A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Accra vs. Cartagena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Accra or Cartagena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Accra or Cartagena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Accra or Cartagena?

Accra

Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.

Cartagena

The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Ghana, The Best Adventure Tours to Ghana, The Best 10-Day Tours in Colombia, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Accra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Accra is $41, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $49. 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 Accra and Cartagena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Accra $17
    Cartagena $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Accra $34
    Cartagena $48
Compare Hotels in Accra and Cartagena

Looking for a hotel in Accra or Cartagena? 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.

Hotels in Accra


Hotels in Cartagena


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: Accra Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Accra $15
    Cartagena $6.71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:

  • Accra Airport Hotel City Transfers: $58
  • Accra Airport to Hotel Transfer: $50
  • Accra Hotel to Airport Transfer: $85
  • City Highlights, Culture, History Tour with Transfers: $150
  • Private Transfer in and out of Accra: $145
  • Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $130

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

  • Airport Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $7.00
  • Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $8.12
  • Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $8.12
  • Transfer airport - old city (walled city /center): $8.34
  • Airport Transfer to Cartagena Hotels: $9.15
  • Transfer from Cartagena hotels to the airport: $9.15
  • Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $9.15
  • Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $9.15
  • Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
  • Cartagena Private Transfer from City Center to Airport (CTG): $10
  • Cartagena Private Airport Transfer (CTG) to City Center: $10
  • transfer Airport to any Hotels in Bocagrande: $11

Is it cheaper to fly into Accra or Cartagena?

Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Accra 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Accra $15
    Cartagena $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.

  • Accra Street Food Tour: Osu Night Market Tour Experience: $43
  • Local Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra to help support wellness community center: $45
  • Accra Street Food Tour: Makola Market Tour With Full Lunch: $67
  • Cooking Class: $75
  • Culinary for Social Change-Cooking Class : $80
  • Home Cooking Class by Auntie K: $89
  • Nighttime Food Tour with Local Guide: $90
  • Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Lessons: $100
  • Private 1 to 2 Hours Street Food Tour in Ghana: $100
  • Hands-On Cooking Class With Local Food Tours and Market Tours : $116
  • Flavors of Ghana: Food Tour Experience.: $135
  • Savor & Learn: Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Experience: $179

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.

  • Street food tour Cartagena: $30
  • The best food tour of the old city: $36
  • Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $38
  • Street food tour Cartagena: $40
  • Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $42
  • Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $44
  • Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $54
  • Fenix Beach Island Dinner: $59
  • Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
  • Cartagena Island Dinner (Island of Tierra Bomba): $60
  • Street food tour: $61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Accra $3.07
    Cartagena $19

Tours and Activities in Accra

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:

  • Makola Market Walking Tour: $58
  • Half-Day Private Tour of Nima Market with Pick Up: $65
  • Accra City:Accra city Tour for Culture Seekers (Private: $68
  • Accra City Tour Experience: $70
  • Kwame Nkrumah Museum, Independence Square & More Tour: $70
  • Accra Central: Street Food Walking Tour with Akosua Serwaa: $72
  • Accra City Tour Experience: $75
  • Walking Tour of Accra: $75
  • Experience the History and the Culture Of Accra: $80
  • Experience the Beauty, History and the Culture Of Accra in a Day: $80
  • City Tour with a Local Guide: $80
  • Accra City Tour Experience: $80

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Trendy Cartagena photo/ Video Tour Free: $0.02
  • Shared Tour Cartagena's First Getsemani District Tour: $5.25
  • Shared Tour Gabriel García Marquez in Cartagena: $5.25
  • Shared Complete Tour of Cartagena's Old Walled City: $5.25
  • Shared Most Complete Tour Cartagena's Old City & Getsemani: $5.25
  • Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Shared Tour to San Felipe de Barajas Castle in Cartagena: $6.69
  • Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $8.10
  • Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $8.10
  • Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.10
  • Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Accra $4.40
    Cartagena $8.24

Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena

Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $17
  • Group Night Experience: Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
  • Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
  • Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club) : $39
  • Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $44
  • Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Accra and Cartagena, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. And not only is Accra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Accra is in Africa and Cartagena is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Accra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Accra 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 Cartagena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cartagena than you might in Accra.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Accra Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Accra or Cartagena?

Accra has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Accra and Cartagena, 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.


When is the best time to visit Accra or Cartagena?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Accra or Cartagena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Accra and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Accra year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Accra usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Accra gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Accra is cooler than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Accra averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Accra 25°C (77°F) 
    Cartagena 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Accra or Cartagena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Accra as well as Cartagena. Accra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Accra usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Accra gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Accra is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Accra in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Accra 26°C (79°F) 
    Cartagena 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Accra or Cartagena in the Winter?

Both Cartagena and Accra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Accra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Accra usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Accra gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In January, Accra is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Accra average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Accra 27°C (81°F) 
    Cartagena 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Accra or Cartagena in the Spring?

Both Cartagena and Accra during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Accra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Accra. Accra usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Accra gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Accra is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Accra averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Accra 28°C (82°F) 
    Cartagena 28°C (82°F)

Typical Weather for Cartagena and Accra

Accra Cartagena
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 18 mm (0.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 29°C (84°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 281 mm (11.1 in) 29°C (84°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Jul 25°C (77°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 29°C (84°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)