Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Antalya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antalya or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Antalya or Cartagena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Antalya or Cartagena?
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Anzac Day Tours in Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAntalya $147Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Antalya is $147, 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 Antalya and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntalya $55Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntalya $110Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Antalya and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Antalya 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: Antalya Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antalya $110Cartagena $7.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - Economy: $88
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - TOP VIP Minibus: $132
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minibus: $117
- Antalya Airport (AYT) to Turkler Transfer - VIP Minivan: $103
- Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Denizyaka / Gündoğdu / Çolaklı: $76
- Private Transfer From Antalya Airport To Titreyengöl / Sorgun: $91
- AYT - Konyaaltı | Private Transfer Between Antalya Airport: $38
- Adana Airport Transfers to Mersin Hotels: $115
- Adana Airport Transfers to Tarsus city Hotels: $82
- Airport Private Transfer from Antalya to Side/Belek/Kundu: $66
- Alanya City Tour, Boat Trip & Cable Car with Transfer from Side: $63
- Alanya/Mahmutlar: Private Transfer to/from Antalya Airport: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $13
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $29
- Transfer in Private Minivan from City Center - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $20
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $20
- Transfer in Private Minivan Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $18
- Transfer from the airport to hotels in Boquilla: $13
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Antalya or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Antalya 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 dayAntalya $25Cartagena $9.82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Turkish Tastes at Antalya Food Tour: $47
- Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner: $73
- Full day trip to Pamukkale from Side with dinner: $104
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.Antalya $46Cartagena $21
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Antalya Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $3.23
- Bazaar Self-Guided Smartphone App Tour: $6.00
- Antalya Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Antalya Scavenger Hunt And Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.89
- Antalya Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-Guided Audio City Tour on Your Phone: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Night City Tour At Antalya with Cabrio Bus: $12
- Sulu Island and Adrasan Bay: Boat Tour with Lunch: $13
- Full-Day Private Rafting Adventure in Karabük Türkiye: $13
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Beach Buggy ATV Adventure Tour CARTAGENA: $135
- Eco cultural Historical Tour beyond Old City! + Pool: $98
- Exciting Beach Buggy ATV Tour in Cartagena : $165
- Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
- Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $39
- Private Beach Tour in Barú and Optional Bird Aviary: $120
- Private Tour & the best coffee of the world in Cartagena (Also for cruisers): $250
- Private city tour: $197
- Shore excursion Accessible sightseeing tour : $250
- Tour around the Rosario Islands 4 islands: $65
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntalya $20Cartagena $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 Antalya and Cartagena, we can see that Antalya is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antalya is in Europe 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 Antalya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antalya 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 Antalya Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antalya or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Antalya. When comparing the sizes of Antalya 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 Antalya or Cartagena?
Antalya has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Antalya or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Antalya during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Antalya this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In July, Antalya is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Antalya average around 28°C (83°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Antalya. In the summer, Antalya often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Antalya gets 376 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Antalya usually gets less rain in July than Cartagena. Antalya gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAntalya 28°C (83°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Antalya or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Antalya and Cartagena. Many travelers come to Antalya for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Antalya is cooler than Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Antalya averages around 21°C (69°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Antalya, it's very sunny this time of the year. Antalya usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Antalya gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Antalya usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Antalya gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAntalya 21°C (69°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Antalya or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Antalya as well as Cartagena. Many visitors come to Antalya in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the winter, Antalya is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Antalya in January average around 11°C (51°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Antalya often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Antalya gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Antalya receives a lot of rain in the winter. Antalya usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Antalya gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAntalya 11°C (51°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Antalya or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Antalya are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Antalya for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Antalya is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Antalya average around 16°C (62°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Antalya. Antalya usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Antalya gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Antalya usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Antalya gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAntalya 16°C (62°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Antalya
| Antalya | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 13°C (56°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (62°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 227 mm (8.9 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.