🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $498 in Depok versus $1,078 in Santa Marta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $797 in Depok versus $1,454 in Santa Marta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Depok versus $1,830 in Santa Marta.
🌍Living in Depok costs roughly 54% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Depok63% lower, Santa Marta19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$3.66COP 11.9K
-65.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.26Rp 219.9K
$28.29COP 92.1K
-56.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46Rp 62.1K
$6.22COP 20.3K
-44.37%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$1.55COP 5,037
-2.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,220
$0.73COP 2,372
-30.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,481
$0.46COP 1,502
-45.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70Rp 48.5K
$0.82COP 2,676
229.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34Rp 77.9K
$1.68COP 5,483
158.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.2K
$1.11COP 3,629
6.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.0K
$1.19COP 3,869
-6.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.90COP 2,919
3.33%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.4K
$2.45COP 7,960
-35.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.48Rp 116.3K
$3.69COP 12.0K
75.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.4K
$4.07COP 13.2K
-22.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.75Rp 139.1K
$7.85COP 25.5K
-1.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49Rp 44.6K
$1.74COP 5,680
43.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.3K
$0.76COP 2,470
71.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.5K
$0.98COP 3,197
73.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.9K
$0.71COP 2,320
118.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41Rp 25.4K
$0.51COP 1,671
176.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56Rp 45.9K
$0.99COP 3,231
158.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88Rp 15.9K
$1.04COP 3,387
-15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,262
$0.55COP 1,791
-16.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63Rp 47.1K
$2.41COP 7,835
9.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.23Rp 380.8K
$15.04COP 49.0K
41.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18Rp 39.1K
$1.46COP 4,758
49.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23Rp 57.9K
$1.41COP 4,588
129.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24Rp 4,267
$0.68COP 2,208
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.19Rp 164.9K
$14.46COP 47.1K
-36.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72Rp 13.0K
$1.68COP 5,481
-57.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,691
$1.79COP 5,820
-79.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.54Rp 45.5K
$8.42COP 27.4K
-69.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.8K
$0.98COP 3,194
-15.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KRp 545.1M
$21.2KCOP 69.0M
43.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KRp 580.5M
$26.2KCOP 85.3M
23.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.62Rp 800.5K
$192COP 625.0K
-76.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45Rp 79.9K
$8.78COP 28.6K
-49.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.38Rp 491.2K
$24.15COP 78.6K
13.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.30Rp 166.9K
$19.49COP 63.4K
-52.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.21Rp 75.5K
$7.94COP 25.9K
-46.98%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10Rp 55.6K
$4.87COP 15.8K
-36.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$167COP 543.1K
-43.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,710Rp 138.3M
$4,906COP 16.0M
57.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.07Rp 736.8K
$39.94COP 130.0K
2.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91Rp 554.5K
$35.37COP 115.2K
-12.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.4Rp 1.0M
$79.9COP 260.0K
-26.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3Rp 1.2M
$59.9COP 194.9K
9.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117Rp 2.1M
$281COP 913.8K
-58.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$46.01Rp 825.4K
$450COP 1.5M
-89.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$185Rp 3.3M
$685COP 2.2M
-72.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$124Rp 2.2M
$564COP 1.8M
-78.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$819Rp 14.7M
$2,078COP 6.8M
-60.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$691Rp 12.4M
$996COP 3.2M
-30.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$349Rp 6.3M
$530COP 1.7M
-34.23%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Depok and $281 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Marta pays 52% 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 $204 vs $167, 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 117% 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 in Santa Marta?
On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Santa Marta. 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 compared to Santa Marta?
Rent for a central apartment: $117 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 in Santa Marta?
Shoppers in Santa Marta pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Depok and in 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 in 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 $498 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 117% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.