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 $583 per month in Gabes vs $1,443 in Santa Marta, rent included.

A couple spends around $915 per month in Gabes vs $1,710 in Santa Marta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,248 per month in Gabes vs $1,976 in Santa Marta, rent included.

Gabes is about 60% cheaper than Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gabes sits 58% below the global median, while Santa Marta is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.87 TND 8.27
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.05 TND 55.0
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.50 TND 10.11
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.80 TND 2.30
$3.77 COP 11.6K
-78.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 TND 2.38
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.78
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 TND 3.42
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 TND 4.68
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 TND 1.39
$1.56 COP 4,810
-69.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.27 TND 0.79
$2.20 COP 6,758
-87.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 TND 3.71
$1.24 COP 3,812
4.03%
Eggs
$1.73 TND 4.99
$2.56 COP 7,881
-32.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.37 TND 35.69
$8.43 COP 25.9K
46.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 TND 16.19
$9.98 COP 30.7K
-43.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.32 TND 41.33
$11.24 COP 34.6K
27.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.92 TND 5.53
$4.16 COP 12.8K
-53.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 TND 8.50
$1.04 COP 3,193
183.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 TND 2.51
$1.12 COP 3,455
-22.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.20
$2.06 COP 6,327
-63.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 TND 2.39
$0.93 COP 2,869
-10.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 TND 1.78
$1.57 COP 4,846
-60.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 TND 1.03
$0.99 COP 3,050
-63.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$0.62 COP 1,920
-51.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 TND 9.64
$4.04 COP 12.4K
-17.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.52 TND 10.15
$17.75 COP 54.6K
-80.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 TND 1.99
$1.44 COP 4,419
-52.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 TND 2.38
$1.46 COP 4,494
-43.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 TND 0.64
$0.97 COP 2,980
-77.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.90 TND 19.90
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.93
$3.23 COP 9,941
-90.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 TND 0.64
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.14 TND 11.94
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.58
$1.31 COP 4,042
-32.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2K TND 118.9K
$24.3K COP 74.8M
69.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K TND 83.1K
$34.7K COP 106.7M
-16.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.4 TND 200
$161 COP 495.2K
-56.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.57 TND 21.83
$9.48 COP 29.2K
-20.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.34 TND 50.0
$22.23 COP 68.4K
-22.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.99 TND 95.2
$32.38 COP 99.7K
1.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.89 TND 14.10
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.44 TND 18.58
$5.40 COP 16.6K
19.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$57.2 TND 165
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,114 TND 8,985
$11.3K COP 34.6M
-72.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.87 TND 94.9
$87.4 COP 269.1K
-62.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.92 TND 121
$63.5 COP 195.3K
-33.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 TND 224
$97.2 COP 299.0K
-19.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 TND 317
$87.4 COP 268.9K
25.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 TND 335
$1,113 COP 3.4M
-89.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$72.4 TND 209
$771 COP 2.4M
-90.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$206 TND 593
$1,118 COP 3.4M
-81.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$118 TND 341
$643 COP 2.0M
-81.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$968 TND 2,793
$1,129 COP 3.5M
-14.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$635 TND 1,831
$1,199 COP 3.7M
-47.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$417 TND 1,204
$538 COP 1.7M
-22.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
19.54
-38.59%

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

Last update for Gabes: September 8, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Gabes versus $1,113 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 29% higher in Santa Marta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 148%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $874 per month in Gabes and $2,165 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Gabes and in Santa Marta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $583 in Gabes and $1,443 in Santa Marta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Gabes and in Santa Marta?
Groceries cost about 46% more in Santa Marta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gabes or in Santa Marta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Santa Marta at $1,443. In Gabes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Marta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
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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