Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Marta and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Marta and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Santa Marta is 51.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santa Marta is 34.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 41.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.58 COP 12.9K
$11.61 MX$200
-69.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.44 COP 102.4K
$42.75 MX$738
-33.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.91 COP 21.3K
$10.60 MX$183
-44.25%
Cappuccino
$1.56 COP 5,606
$3.59 MX$62.0
-56.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,637
$1.45 MX$25.08
-49.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 COP 1,558
$0.90 MX$15.50
-52.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 COP 3,100
$3.03 MX$52.4
-71.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,973
$4.56 MX$78.8
-63.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 COP 4,065
$1.45 MX$25.07
-22.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 COP 4,318
$1.83 MX$31.55
-34.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,261
$1.61 MX$27.77
-43.48%
Eggs
$2.38 COP 8,557
$2.54 MX$43.82
-6.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.57 COP 12.9K
$8.54 MX$148
-58.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.84 COP 13.8K
$8.47 MX$146
-54.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 COP 28.7K
$10.86 MX$188
-26.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 COP 6,487
$2.73 MX$47.13
-34.07%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 COP 2,690
$1.49 MX$25.77
-49.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 COP 3,523
$1.94 MX$33.55
-49.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 COP 2,723
$2.16 MX$37.38
-64.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 COP 1,953
$1.85 MX$31.88
-70.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 COP 3,632
$2.19 MX$37.80
-53.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 COP 3,611
$1.07 MX$18.52
-6.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 COP 1,852
$1.08 MX$18.71
-52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50 COP 9,016
$4.06 MX$70.1
-38.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 COP 37.1K
$10.46 MX$181
-1.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 5,073
$1.65 MX$28.56
-14.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 COP 5,139
$2.55 MX$44.01
-43.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 COP 2,445
$0.56 MX$9.60
21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.29 COP 51.4K
$26.20 MX$453
-45.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.68 COP 6,056
$3.14 MX$54.2
-46.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 COP 6,577
$2.37 MX$40.96
-22.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.35 COP 30.1K
$3.24 MX$56.0
157.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 COP 3,272
$1.31 MX$22.70
-30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K COP 78.1M
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-28.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K COP 93.0M
$23.8K MX$411.4K
8.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 COP 705.3K
$83.1 MX$1,436
135.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 COP 31.3K
$22.15 MX$383
-60.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.74 COP 85.5K
$29.37 MX$507
-19.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.50 COP 70.2K
$51.2 MX$884
-61.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86 COP 28.3K
$18.69 MX$323
-57.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 COP 17.9K
$4.89 MX$84.4
1.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 COP 588.3K
$199 MX$3,431
-17.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,797 COP 17.3M
$5,207 MX$89.9K
-7.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.52 COP 145.9K
$35.93 MX$621
12.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.89 COP 129.2K
$39.39 MX$680
-8.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 COP 288.8K
$80.3 MX$1,387
-0.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.8 COP 211.8K
$87.6 MX$1,512
-32.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 COP 1.0M
$963 MX$16.6K
-70.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 COP 1.6M
$482 MX$8,326
-6.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$699 COP 2.5M
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-57.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 COP 2.0M
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-54.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,921 COP 6.9M
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-51.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$971 COP 3.5M
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-85.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Marta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$440 COP 1.6M
$726 MX$12.5K
-39.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.42
-24.52%

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

Last update for Santa Marta: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 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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