🙂A single person spends $868 per month in Da Nang vs $1,494 in Santa Marta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,419 per month in Da Nang vs $1,761 in Santa Marta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,970 per month in Da Nang vs $2,028 in Santa Marta, rent included.
🙂Da Nang is about 42% cheaper than Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Da Nang sits 37% below the global median, while Santa Marta is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35₫61.1K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.28₫501.2K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71₫122.5K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.80₫46.8K
$3.98COP 12.4K
-54.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69₫18.0K
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,201
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₫34.0K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₫59.7K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50₫38.9K
$1.59COP 4,957
-5.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25₫32.5K
$2.28COP 7,125
-45.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05₫27.3K
$1.20COP 3,730
-12.50%
Eggs
$1.52₫39.6K
$2.51COP 7,819
-39.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04₫339.0K
$8.27COP 25.8K
57.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05₫105.4K
$9.91COP 30.9K
-59.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26₫240.7K
$11.84COP 36.9K
-21.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60₫67.5K
$4.18COP 13.0K
-37.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10₫28.7K
$1.02COP 3,168
7.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₫33.5K
$1.10COP 3,426
17.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40₫36.3K
$2.16COP 6,729
-35.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.5K
$1.02COP 3,173
10.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22₫31.8K
$1.63COP 5,082
-25.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.3K
$1.01COP 3,138
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.63COP 1,952
-17.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57₫40.7K
$4.22COP 13.2K
-62.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48₫194.5K
$17.78COP 55.5K
-57.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.5K
$1.49COP 4,657
-44.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18₫56.6K
$1.46COP 4,558
49.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,196
$0.95COP 2,958
-66.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.04₫131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04₫26.9K
$3.24COP 10.1K
-67.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62₫16.0K
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.13₫497.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83₫21.6K
$1.31COP 4,092
-36.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K₫799.4M
$24.7KCOP 76.9M
24.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K₫737.7M
$35.3KCOP 110.3M
-19.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.5₫2.3M
$159COP 497.6K
-44.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.00₫155.9K
$9.78COP 30.5K
-38.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₫206.6K
$22.89COP 71.4K
-65.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.83₫593.6K
$32.48COP 101.4K
-29.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.41₫140.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫81.3K
$5.37COP 16.8K
-41.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163₫4.2M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K₫397.1M
$11.1KCOP 34.6M
37.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.57₫1.2M
$89.9COP 280.4K
-50.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.95₫726.6K
$63.9COP 199.5K
-56.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100₫2.6M
$97.4COP 303.8K
2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2₫2.1M
$89.8COP 280.3K
-10.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535₫13.9M
$1,133COP 3.5M
-52.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₫8.9M
$751COP 2.3M
-54.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,025₫26.6M
$1,127COP 3.5M
-9.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787₫20.4M
$633COP 2.0M
24.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,825₫99.5M
$1,108COP 3.5M
245.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,283₫33.4M
$1,188COP 3.7M
8.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$360₫9.3M
$542COP 1.7M
-33.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.72
19.54
-45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: September 12, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $535 in Da Nang versus $1,133 in Santa Marta. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 51% higher in Santa Marta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
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
Da Nang vs Santa Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in Santa Marta compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $868 in Da Nang, $1,494 in Santa Marta – roughly 72% apart. Santa Marta costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Santa Marta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,302 per month in Da Nang and $2,241 in Santa Marta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and Santa Marta?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Da Nang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Da Nang or Santa Marta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $868 in Da Nang and $1,494 in Santa Marta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Santa Marta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Santa Marta at $1,494. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Marta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Santa Marta?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Marta has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $868 in Da Nang to $1,494 in Santa Marta. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or Santa Marta safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Da Nang and Santa Marta?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Marta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.