🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $582 in Guizhou versus $1,052 in Santa Marta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $924 in Guizhou versus $1,421 in Santa Marta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,266 in Guizhou versus $1,789 in Santa Marta.
🙂Living in Guizhou costs roughly 45% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Guizhou57% lower, Santa Marta21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15¥14.55
$3.56COP 12.7K
-39.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.48¥132
$28.12COP 100.4K
-30.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.30¥35.83
$6.21COP 22.2K
-14.65%
Cappuccino
$3.12¥21.11
$1.57COP 5,615
98.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41¥2.74
$0.68COP 2,426
-39.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24¥1.61
$0.47COP 1,663
-48.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68¥4.59
$0.88COP 3,146
-22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36¥9.23
$1.64COP 5,865
-17.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96¥13.25
$1.12COP 4,006
75.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35¥9.13
$1.20COP 4,294
12.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85¥5.74
$0.91COP 3,244
-6.59%
Eggs
$2.03¥13.71
$2.46COP 8,782
-17.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.65¥92.3
$3.56COP 12.7K
283.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.82¥32.57
$3.86COP 13.8K
24.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.64¥71.9
$8.02COP 28.6K
32.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60¥10.81
$1.81COP 6,446
-11.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48¥10.01
$0.77COP 2,736
92.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02¥6.88
$0.99COP 3,533
3.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12¥7.59
$0.74COP 2,647
51.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.47¥3.21
$0.55COP 1,955
-14.55%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55¥3.69
$0.98COP 3,515
-43.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51¥3.43
$1.04COP 3,718
-50.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53¥3.57
$0.51COP 1,827
3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74¥18.53
$2.49COP 8,896
10.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.42¥50.2
$13.57COP 48.5K
-45.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74¥5.02
$1.48COP 5,281
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58¥17.48
$1.49COP 5,325
73.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34¥2.28
$0.72COP 2,573
-52.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.94¥115
$14.44COP 51.6K
17.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.69¥11.44
$1.66COP 5,944
1.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28¥1.91
$1.79COP 6,381
-84.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.86¥46.40
$8.51COP 30.4K
-19.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥7.93
$0.92COP 3,271
27.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K¥93.7K
$21.7KCOP 77.3M
-36.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4K¥103.8K
$26.3KCOP 93.8M
-41.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.34¥185
$196COP 699.7K
-86.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.64¥38.17
$8.85COP 31.6K
-36.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.57¥57.9
$24.02COP 85.8K
-64.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.59¥119
$19.61COP 70.0K
-10.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.88¥93.8
$7.63COP 27.3K
81.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.92¥46.80
$4.78COP 17.1K
44.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299¥2,022
$161COP 576.7K
85.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K¥72.7K
$4,882COP 17.4M
120.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.65¥234
$40.46COP 144.5K
-14.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.45¥165
$35.11COP 125.4K
-30.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.9¥405
$80.2COP 286.3K
-25.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.25¥265
$58.3COP 208.2K
-32.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278¥1,877
$281COP 1.0M
-1.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134¥908
$437COP 1.6M
-69.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$357¥2,413
$697COP 2.5M
-48.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226¥1,530
$563COP 2.0M
-59.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,817¥12.3K
$1,900COP 6.8M
-4.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,090¥7,369
$952COP 3.4M
14.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$688¥4,652
$468COP 1.7M
47.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
8.62
-60.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guizhou: May 31, 2026
Last update for Santa Marta: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Guizhou and $281 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guizhou pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Guizhou vs $28.00 in Santa Marta. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $163, with Santa Marta cheaper for home cooking.
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 Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Guizhou or Santa Marta?
Guizhou pays 47% more on average, 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: $278 in Guizhou versus $281 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Guizhou runs roughly 17% less than in Santa Marta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $299 in Guizhou versus $161 in Santa Marta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 enough for either Guizhou or Santa Marta?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Guizhou gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 81% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.