Cost of Living Comparison Between Gabes and Santa Marta Cost of Living Comparison Between Gabes and Santa Marta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $556 per month in Gabes vs $1,052 in Santa Marta, rent included.

A couple spends around $864 per month in Gabes vs $1,421 in Santa Marta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,173 per month in Gabes vs $1,789 in Santa Marta, rent included.

Gabes is about 47% cheaper than Santa Marta, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Gabes and Santa Marta are more affordable than the global median – Gabes 59% lower, Santa Marta 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79 TND 8.07
$3.56 COP 12.7K
-21.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.47 TND 53.5
$28.12 COP 100.2K
-34.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.49 TND 10.10
$6.21 COP 22.2K
-43.80%
Cappuccino
$0.78 TND 2.24
$1.57 COP 5,605
-50.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 TND 1.90
$0.68 COP 2,422
-2.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.72
$0.47 COP 1,660
-46.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.16 TND 3.37
$0.88 COP 3,140
31.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 TND 4.52
$1.64 COP 5,854
-4.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.45 TND 1.31
$1.12 COP 3,999
-59.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.20 TND 0.57
$1.20 COP 4,287
-83.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 TND 3.67
$0.91 COP 3,238
39.56%
Eggs
$1.74 TND 5.05
$2.46 COP 8,766
-29.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.34 TND 35.74
$3.56 COP 12.7K
246.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 TND 15.92
$3.86 COP 13.8K
42.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 TND 40.44
$8.02 COP 28.6K
74.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.38
$1.81 COP 6,435
-16.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 TND 8.21
$0.77 COP 2,731
267.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.88 TND 2.56
$0.99 COP 3,527
-11.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 TND 1.70
$0.74 COP 2,642
-20.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.03
$0.55 COP 1,952
27.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 TND 1.67
$0.98 COP 3,509
-40.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 TND 1.03
$1.04 COP 3,711
-65.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.51 COP 1,824
-39.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 TND 9.61
$2.49 COP 8,881
33.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.46 TND 10.01
$13.57 COP 48.4K
-74.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 TND 1.99
$1.48 COP 5,271
-53.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 TND 2.35
$1.49 COP 5,316
-45.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 TND 0.53
$0.72 COP 2,568
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.94 TND 20.10
$14.44 COP 51.5K
-51.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$1.66 COP 5,933
-81.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 TND 0.59
$1.79 COP 6,370
-88.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.21 TND 17.99
$8.51 COP 30.3K
-27.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 TND 2.51
$0.92 COP 3,266
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2K TND 133.8K
$21.7K COP 77.2M
113.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K TND 82.2K
$26.3K COP 93.6M
8.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.3 TND 189
$196 COP 698.5K
-66.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.66 TND 22.20
$8.85 COP 31.5K
-13.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.61 TND 48.11
$24.02 COP 85.6K
-30.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.80 TND 95.0
$19.61 COP 69.9K
67.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.85 TND 14.05
$7.63 COP 27.2K
-36.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 TND 18.20
$4.78 COP 17.0K
31.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.7 TND 164
$161 COP 575.7K
-64.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,232 TND 9,359
$4,882 COP 17.4M
-33.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.99 TND 92.6
$40.46 COP 144.2K
-20.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.20 TND 119
$35.11 COP 125.2K
17.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 TND 218
$80.2 COP 285.8K
-5.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 TND 241
$58.3 COP 207.8K
42.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$113 TND 328
$281 COP 1.0M
-59.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$69.8 TND 202
$437 COP 1.6M
-84.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$201 TND 582
$697 COP 2.5M
-71.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 TND 341
$563 COP 2.0M
-79.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,003 TND 2,906
$1,900 COP 6.8M
-47.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 TND 1,828
$952 COP 3.4M
-33.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 TND 1,228
$468 COP 1.7M
-9.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
8.62
39.21%

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

Last update for Gabes: May 31, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $113 in Gabes 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 10% 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 $18.00 in Gabes versus $28.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries tell a different story – $176 in Gabes 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
Gabes vs Santa Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Marta cheaper than Gabes?
Yes – Santa Marta is pricier by about 89%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $833 per month in Gabes and $1,579 in Santa Marta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gabes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $56.7 per month in Gabes and $161 in Santa Marta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Gabes and Santa Marta?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Santa Marta – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 enough for either Gabes or Santa Marta?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $556 in Gabes and $1,052 in Santa Marta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Gabes or Santa Marta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gabes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gabes. 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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