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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $555 in Taraz versus $1,069 in Santa Marta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $888 in Taraz versus $1,416 in Santa Marta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,222 in Taraz versus $1,762 in Santa Marta.

Living in Taraz costs roughly 48% less than in Santa Marta, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Taraz 58% lower, Santa Marta 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 ₸2,851

$3.59 COP 11.5K

66.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.85 ₸9,454

$28.43 COP 90.7K

-30.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.96 ₸2,840

$5.90 COP 18.8K

1.02%

Cappuccino

$1.41 ₸670

$1.55 COP 4,959

-9.03%

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

$0.76 ₸362

$0.69 COP 2,191

10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₸195

$0.44 COP 1,391

-6.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.20 ₸570

$0.82 COP 2,626

46.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₸724

$1.66 COP 5,296

-8.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 ₸451

$1.17 COP 3,746

-18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.37 ₸178

$1.26 COP 4,009

-70.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ₸567

$0.95 COP 3,023

25.26%

Eggs

$1.75 ₸832

$2.33 COP 7,440

-24.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 ₸4,278

$3.56 COP 11.4K

152.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 ₸2,167

$3.92 COP 12.5K

16.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.17 ₸3,416

$7.94 COP 25.3K

-9.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 ₸618

$1.73 COP 5,527

-24.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 ₸902

$0.76 COP 2,420

148.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₸913

$0.99 COP 3,157

93.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₸903

$0.76 COP 2,432

148.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 ₸282

$0.55 COP 1,752

7.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₸178

$1.01 COP 3,238

-63.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₸473

$1.05 COP 3,362

-5.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₸345

$0.51 COP 1,621

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 ₸941

$2.44 COP 7,777

-18.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.32 ₸2,060

$15.42 COP 49.2K

-71.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₸465

$1.47 COP 4,692

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₸753

$1.42 COP 4,535

11.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₸88.0

$0.72 COP 2,300

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.34 COP 45.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₸390

$1.73 COP 5,512

-52.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ₸181

$1.83 COP 5,825

-79.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 ₸1,629

$8.68 COP 27.7K

-60.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 ₸199

$0.90 COP 2,874

-53.33%

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

$19.8K ₸9.4M

$21.7K COP 69.3M

-8.67%

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

$21.5K ₸10.3M

$26.3K COP 84.0M

-18.17%

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

$51.1 ₸24.3K

$192 COP 611.8K

-73.36%

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

$8.04 ₸3,830

$8.62 COP 27.5K

-6.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.63 ₸3,637

$24.37 COP 77.8K

-68.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.56 ₸15.5K

$18.99 COP 60.6K

71.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.88 COP 25.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 ₸1,897

$4.79 COP 15.3K

-16.91%

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

$215 ₸102.3K

$164 COP 523.6K

30.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,961 ₸2.4M

$4,844 COP 15.5M

2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.25 ₸11.1K

$41.10 COP 131.1K

-43.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.75 ₸18.9K

$35.71 COP 113.9K

11.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ₸46.7K

$79.1 COP 252.3K

23.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 ₸27.8K

$58.6 COP 187.1K

-0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 ₸110.7K

$278 COP 886.9K

-16.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.2 ₸45.8K

$452 COP 1.4M

-78.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$394 ₸187.7K

$680 COP 2.2M

-42.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 ₸82.4K

$562 COP 1.8M

-69.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 ₸383.4K

$2,100 COP 6.7M

-61.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$567 ₸269.9K

$983 COP 3.1M

-42.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$264 ₸125.6K

$540 COP 1.7M

-51.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.25

8.62

88.52%

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

Last update for Taraz: July 28, 2026

Last update for Santa Marta: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $232 in Taraz and $278 in Santa Marta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Marta pays 105% 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: $20.00 in Taraz vs $28.00 in Santa Marta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $168 per month, with Taraz cheaper across the board.

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

Taraz vs Santa Marta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taraz wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Santa Marta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taraz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 105% lower in Santa Marta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $232 in Taraz versus $278 in Santa Marta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Santa Marta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $555 per month in Taraz versus $1,069 in Santa Marta – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Taraz gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Taraz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $555 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Taraz hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Taraz and Santa Marta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Taraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Santa Marta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.