Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amman or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Cartagena. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Cartagena?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $110Cartagena $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $44. 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 Amman and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Cartagena $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Cartagena $50
Compare Hotels in Amman and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Amman 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: Amman Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Cartagena $7.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer To Dead Sea Hotel: $59
- Airport Transfer to Any Hotel In Amman: $37
- Airport Transfers Upon Arrival to Amman City: $68
- Airport Transfers Upon Arrival to the Dead Sea: $104
- Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $23
- Airport to Dead Sea Transfer (private shuttle): $85
- Amman Airport Luxury Private Transfer To Amman With VIP Meet & Assist Service : $94
- Amman Airport Luxury Transfer To Amman: $31
- Amman Airport Private Departure Transfer: $27
- Amman Airport Private Round-Trip Transfer to Amman: $33
- Amman Airport Private Transfers: $60
- Amman Airport Transfer To Amman: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- luxury private Vehicle, airport/hotel transfer or viceversa: $35
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena APT-HTL(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfers from the Airport to Hotels in Cartagena: $8.10
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $15
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $23
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $16
- Transfer from Hotels to Rafael Nuñez Cartagena Airport: $20
- Transfer High-end - Kia Quoris: $90
- Transfer High-end - Ford Explorer: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Amman 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 dayAmman $34Cartagena $9.17
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $51
- Private Panoramic Amman Tour and Local Lunch or Dinner-Wine Taste: $90
- Private Half Day Jerash Visit & Optional Cooking Class from Amman: $103
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
- Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $109
- Half Day Cooking Class Experience with Amman Panoramic Tour: $113
- Traditional Cooking Class in Amman with Return Hotel Transfers: $114
- Private Food Tour in Amman by Day (inc Citadel & Roman Theatre): $126
- Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $130
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173
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
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $41
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Cooking class, Caribbean lunch at our place: $50
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $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
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Fenix Beach Island Dinner: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Cartagena $20
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- the apple bottom jeans experience 3: $1.14
- Amman Private City Tour: $25
- Amman Shooping Tour: $26
- JR The Wine Experience: $26
- Full Day Amman City Tour: $31
- Downtown Walking tour. History, Food, Culture: $32
- Amman : Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $35
- Private Sightseeing City Tour: $40
- Private Walking Tour in Madaba with Local Guide: $41
- Amman Tour: $44
- Amman : Must-See attractions Private walking tour: $44
- Amman Night Tour, The Most Popular & Underground Places: $48
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
- Playa Blanca Private tour : $148
- Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $39
- Private city tour: $197
- Rosario Islands Full Day Tour: $156
- Walking Tour of Cartagena Including a Colombian Cup of Coffee: $95
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $105
- 2 hrs Tour in Cartagena Bay with Sunset View: $26
- 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $60
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $60
- 2-hour tour in Cartagena Sunset View in party boat: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Cartagena $8.60
Sample the Local Flavors in Amman
Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Amman: $64
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: $18
- Pub Crawl Getsemaní: $18
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $22
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
- Get the Nightlife Vibe & Bar crawl: $54
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $62
- Pub Crawl: $70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Cartagena, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East 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 Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Cartagena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Cartagena?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Amman 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 Amman or Cartagena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Amman or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Amman during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Amman because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Amman usually gets less rain in July than Cartagena. Amman gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Amman. In the summer, Amman often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Amman gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Amman is cooler than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Amman averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAmman 25°C (77°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Amman or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Amman and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Amman year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Amman usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Amman gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Amman, it's very sunny this time of the year. Amman usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Amman gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Amman is cooler than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Amman in October average around 20°C (68°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAmman 20°C (68°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Amman or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Amman as well as Cartagena. Amman attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Amman receives a lot of rain in the winter. Amman usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Amman gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Amman often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Amman gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
In January, Amman is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Amman average around 8°C (46°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAmman 8°C (46°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Amman or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Amman are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Amman throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Amman usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Amman gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Amman. Amman usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Amman gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
Amman is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Amman averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAmman 16°C (61°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Amman
| Amman | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (46°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.