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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Marta is 19.2% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 6.2% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Marta is 19.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 15.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58 COP 14.9K
$6.23 COP 26K
-42.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.04 COP 116.9K
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-13.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.99 COP 25K
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-18.94%
Cappuccino
$1.57 COP 6,540
$1.72 COP 7,155
-8.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 COP 2,787
$1.1 COP 4,575
-39.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 COP 1,950
$0.73 COP 3,060
-35.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 COP 3,674
$1.66 COP 6,916
-46.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 COP 7,106
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-46.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 COP 4,812
$1.09 COP 4,552
5.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 5,219
$1.24 COP 5,188
0.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 COP 3,834
$1.33 COP 5,544
-30.83%
Eggs
$2.38 COP 9,911
$2.22 COP 9,252
7.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.65 COP 15.2K
$4.55 COP 19K
-19.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.9 COP 16.3K
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-31.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-8.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 COP 7,405
$2.26 COP 9,410
-21.24%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 COP 3,166
$1.07 COP 4,461
-28.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 COP 4,125
$1.51 COP 6,293
-34.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.71 COP 2,960
$1.42 COP 5,911
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.51 COP 2,128
$1.11 COP 4,619
-54.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 COP 4,213
$1.18 COP 4,932
-14.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 COP 4,200
$0.89 COP 3,718
13.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 COP 2,300
$0.84 COP 3,507
-34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42 COP 10.1K
$2.35 COP 9,809
2.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.98 COP 41.6K
$9.34 COP 38.9K
6.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 5,913
$1.18 COP 4,927
20.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 COP 6,172
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-40.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 COP 2,806
$0.83 COP 3,464
-19.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.71 COP 61.3K
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-64.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.67 COP 6,957
$1.41 COP 5,899
18.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 COP 7,393
$1.96 COP 8,164
-9.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 COP 34.7K
$7.85 COP 32.7K
5.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 4,042
$1.02 COP 4,265
-4.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K COP 90.9M
$17.6K COP 73.4M
23.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K COP 107.1M
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-1.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 COP 801.3K
$82.5 COP 344.1K
132.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.75 COP 36.5K
$9.44 COP 39.4K
-7.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 COP 101.5K
$23.51 COP 98K
3.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.33 COP 80.6K
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-24.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.84 COP 32.7K
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-59.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.91 COP 20.5K
$3.96 COP 16.5K
23.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 COP 677.5K
$305 COP 1.3M
-46.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,838 COP 20.2M
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-18.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.43 COP 168.6K
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-30.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.79 COP 149.2K
$31.59 COP 131.7K
13.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 COP 329.4K
$103 COP 430.1K
-23.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.8 COP 249.1K
$106 COP 440.5K
-43.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$285 COP 1.2M
$489 COP 2M
-41.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$444 COP 1.8M
$379 COP 1.6M
17.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 COP 2.9M
$827 COP 3.4M
-16.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$548 COP 2.3M
$729 COP 3M
-24.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,825 COP 7.6M
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-16.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$930 COP 3.9M
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-39.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$414 COP 1.7M
$550 COP 2.3M
-24.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
13.43
-35.82%

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

Last update for Santa Marta: October 28, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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