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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Marta is 27.8% cheaper than Cali without rent, and 38.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Marta is 17.8% cheaper than Cali without rent, and 8.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58 COP 12.9K
$3.59 COP 12.9K
-0.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.44 COP 102.4K
$29.10 COP 104.8K
-2.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.91 COP 21.3K
$7.19 COP 25.9K
-17.80%
Cappuccino
$1.56 COP 5,606
$1.63 COP 5,881
-4.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,637
$0.95 COP 3,413
-23.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 COP 1,558
$0.60 COP 2,148
-28.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 COP 3,100
$1.01 COP 3,635
-14.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,973
$2.61 COP 9,413
-36.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 COP 4,065
$1.22 COP 4,393
-7.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 COP 4,318
$1.48 COP 5,318
-18.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,261
$1.21 COP 4,370
-24.79%
Eggs
$2.38 COP 8,557
$2.58 COP 9,290
-7.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.57 COP 12.9K
$4.29 COP 15.4K
-16.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 COP 13.8K
$5.39 COP 19.4K
-28.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 COP 28.7K
$7.72 COP 27.8K
3.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 COP 6,487
$2.40 COP 8,625
-25.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 COP 2,690
$0.90 COP 3,223
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 COP 3,523
$1.14 COP 4,095
-14.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 COP 2,723
$1.30 COP 4,684
-41.54%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 COP 1,953
$0.88 COP 3,183
-38.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 COP 3,632
$1.10 COP 3,966
-8.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 COP 3,611
$0.70 COP 2,511
42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 COP 1,852
$0.65 COP 2,330
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50 COP 9,016
$2.90 COP 10.4K
-13.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 COP 37.1K
$11.64 COP 41.9K
-11.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 5,073
$1.08 COP 3,886
30.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 5,139
$1.92 COP 6,903
-25.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,445
$0.67 COP 2,424
1.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.29 COP 51.4K
$20.32 COP 73.2K
-29.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 COP 6,056
$1.60 COP 5,748
5.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 COP 6,577
$1.96 COP 7,064
-6.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.35 COP 30.1K
$9.88 COP 35.6K
-15.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 COP 3,272
$0.94 COP 3,375
-3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K COP 78.1M
$21.6K COP 77.9M
0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K COP 93.0M
$29.3K COP 105.5M
-11.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 COP 705.3K
$80.8 COP 291.1K
142.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 COP 31.3K
$8.61 COP 31.0K
0.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.74 COP 85.5K
$24.32 COP 87.6K
-2.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.50 COP 70.2K
$19.57 COP 70.5K
-0.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86 COP 28.3K
$14.55 COP 52.4K
-45.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 COP 17.9K
$4.75 COP 17.1K
4.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 COP 588.3K
$223 COP 801.4K
-26.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,797 COP 17.3M
$6,060 COP 21.8M
-20.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.52 COP 145.9K
$63.9 COP 230.0K
-36.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.89 COP 129.2K
$43.39 COP 156.2K
-17.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 COP 288.8K
$76.4 COP 275.0K
5.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.8 COP 211.8K
$89.2 COP 321.0K
-34.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 COP 1.0M
$241 COP 867.5K
17.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 COP 1.6M
$185 COP 667.7K
143.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$699 COP 2.5M
$617 COP 2.2M
13.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 COP 2.0M
$407 COP 1.5M
34.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,921 COP 6.9M
$1,145 COP 4.1M
67.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$971 COP 3.5M
$916 COP 3.3M
5.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Marta
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$440 COP 1.6M
$503 COP 1.8M
-12.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.58
-25.56%

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

Last update for Santa Marta: April 13, 2026

Last update for Cali: April 13, 2026

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

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