Cost of Living in Santa Marta, Colombia
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 293 sunny days a year.
Santa Marta Cost of Living Breakdown
🍽️ Dining
🛒 Groceries
🚌 Transportation
⚡ Utilities & Tech
🎬 Lifestyle
👔 Clothing
🏠 Housing
📊 Summary
Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Santa Marta
How Santa Marta Ranks Among 340 Cities
Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Santa Marta is cheaper than 88% of them, but sits in the bottom 13% for healthcare.
| Metric | Santa Marta | World rank | Rank in Latin America & Caribbean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $751 | #39 of 340 | #10 of 63 |
| Safety | 38/100 | #291 of 340 | #42 of 63 |
| Healthcare | 45/100 | #300 of 340 | #45 of 63 |
| Internet speed | 93 Mbps | #242 of 340 | #33 of 63 |
| Walkability | 50/100 | #210 of 340 | #35 of 63 |
| Public transit | 20/100 | #257 of 340 | #44 of 63 |
| Food scene | 65/100 | #263 of 340 | #42 of 63 |
| Air quality | 78/100 | #214 of 340 | #32 of 63 |
Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.
Cheaper Alternatives to Santa Marta
Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Santa Marta.
- Utila, Honduras — $600/mo, 20% cheaper, safety 48/100
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 293 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 52 days.
Santa Marta in our travel guides
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