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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $608 in Guizhou versus $1,477 in Santa Marta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $962 in Guizhou versus $1,711 in Santa Marta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,316 in Guizhou versus $1,946 in Santa Marta.

Living in Guizhou costs roughly 59% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Guizhou is 56% below, Santa Marta is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67 ¥17.89
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.89 ¥140
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ¥37.62
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.87 ¥19.23
$3.83 COP 12.1K
-25.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ¥3.10
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ¥1.66
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.77 ¥5.17
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ¥12.82
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ¥12.17
$1.61 COP 5,076
12.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 ¥11.50
$2.28 COP 7,184
-25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 ¥5.40
$1.18 COP 3,705
-32.20%
Eggs
$1.92 ¥12.85
$2.48 COP 7,795
-22.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.34 ¥49.24
$8.40 COP 26.4K
-12.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.54 ¥30.49
$10.00 COP 31.5K
-54.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.80 ¥72.5
$11.34 COP 35.7K
-4.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 ¥13.40
$4.15 COP 13.1K
-51.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ¥10.77
$1.02 COP 3,216
57.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 ¥10.13
$1.08 COP 3,412
39.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ¥9.90
$2.08 COP 6,556
-28.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 ¥4.52
$0.92 COP 2,906
-27.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 ¥5.16
$1.54 COP 4,849
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 ¥2.61
$0.97 COP 3,069
-59.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.65
$0.66 COP 2,066
-18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 ¥20.05
$4.13 COP 13.0K
-27.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.30 ¥48.96
$17.09 COP 53.8K
-57.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ¥5.69
$1.42 COP 4,459
-40.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 ¥8.16
$1.40 COP 4,417
-12.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ¥2.39
$0.90 COP 2,850
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.11 ¥182
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.52 ¥10.17
$3.26 COP 10.3K
-53.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 ¥2.11
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 ¥33.40
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥8.26
$1.30 COP 4,095
-5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K ¥124.5K
$23.8K COP 75.1M
-22.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.7K ¥105.3K
$34.5K COP 108.7M
-54.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$29.10 ¥195
$159 COP 499.5K
-81.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 ¥42.49
$9.41 COP 29.6K
-32.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.03 ¥40.45
$22.28 COP 70.2K
-72.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.96 ¥147
$31.72 COP 99.9K
-30.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69 ¥78.5
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.59 ¥50.9
$5.36 COP 16.9K
41.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$243 ¥1,630
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K ¥73.9K
$11.0K COP 34.8M
-0.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.94 ¥221
$87.7 COP 276.2K
-62.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.68 ¥152
$62.3 COP 196.3K
-63.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 ¥498
$94.8 COP 298.5K
-21.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.26 ¥284
$89.2 COP 280.9K
-52.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ¥1,809
$1,094 COP 3.4M
-75.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 ¥902
$755 COP 2.4M
-82.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ¥2,528
$1,096 COP 3.5M
-65.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 ¥1,644
$645 COP 2.0M
-61.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,839 ¥12.3K
$1,101 COP 3.5M
67.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,108 ¥7,437
$1,194 COP 3.8M
-7.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$690 ¥4,629
$544 COP 1.7M
26.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.4
19.54
-82.60%

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

Last update for Guizhou: August 31, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Guizhou and $1,094 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Guizhou pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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
Guizhou vs Santa Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Marta cheaper than Guizhou?
Guizhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Guizhou or Santa Marta?
Average pay runs 27% higher in Guizhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Guizhou and Santa Marta?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Guizhou versus $1,094 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Guizhou and in Santa Marta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Santa Marta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Guizhou and in Santa Marta?
All in, you'll spend $608 per month in Guizhou versus $1,477 in Santa Marta – a 143% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Guizhou or in Santa Marta?
At $608 in Guizhou versus $1,477 in Santa Marta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Guizhou but tight or insufficient in Santa Marta. The gap between the two cities makes Guizhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Guizhou or Santa Marta more family-friendly?
For families, Guizhou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Santa Marta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Guizhou or Santa Marta?
Safety-wise, Guizhou and Santa Marta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Guizhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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