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We constantly update this blog post, so the rent figures below reflect the Santa Marta rental market as closely as possible in June 2026.
Santa Marta is not a simple rental market because beach apartments, family neighborhoods, student areas, and tourist zones all behave differently.
This guide focuses only on residential rentals in Santa Marta, not hotels, daily stays, or commercial property.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Santa Marta.
What are typical rents in Santa Marta as of 2026?
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a studio in Santa Marta is about COP 1.15 million, which is roughly USD 335 or EUR 295.
In practice, most studios in Santa Marta rent from about COP 850,000 to COP 1.4 million per month, or around USD 245 to USD 405 and EUR 220 to EUR 360.
The main reason studio rents in Santa Marta vary so much is that a small furnished unit near El Rodadero, Playa Salguero, Bello Horizonte, or Pozos Colorados can cost far more than a simple apartaestudio in an inland residential area.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Marta is about COP 1.55 million, which is roughly USD 450 or EUR 400.
For most 1-bedroom apartments in Santa Marta, a realistic rent range is COP 1.1 million to COP 3.6 million per month, or about USD 320 to USD 1,045 and EUR 280 to EUR 925.
The cheapest 1-bedroom rents in Santa Marta are usually found around Centro, Bavaria, Los Almendros, and commuter areas, while the highest 1-bedroom rents are usually in El Rodadero, Playa Salguero, Bello Horizonte, and Pozos Colorados.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Santa Marta is about COP 2.3 million, which is roughly USD 665 or EUR 590.
Most 2-bedroom apartments in Santa Marta rent from about COP 1.5 million to COP 6.2 million per month, or around USD 435 to USD 1,800 and EUR 385 to EUR 1,590.
The cheapest 2-bedroom rents in Santa Marta are usually in inland family areas such as Los Almendros, Mamatoco, San Pedro Alejandrino, and parts of Bavaria, while the most expensive 2-bedroom rents are usually in Pozos Colorados, Bello Horizonte, Playa Salguero, Rodadero Sur, and El Rodadero.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Santa Marta.
What's the average rent per square meter in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average rent per square meter in Santa Marta is about COP 30,000 per month, which is roughly USD 8.70 or EUR 7.70 per square meter.
Across Santa Marta, a realistic rent-per-square-meter range is about COP 18,000 to COP 70,000 per month, or roughly USD 5 to USD 20 and EUR 5 to EUR 18 per square meter.
Compared with Bogotá or Medellín, Santa Marta can look cheaper in ordinary inland neighborhoods, but coastal areas such as Pozos Colorados and Bello Horizonte can reach premium-city rent levels because beach supply is limited.
In Santa Marta, sea view, beach access, furniture, air conditioning, a pool, parking, security, and a well-maintained building are the main features that push rent per square meter above the city average.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Santa Marta in 2026?
As of 2026, average asking rents in Santa Marta appear to be up about 7% year over year, while existing residential lease renewals are capped near 5.10% in 2026.
The main forces pushing Santa Marta rents higher in 2026 are tourism demand, limited coastal supply, recovering housing demand in Colombia, and strong interest in furnished beach apartments.
Compared with 2025, rent growth in Santa Marta in 2026 looks steadier and more selective, with the biggest increases concentrated in El Rodadero, Playa Salguero, Bello Horizonte, and Pozos Colorados.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Santa Marta in 2026?
As of 2026, we expect Santa Marta rents to rise by about 5% to 8% during the year, with premium furnished coastal units closer to 8% to 12%.
The main factors likely to support rent growth in Santa Marta are beach scarcity, tourism pressure, slow new housing supply, and steady demand from local workers, students, retirees, and remote workers.
The neighborhoods most likely to see the strongest rent growth in Santa Marta are Pozos Colorados, Bello Horizonte, Playa Salguero, Rodadero Sur, and well-located parts of Centro Histórico.
The main risks are a weaker tourism season, too many furnished units chasing the same tenants, higher owner costs, or a softer Colombian economy that makes tenants more price-sensitive.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Santa Marta as of 2026?
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, the three highest-rent neighborhoods in Santa Marta are Pozos Colorados at about COP 4.8 million per month, Bello Horizonte at about COP 4 million, and Playa Salguero at about COP 3.4 million, or roughly USD 1,390, USD 1,160, and USD 985, and EUR 1,230, EUR 1,025, and EUR 870.
These Santa Marta neighborhoods command premium rents because they offer beach access, newer apartment buildings, pools, security, parking, furnished units, and easier access to tourism income.
The typical tenant in these high-rent Santa Marta neighborhoods is a higher-income Colombian renter, an expat, a retiree, a remote worker, or a tenant choosing a long stay near the beach instead of a hotel.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we compared premium listings on Mitula Pozos Colorados, Fincaraiz, and Metrocuadrado. We ranked neighborhoods by long-term monthly rent, not daily tourist rates. We also used our own coastal rent scoring.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Santa Marta right now?
The three Santa Marta neighborhoods young professionals most often prefer are Bavaria, Centro Histórico, and Bellavista because they balance rent, commute, restaurants, services, and daily convenience.
Young professionals in these Santa Marta areas usually pay about COP 1.2 million to COP 2.3 million per month, or roughly USD 350 to USD 665 and EUR 310 to EUR 590.
These neighborhoods attract young professionals because they offer shorter commutes, better walkability, cafes, restaurants, gyms, supermarkets, and easier access to work or nightlife than many beach-only areas.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Santa Marta.
Where do families prefer to rent in Santa Marta right now?
The three Santa Marta neighborhoods families most often prefer are Bavaria, San Pedro Alejandrino, and Mamatoco because these areas offer more space, better access roads, and a calmer daily routine.
Families renting 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartments in these Santa Marta neighborhoods usually pay about COP 1.6 million to COP 3.2 million per month, or roughly USD 465 to USD 930 and EUR 410 to EUR 820.
These family-friendly areas in Santa Marta are attractive because families can find larger apartments, parking, supermarkets, schools, medical services, and less tourist noise than in central El Rodadero.
Nearby education options often mentioned by families include Universidad del Magdalena for higher education, Colegio Bilingüe de Santa Marta, Colegio San Luis Beltrán, and other private and public schools around the central and eastern parts of the city.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Santa Marta in 2026?
As of 2026, the three areas near transit or universities that rent fastest in Santa Marta are Centro, Bavaria, and the areas around Universidad del Magdalena, including parts of El Jardín and San Pedro Alejandrino.
Well-priced rentals in these high-demand Santa Marta areas often stay listed for about 15 to 30 days, while overpriced or poorly maintained apartments can take much longer.
Being close to university, work routes, or daily transport can add about COP 150,000 to COP 350,000 per month in Santa Marta, or roughly USD 45 to USD 100 and EUR 40 to EUR 90.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Santa Marta right now?
The three Santa Marta neighborhoods most popular with expats are El Rodadero, Centro Histórico, and Playa Salguero, with Bello Horizonte, Pozos Colorados, Taganga, and Minca-edge lifestyle areas also attracting foreign renters.
Expats in these Santa Marta neighborhoods usually pay about COP 1.8 million to COP 5.5 million per month, or roughly USD 520 to USD 1,595 and EUR 460 to EUR 1,410.
These areas attract expats because they offer beach access, furnished apartments, restaurants, walkability, views, security, and an easier soft landing for foreigners who are still learning how Santa Marta works.
The most visible expat groups in Santa Marta are usually North Americans, Europeans, and other Latin Americans, although the market is more mixed and less formal than in Medellín or Bogotá.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we used Mitula Rodadero, Fincaraiz, and Cotelco-linked tourism reporting. We used furnished supply and lifestyle demand as expat signals. We also checked our own Santa Marta expat-area notes.
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Santa Marta right now?
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Santa Marta?
The three largest tenant profiles in Santa Marta are local families and couples, young workers and students, and tourism-linked or short-to-medium-stay tenants.
As a practical estimate for Santa Marta in 2026, local families and couples represent about 40% of rental demand, young workers and students about 25%, tourism-linked tenants about 20%, and retirees, expats, and remote workers about 15%.
Local families usually seek 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartments, young workers and students seek rooms, studios, and 1-bedroom units, while tourism-linked tenants and expats usually prefer furnished studios, 1-bedroom units, and coastal apartments.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we combined DANE GEIH, Cotelco-linked tourism reporting, and Fincaraiz. We inferred profiles from property type, location, and listing language. We also used our own tenant-demand segmentation for Santa Marta.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Santa Marta?
In Santa Marta, about 45% of visible apartment demand leans furnished and about 55% leans unfurnished, but furnished demand dominates in coastal areas while unfurnished demand dominates inland.
A furnished apartment in Santa Marta can usually earn about COP 300,000 to COP 1.4 million more per month than a similar unfurnished unit, or roughly USD 85 to USD 405 and EUR 75 to EUR 360.
Furnished rentals in Santa Marta are preferred by expats, remote workers, retirees, tourism workers, medium-stay Colombian tenants, and renters testing the city before buying.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Santa Marta?
The five amenities that increase rent the most in Santa Marta are sea view, furniture, air conditioning, pool, and secure parking or 24-hour security.
In Santa Marta, sea view can add about COP 350,000 to COP 900,000 per month, furniture about COP 300,000 to COP 1.4 million, air conditioning about COP 150,000 to COP 450,000, a pool about COP 200,000 to COP 600,000, and parking or security about COP 150,000 to COP 350,000.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Santa Marta, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Santa Marta?
The five renovations with the best rental ROI in Santa Marta are split air conditioning, humidity-resistant repainting, a simple kitchen refresh, a bathroom refresh, and reliable internet with practical furnishing.
As a rough Santa Marta budget, these upgrades can cost from COP 1.5 million to COP 18 million each, or about USD 435 to USD 5,220 and EUR 385 to EUR 4,615, while each can add roughly COP 100,000 to COP 800,000 per month depending on the property and location.
Poor-ROI renovations in Santa Marta usually include overly luxury finishes in inland family areas, fragile beach furniture, expensive decoration without air conditioning, and upgrades that ignore humidity, salt air, and maintenance costs.
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How strong is rental demand in Santa Marta as of 2026?
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for good long-term apartments in Santa Marta is about 4% to 6% when the rent is realistic.
Across Santa Marta, vacancy can be as low as 3% to 5% in well-priced coastal or central units and closer to 7% to 10% for overpriced, poorly maintained, or badly located apartments.
Compared with the city’s normal pattern, vacancy in Santa Marta in 2026 looks tight because tourism demand and weak new supply are keeping pressure on the best rental stock.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Santa Marta.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, a correctly priced long-term apartment in Santa Marta usually stays listed for about 20 to 35 days.
In Santa Marta, small inland units can rent in 15 to 30 days, family apartments often need 25 to 45 days, and expensive furnished coastal apartments can take 30 to 60 days if the owner asks too much.
Compared with one year ago, the current days-on-market figure in Santa Marta looks slightly shorter for well-priced units, but longer for overpriced furnished apartments that are trying to copy peak-season tourist prices.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Santa Marta?
The peak tenant-demand months in Santa Marta are usually December, January, March or April when Semana Santa falls there, June, and July.
Santa Marta has these seasonal peaks because tourism, beach holidays, student moves, job relocations, and furnished medium-stay demand all overlap in the same city.
The lowest-demand months in Santa Marta are usually May, September, and October, when tourism is softer and fewer families or students are moving.
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What will my monthly costs be in Santa Marta as of 2026?
What property taxes should landlords expect in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, a typical Santa Marta landlord might pay around COP 1 million to COP 3.3 million per year in property tax on a mid-market apartment, or about USD 290 to USD 955 and EUR 255 to EUR 845.
The realistic annual property-tax range in Santa Marta can be lower for modest inland apartments and higher for valuable coastal units, from about COP 700,000 to COP 6 million, or roughly USD 200 to USD 1,740 and EUR 180 to EUR 1,540.
Property tax in Santa Marta is based mainly on the cadastral value, property classification, municipal rate, and any discounts, penalties, or recent tax-rule changes that apply to the specific property.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Santa Marta, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Santa Marta right now?
In Santa Marta, landlords most often pay administration fees when included in the rent, internet for furnished units, and sometimes water or gas in medium-stay arrangements.
Typical landlord-paid monthly costs in Santa Marta can be about COP 250,000 to COP 800,000 for building administration, COP 80,000 to COP 160,000 for internet, and COP 50,000 to COP 180,000 for water or gas if bundled.
The common practice in Santa Marta is that tenants pay electricity, water, gas, and internet in normal long-term leases, while furnished coastal rentals often bundle internet and administration but should avoid unlimited electricity because air conditioning can be expensive.
How is rental income taxed in Santa Marta as of 2026?
As of 2026, rental income from a Santa Marta property is generally treated as Colombian-source income, with the final tax depending on whether the owner is a Colombian resident, non-resident, individual, or company.
Landlords in Santa Marta may be able to deduct ordinary costs such as administration, maintenance, property tax, repairs, insurance, accounting costs, and some financing costs, but the exact treatment should be checked with a Colombian accountant.
The biggest Santa Marta-specific tax mistakes are mixing daily tourist income with normal residential rent, forgetting local property tax dates, ignoring DIAN filing rules, and assuming a foreign owner is taxed the same way as a Colombian resident.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we used DIAN tax calendar, DIAN UVT resolution, and Santa Marta tax calendar. We kept national income tax separate from local property tax. We also used our own owner-cost model for practical budgeting.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Colombia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Santa Marta, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source used | Why this source matters | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| DANE, CPI December 2025 press release | DANE is Colombia’s official statistics agency, so it is the best source for official inflation data. | We used it to anchor the 2026 legal rent-increase ceiling at 5.10%. We also used it to avoid confusing online asking rents with legal renewal increases. |
| DANE, CPI technical methodology | This source explains how Colombia’s official CPI is calculated. | We used it to treat CPI as a household cost index, not as a direct rent index. We kept inflation data separate from market listing data. |
| Ley 820 de 2003, Función Pública | This is the official Colombian legal text for urban residential leases. | We used it to explain lease renewals, service payments, and landlord-tenant obligations. We also used it to show why existing rents do not always follow new listing prices. |
| Banco de la República housing-market report, April 2026 | Colombia’s central bank is one of the strongest sources for housing, credit, and macro context. | We used it to understand the 2026 housing outlook in Colombia. We also used it to explain why Santa Marta rents can stay firm while buyers remain cautious. |
| Alcaldía de Santa Marta, POT | The POT is the official city planning reference for land use, mobility, and risk. | We used it to understand how Santa Marta’s coastal, central, and inland areas function. We also used it to separate beach demand from normal residential demand. |
| Alcaldía de Santa Marta, 2026 tax calendar | This is the city’s official tax-calendar document for 2026. | We used it for local tax timing and payment context. We paired it with tax-law sources because the calendar does not explain the full property-tax burden alone. |
| Alcaldía de Santa Marta, Acuerdo 018 of 2025 | This is an official municipal tax-law update for Santa Marta. | We used it to verify that Santa Marta’s 2026 property-tax framework had recent amendments. We used it alongside older tax references instead of relying on summaries. |
| DIAN, 2026 tax calendar | DIAN is Colombia’s national tax authority. | We used it for national filing timing and income-tax context. We kept national rental-income tax separate from Santa Marta property tax. |
| DIAN, 2026 UVT resolution | The UVT resolution is the official basis for many Colombian tax thresholds. | We used it to understand 2026 tax thresholds and reporting logic. We did not use it to estimate Santa Marta rents directly. |
| Fincaraiz Santa Marta listings | Fincaraiz is one of Colombia’s major real-estate portals. | We used it to sample current asking rents, areas, bedrooms, and amenities. We discounted obvious daily or vacation rentals when estimating long-term residential rents. |
| Metrocuadrado Santa Marta listings | Metrocuadrado is a recognized Colombian property portal with broad listing coverage. | We used it as a second listing source for rent ranges and neighborhood names. We did not treat portal listings as official statistics. |
| Mitula Santa Marta listings | Mitula aggregates listings and helps cross-check price bands in smaller submarkets. | We used it as a supplementary check for premium coastal areas such as Pozos Colorados. We excluded clear daily prices from monthly rent estimates. |
| Cotelco Magdalena via local press | This source cites Cotelco Magdalena, the local hotel and tourism association. | We used it to understand tourism pressure and seasonality in Santa Marta. We did not use hotel occupancy as a direct substitute for residential vacancy. |
| DANE GEIH microdata | DANE’s GEIH is an official labor and household survey source for Colombia. | We used it for broad labor and household context. We did not pretend it gives exact Santa Marta neighborhood-level tenant shares. |
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