🙂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 – Gabes59% lower, Santa Marta21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79TND 8.07
$3.56COP 12.7K
-21.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.47TND 53.5
$28.12COP 100.2K
-34.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49TND 10.10
$6.21COP 22.2K
-43.80%
Cappuccino
$0.78TND 2.24
$1.57COP 5,605
-50.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66TND 1.90
$0.68COP 2,422
-2.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$0.47COP 1,660
-46.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.37
$0.88COP 3,140
31.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56TND 4.52
$1.64COP 5,854
-4.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.45TND 1.31
$1.12COP 3,999
-59.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20TND 0.57
$1.20COP 4,287
-83.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27TND 3.67
$0.91COP 3,238
39.56%
Eggs
$1.74TND 5.05
$2.46COP 8,766
-29.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.34TND 35.74
$3.56COP 12.7K
246.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50TND 15.92
$3.86COP 13.8K
42.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.96TND 40.44
$8.02COP 28.6K
74.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51TND 4.38
$1.81COP 6,435
-16.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83TND 8.21
$0.77COP 2,731
267.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.88TND 2.56
$0.99COP 3,527
-11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59TND 1.70
$0.74COP 2,642
-20.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70TND 2.03
$0.55COP 1,952
27.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58TND 1.67
$0.98COP 3,509
-40.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36TND 1.03
$1.04COP 3,711
-65.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.51COP 1,824
-39.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32TND 9.61
$2.49COP 8,881
33.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.46TND 10.01
$13.57COP 48.4K
-74.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69TND 1.99
$1.48COP 5,271
-53.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81TND 2.35
$1.49COP 5,316
-45.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.53
$0.72COP 2,568
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.94TND 20.10
$14.44COP 51.5K
-51.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.90
$1.66COP 5,933
-81.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.20TND 0.59
$1.79COP 6,370
-88.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.21TND 17.99
$8.51COP 30.3K
-27.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87TND 2.51
$0.92COP 3,266
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2KTND 133.8K
$21.7KCOP 77.2M
113.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KTND 82.2K
$26.3KCOP 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)
$65.3TND 189
$196COP 698.5K
-66.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.66TND 22.20
$8.85COP 31.5K
-13.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.61TND 48.11
$24.02COP 85.6K
-30.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.80TND 95.0
$19.61COP 69.9K
67.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.85TND 14.05
$7.63COP 27.2K
-36.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28TND 18.20
$4.78COP 17.0K
31.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.7TND 164
$161COP 575.7K
-64.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,232TND 9,359
$4,882COP 17.4M
-33.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.99TND 92.6
$40.46COP 144.2K
-20.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.20TND 119
$35.11COP 125.2K
17.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4TND 218
$80.2COP 285.8K
-5.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3TND 241
$58.3COP 207.8K
42.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$113TND 328
$281COP 1.0M
-59.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.8TND 202
$437COP 1.6M
-84.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$201TND 582
$697COP 2.5M
-71.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$118TND 341
$563COP 2.0M
-79.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,003TND 2,906
$1,900COP 6.8M
-47.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$631TND 1,828
$952COP 3.4M
-33.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gabes
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$424TND 1,228
$468COP 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.