Colombia’s oldest city, founded in 1525, with a 2025 population around 454,000, is a compact town, blending colonial architecture, indigenous vibes, and the hugely popular Rodadero Beach.
It sits on the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains, with easy access to the Tayrona National Park.
The climate is pretty consistent year-round. The dry season lasts from December to April, while the wet season lasts from May to November. Surprisingly, it can get very windy between November and January.
My overall opinion of Santa Marta is at the end of this report.
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Cost of Living
Life in Santa Marta is affordable in my experience. Of course, this is subjective based on how much you can spend and the lifestyle you want, but in my particular case, I would have no problem living a very nice life for between US$1,800-2,500 monthly.
Due to its size and large dependency on tourism, it is not the cheapest town in Colombia.
Cost of living numbers by Numbeo – https://www.numbeo.com
Note: Cost of living numbers are very subjective and dependent on your individual lifestyle.
Remember… “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Healthcare
The healthcare system in Santa Marta is ok for general needs. If you need serious attention, you are going to travel or be transferred to Barranquilla (2 hours drive).
Below are the better clinics and hospitals according to locals and retirees I met in Santa Marta.
- Clinica Bahia – https://www.clinicabahia.com/ – Location & Reviews
- Clinica El Prado – https://www.instagram.com/clinicapradoips/ – Location & Reviews
Real Estate
Santa Marta is a tourist destination and has grown considerably in the past 15 years.
Many foreigners gravitate towards downtown (Colonial Zone) and Rodadero, but after spending a lot of time in Santa Marta, those areas just don’t suit my lifestyle. Way too busy and noisy for me.
Before you buy or rent, check your street for flooding, some can replicate a mini river in heavy rainstorms.
This is the “Costa,” so some areas will feel like they are alive 24×7. This is good on one hand, but not so much if you are a light sleeper. Make sure you spend a Friday and Saturday night where you want to live to avoid any nasty “noise” surprises.
The neighborhoods I listed below all have frequent trash collection that you normally have to pay for. Some neighborhoods don’t have frequent collections, so make sure you ask around. There is nothing worse than a street full of trash on a regular basis in 35°C heat.
The most desirable neighborhoods are listed below:
Jardin
This is a middle-class neighborhood with lots of trees and lots of medical clinics (Zona Medica).
It is quiet and central, with easy access to most of Santa Marta.
This would be my personal pick for Santa Marta.
Los Cocos
Very nice area that borders the beach and is in front of the marina.
I would consider this the most exclusive area of Santa Marta.
Prado
This is next door to Los Cocos and also very nice.
Rodadero
This is the main tourist area in Santa Marta and is popular. Fine in the off-season or when you have no public holidays, but absolutely jam packed over the holiday periods. Personally, I would not live here.
An interactive map showing the most desirable neighborhoods highlighted in red.
Below is a POV (point of view) video showing the most desirable neighborhoods.
This will give you a good feel for the neighborhoods from the perspective of riding around.
Real Estate Websites
Although these websites and Facebook Groups are in Spanish, they are very easy to translate into English, with Facebook offering automatic translation.
Mitula (Spanish)
Fincaraiz (Spanish)
Facebook Marketplace is also popular in Colombia for listing real estate rentals.
This link will take you directly to the rental listings in Santa Marta.
Climate
Average temperatures range between 75°F (24°C) at night and 88°F (31°C) during the day.
Brutal! It’s a tropical climate, so pack a hat and some sunscreen.
Transport
Very easy to move around the city using taxis, buses or motos. Note the taxis are not metered, so it pays to learn the rates and different zones of the city, so you don’t get over charged.
Airport
Santa Marta is home to Simon Bolivar International Airport (SMR), which provides regular service to major cities within Colombia via Avianca, LATAM, JetSmart, Wingo, and Clic airlines.
The airport also has a direct flight from Panama with COPA.
Shopping
Santa Marta has multiple modern shopping malls and smaller shopping zones.
- Centro Comercial Buenavista – Location & Reviews
- Centro Comercial Ocean Mall – Location & Reviews
Amazon, Mercado Libre, and all the major couriers deliver in and around Santa Marta.
Security
Santa Marta is regarded as a safe city with lower crime rates than some other Colombian destinations. Just use common sense in the more tourist areas to avoid petty crime.
Lifestyle
It’s a small city or big town, but with a slower pace of life than Bogotá, similar to Cali in my experience.
Costeños in my experience have a different work ethic to Paisas (Medellin) or Rolas (Bogota). Everything moves a little slower, quality and customer service are more laid back, etc. You get the idea 🙂
You will find plenty of expats or retirees from all over the planet. Plenty of Europeans that own restaurants, bars or small business in and around Santa Marta.
Connectivity
All the major cellular and Internet services from Claro, Tigo, and others are available in Santa Marta. Starlink is also available in Colombia, so this is another welcome option.
While I have never had any connection issues in Santa Marta, don’t expect Medellin or Bogota speeds.
Attractions
The most popular attractions are the various beaches, Minca, a quaint mountain town, and Tayrona National Park.
Rodadero Beach gets packed over Christmas and the New Year, especially with Colombians.
This is one of the reasons I would not personally live in this area, unless I was planning to escape or rent out my property for that period.
FAQs
Be careful, and don’t hail taxis on the street. In tourist areas after dark, the usual risks are phone snatching, drink drugging and dating-app robberies. Use an app for rides, stay in busy, well-lit places, and spend weekend nights at home if you live near the nightlife.
In October 2026, a one-bedroom apartment outside the center rents for about $752 a month, within a range of roughly $473 to $1,009. City-center listings are thin and run higher. Beachfront areas such as Los Cocos and Rodadero cost the most, especially in the high season. Air conditioning pushes power bills up, so ask for a past electric bill before you sign.
Yes. Santa Marta has a long history of water shortages. In October 2026, the city water utility, ESSMAR, declared a yellow alert, sent tanker trucks and storage tanks to dry neighborhoods, and studied shipping in water from Cartagena. Before you rent, ask whether the building has a large storage tank and a pump, and how often the street lost water last dry season.
Not nonstop. In 2026 there is no direct flight from Santa Marta’s Simon Bolivar Airport to Miami or any other U.S. city. Most Americans connect through Panama City on Copa, or through Bogota or Medellin on Avianca, LATAM, JetSmart or Wingo. Build in a generous layover on the connection.
For legal residence, Colombia’s pensioner visa needs a lifetime pension of at least COP 5,252,715 a month in 2026, which is about $1,663 at the October 2026 exchange rate. You can also stay as a tourist for up to 90 days, extendable to 180 days in a calendar year, without a visa. Anyone staying longer than that needs a visa.
Resources
Below is a list of resources I recommend if you want to take a deeper dive into Santa Marta.
General Information
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Marta
Facebook Groups
Expat in Santa Marta – https://www.facebook.com/groups/582034148585194/
Everything Santa Marta – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1019614039461009/
Local News
HOY DIARIO DEL MAGDALENA (Spanish)
Colombia One (English)
Cars and Motorcycles for Sale
Mercado Libre Carros (Spanish)
Mercado Libre Motos (Spanish)
My Opinion
Personally, I would not live in Santa Marta due to the weather, it’s just too hot!
At night it’s nice when you get the breeze and it cools down, but in the daytime, no brutal!
Costeños are a little too laid back for me. I know some of you will love that, but for me, it can make life a little frustrating at times.
Photos
A selection of random photos I have taken visiting Santa Marta.
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