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

Should you visit Antananarivo or Cartagena?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Antananarivo and Cartagena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Antananarivo or Cartagena?

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

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 Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Antananarivo?

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 Antananarivo is $91, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $50. 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 Antananarivo and Cartagena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antananarivo $29
    Cartagena $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antananarivo $58
    Cartagena $50
Compare Hotels in Antananarivo and Cartagena

Looking for a hotel in Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo


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: Antananarivo Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antananarivo $14
    Cartagena $6.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Cheap Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in Antananarivo: $17
  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

  • Airport Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $7.00
  • Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $8.57
  • Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $8.57
  • Transfer airport - old city (walled city /center): $8.79
  • Transfer from Cartagena hotels to the airport: $9.64
  • Airport Transfer to Cartagena Hotels: $9.64
  • Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $9.64
  • Cartagena Private Transfer from City Center to Airport (CTG): $11
  • Cartagena Private Airport Transfer (CTG) to City Center: $11
  • Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
  • Private Transfer from Terminal to Hotel in Cartagena: $11
  • transfer Airport to any Hotels in Bocagrande: $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Antananarivo or Cartagena?

Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Antananarivo 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
    Antananarivo $49
    Cartagena $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

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

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

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
  • Food Tour, History & Coffee Experience: $40
  • Street food tour Cartagena: $40
  • Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $43
  • Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $44
  • Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
  • Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $56
  • Fenix Beach Island Dinner: $60
  • Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
  • Cartagena Historical Photographic and Street Food Tour: $60
  • White night boat tour with dinner and open bar: $61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antananarivo $24
    Cartagena $20

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $25
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $37
  • Guided Tour and sunset in queen's palace: $66
  • Private Tour Through the Wildlife of Madagascar and the Kingdom of Rova: $144
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $151
  • 4-Hours Night Tour of Antananarivo: $173
  • Madagascar: Customizable Tour with Car Rental Antananarivo: $206
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $214
  • Lemurs Park & City Tour: $225

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
  • Tour Compartido de Gabriel García Marquez en Cartagena: $8.77
  • Shared Old Cartagena & Getsemani Tour with Wireless System: $8.77
  • Shared Cartagena Old City Tour with Wireless Audio System: $8.77
  • CITY TOUR OVERVIEW of the city Boots castle chiva: $8.77
  • Shared Getsemani Art District Tour with Wireless Live System: $8.77
  • Tour Compartido al Castillo San Felipe de Barajas Cartagena: $8.77
  • Shared Walking Tour of the Colonial Old Town: $9.74
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part I: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. : $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antananarivo $9.48
    Cartagena $8.49

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
  • Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $20
  • Getsemaní Pub Crawl with Shots and Dance Class: $22
  • Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $23
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
  • Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
  • Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club) : $50
  • Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $60
  • Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $61
  • Pub Crawl: $70


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antananarivo and Cartagena, we can see that Antananarivo is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antananarivo 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 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 Antananarivo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Antananarivo or Cartagena?

Antananarivo has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Antananarivo 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.