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

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Marta is 35.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 4.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Marta is 28.5% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 17.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58 COP 12.9K
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-41.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.44 COP 102.4K
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-13.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.91 COP 21.3K
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-19.26%
Cappuccino
$1.56 COP 5,606
$1.66 COP 5,971
-6.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,637
$1.10 COP 3,977
-33.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 COP 1,558
$0.78 COP 2,815
-44.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 COP 3,100
$1.71 COP 6,172
-49.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,973
$3.17 COP 11.4K
-47.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 COP 4,065
$1.11 COP 4,002
1.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 COP 4,318
$1.31 COP 4,707
-8.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,261
$1.38 COP 4,967
-34.06%
Eggs
$2.38 COP 8,557
$2.22 COP 7,989
7.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.57 COP 12.9K
$4.34 COP 15.6K
-17.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 COP 13.8K
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-33.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 COP 28.7K
$8.98 COP 32.3K
-11.25%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 COP 6,487
$2.26 COP 8,143
-20.35%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 COP 2,690
$1.11 COP 4,013
-32.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 COP 3,523
$1.46 COP 5,271
-32.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 COP 2,723
$1.37 COP 4,916
-44.53%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 COP 1,953
$1.11 COP 3,999
-51.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 COP 3,632
$1.16 COP 4,188
-12.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 COP 3,611
$0.89 COP 3,202
12.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 COP 1,852
$0.87 COP 3,116
-41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50 COP 9,016
$2.35 COP 8,473
6.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 COP 37.1K
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-5.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 5,073
$1.20 COP 4,319
17.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 5,139
$2.48 COP 8,923
-42.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,445
$0.79 COP 2,835
-13.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.29 COP 51.4K
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-64.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 COP 6,056
$1.42 COP 5,124
18.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 COP 6,577
$1.91 COP 6,882
-4.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.35 COP 30.1K
$7.65 COP 27.5K
9.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 COP 3,272
$0.97 COP 3,481
-6.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K COP 78.1M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
19.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K COP 93.0M
$26.3K COP 94.7M
-1.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 COP 705.3K
$81.3 COP 292.8K
140.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 COP 31.3K
$9.63 COP 34.7K
-9.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.74 COP 85.5K
$24.36 COP 87.7K
-2.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.50 COP 70.2K
$26.02 COP 93.7K
-25.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86 COP 28.3K
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-58.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 COP 17.9K
$3.89 COP 14.0K
27.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 COP 588.3K
$304 COP 1.1M
-46.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,797 COP 17.3M
$5,902 COP 21.3M
-18.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.52 COP 145.9K
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-30.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.89 COP 129.2K
$32.48 COP 116.9K
10.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 COP 288.8K
$102 COP 366.3K
-21.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.8 COP 211.8K
$108 COP 389.4K
-45.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 COP 1.0M
$474 COP 1.7M
-40.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 COP 1.6M
$371 COP 1.3M
21.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$699 COP 2.5M
$848 COP 3.1M
-17.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 COP 2.0M
$716 COP 2.6M
-23.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,921 COP 6.9M
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-33.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$971 COP 3.5M
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-29.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Marta
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$440 COP 1.6M
$542 COP 1.9M
-18.73%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: 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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