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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 23.8% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 5.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 24.8% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 18.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$3.58 COP 14.9K
74.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$28.04 COP 116.9K
15.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$5.99 COP 25K
23.37%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.57 COP 6,540
9.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.67 COP 2,787
64.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.47 COP 1,950
55.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$0.88 COP 3,674
88.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$1.7 COP 7,106
88.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.15 COP 4,812
-5.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.25 COP 5,219
-0.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$0.92 COP 3,834
44.57%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.38 COP 9,911
-6.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$3.65 COP 15.2K
24.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.9 COP 16.3K
46.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.85 COP 32.7K
9.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.78 COP 7,405
26.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$0.76 COP 3,166
40.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$0.99 COP 4,125
52.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$0.71 COP 2,960
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$0.51 COP 2,128
117.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.01 COP 4,213
16.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.01 COP 4,200
-11.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.55 COP 2,300
52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.42 COP 10.1K
-2.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$9.98 COP 41.6K
-6.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.42 COP 5,913
-16.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.48 COP 6,172
68.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.67 COP 2,806
23.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$14.71 COP 61.3K
184.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.67 COP 6,957
-15.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.77 COP 7,393
10.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$8.32 COP 34.7K
-5.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.97 COP 4,042
5.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$21.8K COP 90.9M
-19.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.7K COP 107.1M
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$192 COP 801.3K
-57.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$8.75 COP 36.5K
7.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$24.35 COP 101.5K
-3.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$19.33 COP 80.6K
32.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$7.84 COP 32.7K
144.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$4.91 COP 20.5K
-19.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$163 COP 677.5K
87.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$4,838 COP 20.2M
22.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$40.43 COP 168.6K
43.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$35.79 COP 149.2K
-11.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$79 COP 329.4K
30.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$59.8 COP 249.1K
76.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$285 COP 1.2M
71.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$444 COP 1.8M
-14.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$690 COP 2.9M
19.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$548 COP 2.3M
32.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,825 COP 7.6M
19.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$930 COP 3.9M
64.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$414 COP 1.7M
32.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.62
55.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Marta: October 28, 2025

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