 3,312
37.78%
Eggs
$2.54 COP 9,404
$2.32 COP 8,598
9.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.32 COP 16.0K
$3.74 COP 13.8K
15.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 COP 20.0K
$3.99 COP 14.8K
35.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.54 COP 27.9K
$7.64 COP 28.3K
-1.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 COP 8,896
$1.79 COP 6,619
34.08%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 COP 3,649
$0.74 COP 2,741
33.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 COP 4,210
$1.02 COP 3,783
11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 COP 4,866
$0.70 COP 2,602
88.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 COP 3,291
$0.54 COP 2,008
64.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,916
$0.92 COP 3,410
15.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 COP 2,600
$1.05 COP 3,894
-33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 COP 2,562
$0.52 COP 1,910
32.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 COP 10.8K
$2.45 COP 9,052
19.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.94 COP 40.5K
$10.04 COP 37.2K
8.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,972
$1.46 COP 5,411
-26.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 COP 7,219
$1.43 COP 5,302
36.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,550
$0.67 COP 2,469
2.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.09 COP 74.3K
$14.42 COP 53.4K
39.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 COP 5,750
$1.75 COP 6,468
-11.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 7,095
$1.85 COP 6,836
3.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.67 COP 35.8K
$8.61 COP 31.9K
12.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 COP 3,635
$0.99 COP 3,646
-1.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K COP 79.5M
$21.4K COP 79.3M
0.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K COP 109.8M
$26.0K COP 96.0M
14.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 305.4K
$197 COP 728.9K
-58.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.60 COP 31.8K
$8.70 COP 32.2K
-1.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.77 COP 91.7K
$23.83 COP 88.2K
3.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.04 COP 74.1K
$19.08 COP 70.6K
5.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.61 COP 54.0K
$8.03 COP 29.7K
81.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.79 COP 17.7K
$4.91 COP 18.2K
-2.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 COP 827.0K
$166 COP 613.2K
34.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,068 COP 22.5M
$4,836 COP 17.9M
25.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 COP 233.9K
$39.66 COP 146.7K
59.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.55 COP 161.1K
$35.97 COP 133.1K
21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.4 COP 290.2K
$78.0 COP 288.4K
0.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 COP 329.3K
$58.6 COP 216.7K
51.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 COP 866.3K
$287 COP 1.1M
-18.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$185 COP 685.4K
$448 COP 1.7M
-58.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 COP 2.3M
$690 COP 2.6M
-11.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$398 COP 1.5M
$546 COP 2.0M
-27.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,081 COP 4.0M
$1,868 COP 6.9M
-42.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$881 COP 3.3M
$918 COP 3.4M
-4.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cali
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$499 COP 1.8M
$413 COP 1.5M
20.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
8.62
34.34%

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

Last update for Cali: March 8, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: March 8, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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