Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Accra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAccra $37Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Accra is $37, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $48. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAccra $19Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAccra $38Cartagena $54
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Accra $16Cartagena $7.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
- Accra Airport Hotel City Transfers: $58
- Arrival Transfer From Accra Airport To Hotel: $100
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $130
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $115
- Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.97
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.97
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.97
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.97
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.19
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $10
- Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $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
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Food Meals for one dayAccra $9.28Cartagena $9.82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
- Private Ghanaian Cuisine Cooking Class: $40
- Local Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra to help support wellness community center: $45
- Cooking Class: $75
- Flavors of Ghana: Food Tour Experience.: $78
- Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Lessons: $80
- Home Cooking Class by Auntie K: $89
- Cooking Class with Auntie KK in Osu: $89
- Ghanaian Cooking Class Authentic Tour: $100
- Savor & Learn: Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Experience: $128
- Quad Biking, Landmark Tours and Dinner in Aburi: $204
- Ghanaian Local Foods Cooking Class: $216
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Taste Cartagena Food tour: $40
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $44
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $50
- Cooking Class: Street food & Mojito making: $50
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $58
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Street food tour: $61
- 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Accra $3.32Cartagena $21
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
- Quabus Accra City Tour : $20
- Makola Market Walking Tour: $41
- Makola Market Walking Tour: $58
- 1 Day Accra City Tour: $71
- Accra Central: Street Food Walking Tour with Akosua Serwaa: $72
- Walking Tour of Accra: $75
- Accra City Tour Experience: $75
- Experience Ghana in a Tailored Accra City Tour.: $79
- Accra Detailed City Tour: $80
- Experience the Beauty, History and the Culture Of Accra in a Day: $80
- Accra City Tour Experience: $80
- The Agbogbloshie (Accra E-waste and Recycling experience) Private Tour: $85
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.35
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.50
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.42
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.58
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAccra $4.76Cartagena $9.21
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: $19
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $72
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).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAccra 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).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAccra 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).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAccra 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).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAccra 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) |
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.