🙂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
$3.83COP 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
$1.61COP 5,076
12.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71¥11.50
$2.28COP 7,184
-25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80¥5.40
$1.18COP 3,705
-32.20%
Eggs
$1.92¥12.85
$2.48COP 7,795
-22.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.34¥49.24
$8.40COP 26.4K
-12.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54¥30.49
$10.00COP 31.5K
-54.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80¥72.5
$11.34COP 35.7K
-4.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00¥13.40
$4.15COP 13.1K
-51.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61¥10.77
$1.02COP 3,216
57.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51¥10.13
$1.08COP 3,412
39.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48¥9.90
$2.08COP 6,556
-28.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67¥4.52
$0.92COP 2,906
-27.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77¥5.16
$1.54COP 4,849
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39¥2.61
$0.97COP 3,069
-59.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.65
$0.66COP 2,066
-18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99¥20.05
$4.13COP 13.0K
-27.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.30¥48.96
$17.09COP 53.8K
-57.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85¥5.69
$1.42COP 4,459
-40.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22¥8.16
$1.40COP 4,417
-12.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36¥2.39
$0.90COP 2,850
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.11¥182
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52¥10.17
$3.26COP 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
$1.30COP 4,095
-5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K¥124.5K
$23.8KCOP 75.1M
-22.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.7K¥105.3K
$34.5KCOP 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
$159COP 499.5K
-81.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33¥42.49
$9.41COP 29.6K
-32.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.03¥40.45
$22.28COP 70.2K
-72.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.96¥147
$31.72COP 99.9K
-30.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69¥78.5
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.59¥50.9
$5.36COP 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
$11.0KCOP 34.8M
-0.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.94¥221
$87.7COP 276.2K
-62.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.68¥152
$62.3COP 196.3K
-63.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2¥498
$94.8COP 298.5K
-21.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.26¥284
$89.2COP 280.9K
-52.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270¥1,809
$1,094COP 3.4M
-75.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134¥902
$755COP 2.4M
-82.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377¥2,528
$1,096COP 3.5M
-65.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$245¥1,644
$645COP 2.0M
-61.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,839¥12.3K
$1,101COP 3.5M
67.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,108¥7,437
$1,194COP 3.8M
-7.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guizhou
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$690¥4,629
$544COP 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.