Santa Marta, Colombia

Cost of Living in Santa Marta, Colombia

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Santa Marta costs approximately $751 per month for one person, with city-centre one-bedroom rent averaging $306. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighborhood, and exchange rates.

Santa Marta is a city in Colombia, where a single person can expect to spend about $751 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $306 per month, or $390 outside the centre. Internet is solid at around 93 Mbps median download speed, and Colombia offers a digital nomad visa. On safety, Santa Marta scores 38/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 92°F and winter highs around 88°F, with roughly 300 sunny days a year.

Digital nomad visaFamily friendly
Monthly Cost$751≈ $25/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$306
Internet93 Mbps
Safety38/100
Avg Temp90°F

Santa Marta Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$4.08
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$40.80
McDonald's Combo Meal$9.52
Cappuccino$1.80
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$1.09
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$0.54

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.28
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$1.65
Eggs (12)$2.68
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$2.90
Apples (1 lb)$1.12
Bananas (1 lb)$0.38
Tomatoes (1 lb)$0.61
Potatoes (1 lb)$0.32
Water (1.5L Bottle)$0.68
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$10.20
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$2.99

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$0.78
Monthly Transit Pass$16.32
Taxi Start$2.04
Taxi (1 Mile)$3.50
Gasoline (1 Liter)$1.13
VW Golf (New)$22,032.54

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$217.91
Mobile Phone Plan$10.11
Broadband Internet$21.76

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$21.76
Cinema Ticket$5.44
Preschool (Monthly)$184.99
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$5,440.13

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$58.03
Nike Running Shoes$130.07

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$306.01
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$390.12
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$788.31
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$707.22
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$178.29
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$87.09

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$426.14
Mortgage Interest Rate16.81%

Cost data sourced from Numbeo.

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Santa Marta

Internet93 Mbps
Safety38/100
Healthcare45/100
Public Transit20/100
Walkability50/100
Nightlife52/100
Food Scene65/100
Fine Dining0/100
Coffee Culture30/100
Air Quality78/100
Green Spaces72/100
Culture65/100
Beaches88/100
Hiking85/100
Surfing25/100
Coworking Spaces18
US Visa-Free90 days

Santa Marta FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Santa Marta?

A single person should budget around $751 per month in Santa Marta, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.

How much is rent in Santa Marta?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Santa Marta averages $306 per month, dropping to about $390 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $788.

Is Santa Marta safe?

Santa Marta scores 38/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 48/100.

How fast is the internet in Santa Marta?

Median download speeds in Santa Marta are around 93 Mbps — solid for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 18 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Colombia offer a digital nomad visa?

Yes — Colombia offers a digital nomad visa. US passport holders can typically stay 90 days visa-free before applying.

What is the weather like in Santa Marta?

Santa Marta sees summer highs around 92°F and winter highs near 88°F, with about 300 sunny days and 80 rainy days per year.

Santa Marta in our travel guides

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