Which place is cheaper, Bogota or Santa Marta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Marta or Bogota?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Santa Marta and Bogota can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Santa Marta or Bogota?
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
Bogota
Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Marta $32Bogota $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Marta is $32, while the average daily cost in Bogota is $53. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Santa Marta and Bogota in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Marta $14Bogota $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Marta $28Bogota $52
Compare Hotels in Santa Marta and Bogota
Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta or Bogota? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Santa Marta Hotel Prices and Bogota Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Marta $5.27Bogota $8.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$5.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Palomino, Tayrona Park, Buritaca Guachaca from Santa Marta: $23
- Transfers SANTA MARTA AIRPORT TO HOTEL IN SANTA MARTA: $31
- Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $21
- Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $21
- Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $14
- Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $14
- Tayrona / Santa Marta Transfer: $85
- Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $35
- Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $40
- Santa Marta to or from Barranquilla Private Transfer: $67
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bogota are as follows:
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Taxi from Airport$7.56
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Taxi Ride$0.39
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2 Bus Passes$0.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota
Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in private SUV from Bogota City - Bogota Airport (BOG): $18
- Transfer from El Dorado Airport to Hotels in Bogota (one way): $15
- Salt Cathedral Zipaquira • Premium Private Transfer: $39
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Bogota City Airport (BOG) - Bogota City: $40
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Bogota Airport (BOG)-Bogota City: $36
- Private Visit to Zipaquira's Town & Salt Cathedral + In&Out Transfer + (6 hours): $176
- Private Transfer from Bogotá-El Dorado (BOG) Airport to Bogotá City: $33
- Private Transfer El Dorado Airport to Hotels in Bogotá: $20
- Private Salt Cathedral and Nemocón Salt Mines + In & out Transfer + (8 hours): $242
- Private Bogota Airport drop-off Transfer: $59
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: El Dorado Airport (One Way): $13
- Layover Bogotá Private Tour + Transfer in & Out (4 Hrs.) : $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Marta or Bogota?
Prices for flights to both Bogota and Santa Marta change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySanta Marta $10Bogota $14
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Walking Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $75
Typical Food Prices in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$1.57
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Hot Dog$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota
For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
- Bogotá Bites: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $49
- Food Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $55
- Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
- Bogotá Food Tour - La Candelaria: $61
- Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
- Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Marta $14Bogota $13
Tours and Activities in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Chocoserrano" Chocolate Tour 1 day -- Santa Marta: $115
- "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
- 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $189
- 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
- 2-Day Tour to Ancestral Heritage from Santa Marta: $190
- 3-Day Private Tour of Taorayiná Ecolodge and Nature Reserve: $200
- 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $374
- 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $334
- Amazing full day tour to Minca with a private guide: $178
- Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
- Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $192
- Ancestral Thought Tour two days and one night: $200
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Beer$1.31
Tours and Activities in Bogota
For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bogotá Architecture Private Tour (6 Hrs.): $149
- Bogota Zipaquira Salt Cathedral Private Tour + Lunch: $80
- Express Salt Cathedral Tour• Guided Tour & Tickets • 5h: $219
- La Candelaria and Monserrate Walking Half Day Tour: $234
- *Private tour* to Guatavita sacred lagoon + Nemocon salt mine: $152
- 2 Day Tour in Barichara: $220
- 3 Day Desert of the Tatacoa, an unforgettable experience closer to the stars: $299
- 3 Hour Road Bike Shared Tour in Bogota: $80
- 3 days- private tour Chingaza-Guatavita Savannah Expedition: $60
- 3-4 Hours Tour in flight connection: $180
- 4 Hour Bogota Bike Tour: $36
- 4-Hours E-Bike Tour in Bogotá City, Colombia: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Marta $6.71Bogota $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.58
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Beer$2.36
Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:
- Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Marta and Bogota, we can see that Bogota is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bogota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bogota than you might in Santa Marta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Marta Expensive? and Is Bogota Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Marta or Bogota?
Bogota has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Santa Marta. When comparing the sizes of Santa Marta and Bogota, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.