🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Depok versus $1,052 in Santa Marta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $794 in Depok versus $1,421 in Santa Marta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,074 in Depok versus $1,789 in Santa Marta.
🙂Living in Depok costs roughly 51% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Depok62% lower, Santa Marta21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26Rp 22.5K
$3.56COP 12.7K
-64.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.07Rp 215.5K
$28.12COP 100.4K
-57.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 61.5K
$6.21COP 22.2K
-44.61%
Cappuccino
$1.48Rp 26.4K
$1.57COP 5,615
-5.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,891
$0.68COP 2,426
-19.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,441
$0.47COP 1,663
-46.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82Rp 50.3K
$0.88COP 3,146
220.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$1.64COP 5,865
163.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.8K
$1.12COP 4,006
4.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$1.20COP 4,294
-11.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$0.91COP 3,244
3.30%
Eggs
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$2.46COP 8,782
-36.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.28Rp 112.2K
$3.56COP 12.7K
76.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13Rp 55.9K
$3.86COP 13.8K
-18.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.96Rp 142.2K
$8.02COP 28.6K
-0.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.1K
$1.81COP 6,446
33.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.7K
$0.77COP 2,736
72.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.2K
$0.99COP 3,533
65.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$0.74COP 2,647
104.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.0K
$0.55COP 1,955
165.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.4K
$0.98COP 3,515
170.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$1.04COP 3,718
-13.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,529
$0.51COP 1,827
-17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57Rp 45.8K
$2.49COP 8,896
3.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.89Rp 373.0K
$13.57COP 48.5K
53.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17Rp 38.7K
$1.48COP 5,281
46.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 54.6K
$1.49COP 5,325
105.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,282
$0.72COP 2,573
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.29Rp 166.0K
$14.44COP 51.6K
-35.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$1.66COP 5,944
-56.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,650
$1.79COP 6,381
-79.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.51Rp 44.8K
$8.51COP 30.4K
-70.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.92COP 3,271
-15.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRp 538.7M
$21.7KCOP 77.3M
39.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 581.1M
$26.3KCOP 93.8M
23.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.79Rp 782.0K
$196COP 699.7K
-77.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.67Rp 83.3K
$8.85COP 31.6K
-47.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.87Rp 479.9K
$24.02COP 85.8K
11.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.49Rp 169.5K
$19.61COP 70.0K
-51.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.25Rp 75.9K
$7.63COP 27.3K
-44.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 53.7K
$4.78COP 17.1K
-37.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.2Rp 1.6M
$161COP 576.7K
-42.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,508Rp 134.1M
$4,882COP 17.4M
53.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.10Rp 751.8K
$40.46COP 144.5K
4.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.16Rp 556.5K
$35.11COP 125.4K
-11.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.9Rp 1.1M
$80.2COP 286.3K
-25.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7Rp 1.1M
$58.3COP 208.2K
9.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118Rp 2.1M
$281COP 1.0M
-57.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$46.93Rp 838.0K
$437COP 1.6M
-89.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$182Rp 3.2M
$697COP 2.5M
-73.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$122Rp 2.2M
$563COP 2.0M
-78.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$842Rp 15.0M
$1,900COP 6.8M
-55.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$706Rp 12.6M
$952COP 3.4M
-25.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$359Rp 6.4M
$468COP 1.7M
-23.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
8.62
6.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Depok: May 31, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Depok and $281 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Marta pays 30% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Depok vs $28.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $163, with Santa Marta cheaper for home cooking.
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
Depok vs Santa Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Depok or Santa Marta?
Depok wins on cost – living expenses run 104% lower than in Santa Marta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Depok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Depok or Santa Marta?
On paper, Santa Marta earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Depok vs Santa Marta?
Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Depok versus $281 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Depok or Santa Marta?
Shoppers in Santa Marta pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Depok vs Santa Marta?
Dining out is cheaper in Depok – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $28.00 in Santa Marta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Depok or Santa Marta?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Depok gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Depok or Santa Marta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Depok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $515 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Depok hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Depok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.