😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,078 in Santa Marta versus $498 in Depok.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,454 in Santa Marta versus $797 in Depok.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,830 in Santa Marta versus $1,097 in Depok.
🌍Living in Santa Marta is roughly 117% more expensive than in Depok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Marta19% lower, Depok63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66COP 11.9K
$1.27Rp 22.8K
188.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.29COP 92.1K
$12.26Rp 220.3K
130.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.22COP 20.3K
$3.46Rp 62.2K
79.77%
Cappuccino
$1.55COP 5,036
$1.51Rp 27.2K
2.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COP 2,372
$0.51Rp 9,236
43.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46COP 1,501
$0.25Rp 4,489
84.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.82COP 2,676
$2.70Rp 48.6K
-69.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68COP 5,483
$4.34Rp 78.1K
-61.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 3,628
$1.18Rp 21.2K
-5.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19COP 3,869
$1.11Rp 20.0K
7.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90COP 2,919
$0.93Rp 16.7K
-3.23%
Eggs
$2.45COP 7,959
$1.59Rp 28.5K
54.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.69COP 12.0K
$6.48Rp 116.5K
-43.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07COP 13.2K
$3.14Rp 56.5K
29.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.85COP 25.5K
$7.75Rp 139.3K
1.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74COP 5,680
$2.49Rp 44.7K
-30.12%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76COP 2,470
$1.30Rp 23.4K
-41.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98COP 3,197
$1.70Rp 30.6K
-42.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71COP 2,320
$1.55Rp 27.9K
-54.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51COP 1,670
$1.41Rp 25.4K
-63.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99COP 3,231
$2.56Rp 46.0K
-61.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04COP 3,387
$0.88Rp 15.9K
18.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55COP 1,791
$0.46Rp 8,276
19.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41COP 7,834
$2.63Rp 47.2K
-8.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.04COP 49.0K
$21.23Rp 381.5K
-29.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,758
$2.18Rp 39.2K
-33.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41COP 4,588
$3.23Rp 58.0K
-56.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68COP 2,208
$0.24Rp 4,275
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.46COP 47.1K
$9.19Rp 165.2K
57.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.68COP 5,481
$0.72Rp 13.0K
133.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79COP 5,820
$0.37Rp 6,703
383.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.42COP 27.4K
$2.54Rp 45.6K
231.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98COP 3,194
$0.83Rp 14.9K
18.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KCOP 69.0M
$30.4KRp 546.1M
-30.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KCOP 85.3M
$32.4KRp 581.5M
-19.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192COP 625.0K
$44.62Rp 801.9K
330.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78COP 28.6K
$4.45Rp 80.0K
97.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.15COP 78.6K
$27.38Rp 492.1K
-11.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.49COP 63.4K
$9.30Rp 167.1K
109.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.94COP 25.9K
$4.21Rp 75.6K
88.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87COP 15.8K
$3.10Rp 55.7K
57.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167COP 543.0K
$94.8Rp 1.7M
75.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,906COP 16.0M
$7,710Rp 138.6M
-36.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.94COP 130.0K
$41.07Rp 738.1K
-2.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.37COP 115.1K
$30.91Rp 555.5K
14.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9COP 259.9K
$58.4Rp 1.0M
36.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.9COP 194.9K
$65.3Rp 1.2M
-8.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281COP 913.7K
$117Rp 2.1M
139.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$450COP 1.5M
$46.01Rp 826.9K
877.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$685COP 2.2M
$185Rp 3.3M
269.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564COP 1.8M
$124Rp 2.2M
354.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,078COP 6.8M
$819Rp 14.7M
153.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$996COP 3.2M
$691Rp 12.4M
44.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Marta
Depok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$530COP 1.7M
$349Rp 6.3M
52.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.62
9.15
-5.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Marta: July 14, 2026
Last update for Depok: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Santa Marta and $117 in Depok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Marta pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Santa Marta vs $12.00 in Depok. Groceries flip the comparison at $167 vs $204, with Santa Marta cheaper for home cooking.
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 Depok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santa Marta or Depok?
Depok wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Santa Marta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Depok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Santa Marta or in Depok?
Average pay runs 52% higher in Santa Marta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Santa Marta compared to Depok?
Rent for a central apartment: $281 in Santa Marta versus $117 in Depok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Santa Marta or in Depok?
Shoppers in Santa Marta pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Santa Marta and in Depok?
Dining out is cheaper in Depok – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $28.00 in Santa Marta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Santa Marta or in Depok?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Depok gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Santa Marta or Depok?
Both work as nomad bases, but Depok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $498 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Depok hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Depok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Marta vs other spots: cost of living compared