Lima vs Santa Marta: cost of living for digital nomads
Lima, Peru and Santa Marta, Colombia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Santa Marta is about 5% cheaper than Lima for a month of nomad living ($1,140 vs $1,200).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Santa Marta against $540 in Lima.
- Both score 6/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Santa Marta: 100 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Lima is arid; Santa Marta is tropical.
Lima wins 2 of the measured lines; Santa Marta wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Lima or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta is cheaper: about $1,140/month against $1,200/month in Lima, roughly 5% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Lima or Santa Marta?
Lima and Santa Marta score the same on safety, 6/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Lima or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 80 Mbps in Lima.
| Line | Lima | Santa Marta |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,200 | $1,140 |
| Rent | $540 | $450 |
| Food | $340 | $320 |
| Transport | $40 | $50 |
| Coworking | $100 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 100 |
| Climate | arid | tropical |
| City size | metro | mid |
| Setting | coast | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
Compare Santa Marta with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Lima November 4, 2026, Santa Marta September 10, 2026.