Lombok vs Santa Marta: cost of living for digital nomads
Lombok, Indonesia 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
- Lombok is about 2% cheaper than Santa Marta for a month of nomad living ($1,120 vs $1,140).
- Lombok scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Santa Marta: 100 Mbps typical against 70 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Lombok wins 4 of the measured lines; Santa Marta wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Lombok or Santa Marta?
Lombok is cheaper: about $1,120/month against $1,140/month in Santa Marta, roughly 2% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Lombok or Santa Marta?
Lombok scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Santa Marta.
Which has faster internet, Lombok or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 70 Mbps in Lombok.
| Line | Lombok | Santa Marta |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,120 | $1,140 |
| Rent | $450 | $450 |
| Food | $300 | $320 |
| Transport | $60 | $50 |
| Coworking | $90 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 70 | 100 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | mid | mid |
| Setting | island | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
Compare Lombok with
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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): Lombok September 10, 2026, Santa Marta September 10, 2026.