😐A single person spends $1,477 per month in Santa Marta vs $874 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,711 per month in Santa Marta vs $1,402 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,946 per month in Santa Marta vs $1,930 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐Santa Marta costs about 69% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Santa Marta sits 8% above the global median, while Da Nang is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.33₫60.8K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$19.42₫506.4K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.46₫116.3K
-
Cappuccino
$3.83COP 12.1K
$1.72₫44.9K
122.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.68₫17.8K
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.34₫8,933
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.30₫33.9K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.36₫61.6K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61COP 5,076
$1.54₫40.2K
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28COP 7,184
$1.22₫31.9K
86.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18COP 3,705
$1.06₫27.6K
11.32%
Eggs
$2.48COP 7,795
$1.52₫39.7K
63.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.40COP 26.4K
$12.97₫338.0K
-35.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.00COP 31.5K
$4.05₫105.7K
146.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.34COP 35.7K
$9.27₫241.8K
22.33%
Apples(1kg)
$4.15COP 13.1K
$2.69₫70.2K
54.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02COP 3,216
$1.11₫28.9K
-8.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,412
$1.33₫34.6K
-18.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08COP 6,556
$1.38₫35.9K
50.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92COP 2,906
$1.09₫28.5K
-15.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,849
$1.21₫31.6K
27.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97COP 3,069
$1.03₫26.9K
-5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66COP 2,066
$0.52₫13.6K
26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13COP 13.0K
$1.55₫40.5K
166.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.09COP 53.8K
$7.71₫201.1K
121.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.90₫23.6K
57.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40COP 4,417
$2.14₫55.8K
-34.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90COP 2,850
$0.32₫8,222
181.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$5.07₫132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26COP 10.3K
$1.03₫26.9K
216.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.65₫17.0K
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$19.08₫497.3K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,095
$0.85₫22.2K
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8KCOP 75.1M
$30.7K₫801.3M
-22.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KCOP 108.7M
$27.6K₫718.3M
25.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159COP 499.5K
$88.0₫2.3M
80.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.41COP 29.6K
$6.28₫163.7K
49.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.28COP 70.2K
$7.91₫206.3K
181.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.72COP 99.9K
$22.18₫578.3K
43.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.30₫138.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.36COP 16.9K
$3.02₫78.7K
77.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$161₫4.2M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KCOP 34.8M
$15.1K₫394.3M
-27.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7COP 276.2K
$46.10₫1.2M
90.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3COP 196.3K
$27.21₫709.3K
129.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8COP 298.5K
$103₫2.7M
-7.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.2COP 280.9K
$81.7₫2.1M
9.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,094COP 3.4M
$529₫13.8M
106.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$755COP 2.4M
$346₫9.0M
118.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,096COP 3.5M
$1,037₫27.0M
5.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645COP 2.0M
$809₫21.1M
-20.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,101COP 3.5M
$3,809₫99.3M
-71.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,194COP 3.8M
$1,312₫34.2M
-9.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Marta
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$544COP 1.7M
$350₫9.1M
55.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.54
10.72
82.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Marta: August 29, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,094 in Santa Marta versus $529 in Da Nang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 56% higher in Santa Marta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
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
Santa Marta vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Santa Marta and in Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,477 in Santa Marta, $874 in Da Nang – roughly 69% apart. Santa Marta costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Santa Marta compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,216 per month in Santa Marta and $1,311 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Santa Marta and Da Nang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Da Nang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santa Marta or Da Nang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,477 in Santa Marta and $874 in Da Nang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Santa Marta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Santa Marta at $1,477. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Marta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Santa Marta and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Marta has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $874 in Da Nang to $1,477 in Santa Marta. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Santa Marta or Da Nang safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Santa Marta and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Marta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Santa Marta vs other spots: cost of living compared