🙂A single person spends $546 per month in Gabes vs $1,078 in Santa Marta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $863 per month in Gabes vs $1,454 in Santa Marta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,181 per month in Gabes vs $1,830 in Santa Marta, rent included.
🙂Gabes is about 49% cheaper than Santa Marta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Gabes and Santa Marta are more affordable than the global median – Gabes59% lower, Santa Marta19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77TND 7.84
$3.66COP 11.9K
-24.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.86TND 53.4
$28.29COP 92.1K
-33.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.47TND 9.82
$6.22COP 20.3K
-44.21%
Cappuccino
$0.78TND 2.21
$1.55COP 5,037
-49.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69TND 1.96
$0.73COP 2,372
-5.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.77
$0.46COP 1,502
-41.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17TND 3.32
$0.82COP 2,676
42.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59TND 4.52
$1.68COP 5,483
-5.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.38
$1.11COP 3,629
-55.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20TND 0.56
$1.19COP 3,869
-83.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31TND 3.71
$0.90COP 2,919
45.56%
Eggs
$1.72TND 4.88
$2.45COP 7,960
-29.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.98TND 33.93
$3.69COP 12.0K
224.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.65TND 16.00
$4.07COP 13.2K
38.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.67TND 38.73
$7.85COP 25.5K
74.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54TND 4.36
$1.74COP 5,680
-11.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84TND 8.06
$0.76COP 2,470
273.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.88TND 2.49
$0.98COP 3,197
-10.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61TND 1.73
$0.71COP 2,320
-14.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.88
$0.51COP 1,671
29.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60TND 1.70
$0.99COP 3,231
-39.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33TND 0.93
$1.04COP 3,387
-68.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.88
$0.55COP 1,791
-43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49TND 9.89
$2.41COP 7,835
44.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.31TND 9.39
$15.04COP 49.0K
-77.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69TND 1.96
$1.46COP 4,758
-52.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TND 2.33
$1.41COP 4,588
-41.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20TND 0.56
$0.68COP 2,208
-70.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.97TND 19.76
$14.46COP 47.1K
-51.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.88
$1.68COP 5,481
-81.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21TND 0.59
$1.79COP 5,820
-88.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.94TND 16.84
$8.42COP 27.4K
-29.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88TND 2.49
$0.98COP 3,194
-10.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.7KTND 129.5K
$21.2KCOP 69.0M
115.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KTND 81.1K
$26.2KCOP 85.3M
9.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.1TND 179
$192COP 625.0K
-67.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.63TND 21.63
$8.78COP 28.6K
-13.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.65TND 47.18
$24.15COP 78.6K
-31.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.70TND 89.8
$19.49COP 63.4K
62.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.64TND 13.16
$7.94COP 25.9K
-41.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.29TND 17.83
$4.87COP 15.8K
29.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.9TND 161
$167COP 543.1K
-65.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,204TND 9,078
$4,906COP 16.0M
-34.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.86TND 90.3
$39.94COP 130.0K
-20.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.35TND 114
$35.37COP 115.2K
14.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.2TND 219
$79.9COP 260.0K
-3.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8TND 235
$59.9COP 194.9K
38.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 332
$281COP 913.8K
-58.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.2TND 199
$450COP 1.5M
-84.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199TND 565
$685COP 2.2M
-70.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120TND 341
$564COP 1.8M
-78.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$958TND 2,714
$2,078COP 6.8M
-53.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$620TND 1,757
$996COP 3.2M
-37.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$424TND 1,201
$530COP 1.7M
-20.05%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $117 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 25% 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 $19.00 in Gabes versus $28.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries tell a different story – $175 in Gabes vs $167 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 97%, 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 $819 per month in Gabes and $1,617 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 $56.9 per month in Gabes and $167 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 in Santa Marta?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 $546 in Gabes and $1,078 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.