Cusco vs Santa Marta for Digital Nomads
🇵🇪 Cusco vs 🇨🇴 Santa Marta · updated 2026-07
Verdict
Cheaper: Cusco · Faster internet: Santa Marta · Higher Nomad Score: Santa Marta.
Head-to-head
| 🇵🇪 Cusco | 🇨🇴 Santa Marta | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable / month | $895 ★ | $1,015 |
| 1-bed rent | $400 ★ | $480 |
| Food | $230 ★ | $250 |
| Coworking | $85 ★ | $90 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 60 | 70 ★ |
| Affordability | 95 ★ | 92 |
| Weather | 72 | 82 ★ |
| Community | 72 ★ | 64 |
| Nomad Score | 78 | 79 ★ |
| Climate | Highland, cool | Tropical coastal |
★ = better on that row. Figures are aggregated estimates.
FAQ
Is Cusco or Santa Marta cheaper for digital nomads?
Cusco is cheaper — about $895/month vs $1,015/month for a comfortable solo setup.
Which has faster internet, Cusco or Santa Marta?
Santa Marta has faster average broadband (70 Mbps vs 60 Mbps).
Which has the higher Nomad Score?
Santa Marta scores 79 vs 78 on our composite of affordability, connectivity, weather and community.