Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Santa Marta Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Santa Marta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $720 per month in Da Nang vs $1,052 in Santa Marta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Da Nang vs $1,421 in Santa Marta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,488 per month in Da Nang vs $1,789 in Santa Marta, rent included.

Da Nang is about 32% cheaper than Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Santa Marta are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 46% lower, Santa Marta 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 ₫51.8K
$3.56 COP 12.7K
-44.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.92 ₫497.2K
$28.12 COP 100.4K
-32.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₫120.8K
$6.21 COP 22.2K
-25.93%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₫42.9K
$1.57 COP 5,615
3.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₫13.1K
$0.68 COP 2,426
-26.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₫7,495
$0.47 COP 1,663
-38.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ₫26.9K
$0.88 COP 3,146
15.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₫42.0K
$1.64 COP 5,865
-2.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 ₫37.5K
$1.12 COP 4,006
27.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ₫26.9K
$1.20 COP 4,294
-15.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ₫30.3K
$0.91 COP 3,244
26.37%
Eggs
$1.42 ₫37.4K
$2.46 COP 8,782
-42.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.25 ₫321.8K
$3.56 COP 12.7K
244.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ₫95.5K
$3.86 COP 13.8K
-5.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.13 ₫266.3K
$8.02 COP 28.6K
26.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ₫72.2K
$1.81 COP 6,446
51.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.00 ₫26.2K
$0.77 COP 2,736
29.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.6K
$0.99 COP 3,533
10.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.07 ₫28.1K
$0.74 COP 2,647
44.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 ₫29.8K
$0.55 COP 1,955
105.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫30.2K
$0.98 COP 3,515
17.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₫27.4K
$1.04 COP 3,718
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.6K
$0.51 COP 1,827
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36 ₫35.7K
$2.49 COP 8,896
-45.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 ₫202.5K
$13.57 COP 48.5K
-43.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 ₫22.7K
$1.48 COP 5,281
-41.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₫43.7K
$1.49 COP 5,325
11.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,325
$0.72 COP 2,573
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.92 ₫103.0K
$14.44 COP 51.6K
-72.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 ₫23.6K
$1.66 COP 5,944
-45.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₫18.0K
$1.79 COP 6,381
-61.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.67 ₫306.7K
$8.51 COP 30.4K
37.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.4K
$0.92 COP 3,271
-3.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ₫705.1M
$21.7K COP 77.3M
23.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ₫738.4M
$26.3K COP 93.8M
6.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.3 ₫2.0M
$196 COP 699.7K
-62.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.71 ₫150.1K
$8.85 COP 31.6K
-35.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.07 ₫212.1K
$24.02 COP 85.8K
-66.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.37 ₫535.3K
$19.61 COP 70.0K
3.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.65 ₫201.0K
$7.63 COP 27.3K
0.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 ₫81.6K
$4.78 COP 17.1K
-34.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 ₫4.1M
$161 COP 576.7K
-3.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₫333.9M
$4,882 COP 17.4M
160.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.62 ₫1.0M
$40.46 COP 144.5K
-4.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.00 ₫683.1K
$35.11 COP 125.4K
-25.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.7 ₫1.4M
$80.2 COP 286.3K
-34.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8 ₫2.0M
$58.3 COP 208.2K
29.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 ₫9.5M
$281 COP 1.0M
28.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$249 ₫6.5M
$437 COP 1.6M
-43.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$727 ₫19.1M
$697 COP 2.5M
4.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 ₫12.0M
$563 COP 2.0M
-18.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,870 ₫101.7M
$1,900 COP 6.8M
103.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,283 ₫33.7M
$952 COP 3.4M
34.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$353 ₫9.3M
$468 COP 1.7M
-24.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
8.62
23.78%

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

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Da Nang versus $281 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 33% higher in Santa Marta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang versus $28.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Da Nang vs $163 in Santa Marta – so Santa Marta wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Santa Marta compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $720 in Da Nang, $1,052 in Santa Marta – roughly 46% 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 $1,080 per month in Da Nang and $1,579 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 has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Santa Marta – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $28.00 in Santa Marta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Da Nang vs Santa Marta?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $720 in Da Nang and $1,052 in Santa Marta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
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 $720 in Da Nang to $1,052 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.

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