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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,443 per month in Santa Marta vs $583 in Gabes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,710 per month in Santa Marta vs $915 in Gabes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,976 per month in Santa Marta vs $1,248 in Gabes, rent included.

Santa Marta costs about 148% more than Gabes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Marta sits 5% above the global median, while Gabes is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.87 TND 8.27

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.05 TND 55.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.50 TND 10.11

Cappuccino

$3.77 COP 11.6K

$0.80 TND 2.30

371.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 TND 2.38

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 TND 0.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 TND 3.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 TND 4.68

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 COP 4,810

$0.48 TND 1.39

225.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 COP 6,758

$0.27 TND 0.79

714.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 COP 3,812

$1.29 TND 3.71

-3.88%

Eggs

$2.56 COP 7,881

$1.73 TND 4.99

47.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.43 COP 25.9K

$12.37 TND 35.69

-31.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.98 COP 30.7K

$5.61 TND 16.19

77.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 COP 34.6K

$14.32 TND 41.33

-21.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 COP 12.8K

$1.92 TND 5.53

116.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 COP 3,193

$2.95 TND 8.50

-64.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,455

$0.87 TND 2.51

28.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 COP 6,327

$0.76 TND 2.20

171.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 COP 2,869

$0.83 TND 2.39

12.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,846

$0.62 TND 1.78

153.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 COP 3,050

$0.36 TND 1.03

175.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 COP 1,920

$0.30 TND 0.86

106.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 COP 12.4K

$3.34 TND 9.64

20.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.75 COP 54.6K

$3.52 TND 10.15

404.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 COP 4,419

$0.69 TND 1.99

108.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,494

$0.83 TND 2.38

75.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 COP 2,980

$0.22 TND 0.64

340.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 TND 19.90

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 COP 9,941

$0.32 TND 0.93

909.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 TND 11.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 COP 4,042

$0.89 TND 2.58

47.19%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.3K COP 74.8M

$41.2K TND 118.9K

-41.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.7K COP 106.7M

$28.8K TND 83.1K

20.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$161 COP 495.2K

$69.4 TND 200

131.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.48 COP 29.2K

$7.57 TND 21.83

25.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.23 COP 68.4K

$17.34 TND 50.0

28.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.38 COP 99.7K

$32.99 TND 95.2

-1.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.89 TND 14.10

Cinema Ticket

$5.40 COP 16.6K

$6.44 TND 18.58

-16.15%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$57.2 TND 165

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K COP 34.6M

$3,114 TND 8,985

261.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.1K

$32.87 TND 94.9

166.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 COP 195.3K

$41.92 TND 121

51.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 COP 299.0K

$77.8 TND 224

24.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.4 COP 268.9K

$110 TND 317

-20.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 COP 3.4M

$116 TND 335

859.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 COP 2.4M

$72.4 TND 209

964.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,118 COP 3.4M

$206 TND 593

443.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 COP 2.0M

$118 TND 341

444.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,129 COP 3.5M

$968 TND 2,793

16.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,199 COP 3.7M

$635 TND 1,831

88.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$538 COP 1.7M

$417 TND 1,204

28.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.54

62.83%

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

Last update for Santa Marta: September 7, 2026

Last update for Gabes: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,113 in Santa Marta versus $116 in Gabes. 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 29% 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 Gabes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Marta is pricier by about 148%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,165 per month in Santa Marta and $874 in Gabes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gabes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,443 in Santa Marta and $583 in Gabes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 46% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gabes, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Santa Marta at $1,443. In Gabes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Marta it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gabes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Gabes. 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.