🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Depok versus $1,494 in Santa Marta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $811 in Depok versus $1,761 in Santa Marta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,082 in Depok versus $2,028 in Santa Marta.
🌍Living in Depok costs roughly 64% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Depok is 61% below, Santa Marta is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.44Rp 25.5K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.16Rp 250.7K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 60.9K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.50Rp 26.6K
$3.98COP 12.4K
-62.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,993
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,627
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 48.0K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 56.6K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.59COP 4,957
-20.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04Rp 18.4K
$2.28COP 7,125
-54.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$1.20COP 3,730
-27.50%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 27.3K
$2.51COP 7,819
-38.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.37Rp 130.5K
$8.27COP 25.8K
-10.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.89Rp 51.1K
$9.91COP 30.9K
-70.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81Rp 138.3K
$11.84COP 36.9K
-34.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24Rp 39.7K
$4.18COP 13.0K
-46.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.02COP 3,168
9.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.5K
$1.10COP 3,426
40.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95Rp 16.9K
$2.16COP 6,729
-56.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06Rp 18.8K
$1.02COP 3,173
3.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.4K
$1.63COP 5,082
22.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65Rp 11.5K
$1.01COP 3,138
-35.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,706
$0.63COP 1,952
-30.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77Rp 49.1K
$4.22COP 13.2K
-34.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.29Rp 377.0K
$17.78COP 55.5K
19.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 33.0K
$1.49COP 4,657
24.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13Rp 55.4K
$1.46COP 4,558
114.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22Rp 3,881
$0.95COP 2,958
-76.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.18Rp 233.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86Rp 15.3K
$3.24COP 10.1K
-73.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,204
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.0K
$1.31COP 4,092
-39.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KRp 379.9M
$24.7KCOP 76.9M
-12.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KRp 520.0M
$35.3KCOP 110.3M
-16.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.60Rp 612.7K
$159COP 497.6K
-78.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 76.9K
$9.78COP 30.5K
-55.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.30Rp 341.7K
$22.89COP 71.4K
-15.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$3.35Rp 59.4K
$32.48COP 101.4K
-89.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.64Rp 99.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.90Rp 51.3K
$5.37COP 16.8K
-46.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.8Rp 1.7M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,237Rp 145.9M
$11.1KCOP 34.6M
-25.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.47Rp 805.1K
$89.9COP 280.4K
-49.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.02Rp 513.9K
$63.9COP 199.5K
-54.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$97.4COP 303.8K
-24.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4Rp 1.3M
$89.8COP 280.3K
-19.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214Rp 3.8M
$1,133COP 3.5M
-81.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107Rp 1.9M
$751COP 2.3M
-85.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$1,127COP 3.5M
-77.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143Rp 2.5M
$633COP 2.0M
-77.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,108COP 3.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,188COP 3.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Depok
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$230Rp 4.1M
$542COP 1.7M
-57.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
19.54
-51.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Depok: September 12, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Depok and $1,133 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Marta pays 136% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 177% 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 136% 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: $214 in Depok versus $1,133 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Santa Marta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Depok compared to Santa Marta?
All in, you'll spend $539 per month in Depok versus $1,494 in Santa Marta – a 177% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Depok or in Santa Marta?
At $539 in Depok versus $1,494 in Santa Marta, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Depok but tight or insufficient in Santa Marta. The gap between the two cities makes Depok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Depok or Santa Marta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Depok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $539 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 177% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.