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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 53.1% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 5.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 54.5% more expensive than Santa Marta without rent, and 21.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 22.6K
$3.53 COP 12.9K
74.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.66 COP 119.8K
$28.29 COP 103.7K
15.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.46 COP 27.3K
$5.89 COP 21.6K
26.66%
Cappuccino
$1.69 COP 6,196
$1.49 COP 5,467
13.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 4,001
$0.72 COP 2,656
51.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 COP 2,616
$0.43 COP 1,575
65.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COP 6,391
$0.87 COP 3,192
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.6K
$1.68 COP 6,179
88.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,899
$1.13 COP 4,130
-6.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,764
$1.19 COP 4,357
9.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 5,129
$0.89 COP 3,246
57.30%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,265
$2.45 COP 8,994
-8.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COP 15.9K
$3.70 COP 13.6K
17.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.75 COP 21.1K
$3.84 COP 14.1K
49.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.03 COP 33.1K
$7.62 COP 27.9K
18.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,598
$1.80 COP 6,609
30.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 3,914
$0.71 COP 2,602
50.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 COP 5,322
$0.97 COP 3,572
49.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,224
$0.71 COP 2,614
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,141
$0.51 COP 1,885
121.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,114
$0.93 COP 3,409
20.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 COP 3,211
$1.05 COP 3,843
-16.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 3,149
$0.50 COP 1,847
72.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.31 COP 8,480
$2.55 COP 9,360
-9.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.30 COP 37.8K
$10.26 COP 37.6K
0.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 4,245
$1.48 COP 5,429
-21.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 8,802
$1.42 COP 5,215
69.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 3,094
$0.70 COP 2,579
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.96 COP 153.9K
$14.40 COP 52.8K
191.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 COP 5,428
$1.73 COP 6,363
-14.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,998
$1.83 COP 6,698
4.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 28.5K
$8.64 COP 31.7K
-10.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,549
$0.97 COP 3,561
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K COP 67.0M
$21.6K COP 79.2M
-15.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 96.2M
$26.4K COP 96.7M
-0.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COP 307.0K
$198 COP 724.8K
-57.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.51 COP 34.9K
$8.77 COP 32.2K
8.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.14 COP 88.5K
$24.10 COP 88.4K
0.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.27 COP 92.7K
$18.99 COP 69.6K
33.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 COP 68.7K
$8.02 COP 29.4K
133.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 COP 14.7K
$4.92 COP 18.0K
-18.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$310 COP 1.1M
$167 COP 612.5K
85.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,864 COP 21.5M
$4,905 COP 18.0M
19.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1 COP 216.7K
$40.88 COP 149.9K
44.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.01 COP 117.4K
$35.57 COP 130.4K
-10.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 COP 364.7K
$77.4 COP 283.7K
28.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 385.6K
$59.8 COP 219.2K
75.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$480 COP 1.8M
$281 COP 1.0M
70.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.4M
$444 COP 1.6M
-15.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.0M
$704 COP 2.6M
16.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COP 2.6M
$549 COP 2.0M
30.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,808 COP 10.3M
$1,913 COP 7.0M
46.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,352 COP 5.0M
$933 COP 3.4M
44.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Marta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$552 COP 2.0M
$423 COP 1.6M
30.63%
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: March 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: March 29, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities