Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Auckland?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Auckland or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Auckland and Cartagena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Auckland or Cartagena?
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
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 New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAuckland $141Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Auckland is $141, 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 Auckland and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAuckland $89Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAuckland $178Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Auckland and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Auckland 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: Auckland Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Auckland $16Cartagena $7.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.62
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Auckland Airport Private Transfer: $81
- Airport Transfer From Auckland Airport To Auckland City: $121
- Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Business Car: $83
- Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Luxury Van: $110
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Luxury Van: $108
- Auckland Airport & Ground Transfers - Private Luxury Car/ Van.: $118
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
- Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
- Auckland Airport (AKL): Private Transfer to Downtown hotels: $353
- Auckland Airport (AKL): Transfer to North Shore hotels: $327
- Auckland Airport Arrival Transfer to North Shore or Henderson: $121
- Auckland Airport Private Pickup / Transfer: $84
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 Auckland or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Auckland 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 dayAuckland $27Cartagena $9.82
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $90
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $90
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $105
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.Auckland $28Cartagena $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$33
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$121
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Explore Auckland's Sailing Spirit: In-App Audio Tour: $5.32
- Auckland Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- Tree Heart Park Adventure Clue Trail Family Package: $15
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $17
- Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Entry Ticket: $17
- Vibrosaun Therapy Experience: $18
- Auckland Sky Tower General Admission Ticket : $24
- Sky Tower General Admission Ticket: $25
- Hologate Virtual Reality Gaming Experience: $29
- The Lagoon Lights Family Experience at Tree Heart Park: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket: $33
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 dayAuckland $14Cartagena $9.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Wine Tour Tasting Wines on Waiheke: $93
- Muriwai Scenic Wine Tour from Auckland: $106
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $132
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $150
- Waiheke Island: Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch: $150
- From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $153
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $171
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch: $172
- Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland: $178
- Auckland Coastal Experience - Small Group City & Beach Tour Incl. Wine Tasting: $196
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 Auckland and Cartagena, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Auckland is in Pacific 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Auckland Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Auckland or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Auckland. When comparing the sizes of Auckland 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 Auckland or Cartagena?
Auckland 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 Auckland or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Auckland during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Auckland because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Auckland is cooler than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in July.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Auckland. In the summer, Auckland often gets more sunshine than Cartagenain July. Auckland gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Auckland usually gets more rain in January than Cartagenain July. Auckland gets 67 mm (2.6 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 January and JulyAuckland 20°C (68°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Auckland and Cartagena. The hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Auckland this time of year. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Auckland is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Auckland in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Auckland usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Auckland gets 162 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 April, Auckland usually receives less rain than Cartagenain October. Auckland gets 95 mm (3.7 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 April and OctoberAuckland 16°C (61°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Auckland as well as Cartagena. Many travelers come to Auckland for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In July, Auckland is generally much colder than Cartagenain January. Daily temperatures in Auckland average around 11°C (52°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Auckland often gets less sunshine than Cartagenain January. Auckland gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Auckland receives a lot of rain in the winter. Auckland usually gets more rain in July than Cartagenain January. Auckland gets 135 mm (5.3 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 July and JanuaryAuckland 11°C (52°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Auckland or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Auckland are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Auckland in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Auckland is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Auckland averages around 14°C (58°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Auckland usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Auckland gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Auckland usually receives more rain than Cartagenain April. Auckland gets 83 mm (3.3 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 October and AprilAuckland 14°C (58°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Auckland
| Auckland | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (53°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.