Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Belfast?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Belfast or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast 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: Belfast or Cartagena?
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the second largest city on the island of Ireland after Dublin. It has a population of about 270,000 and almost 500,000 in the metropolitan area. It's located on the mouth of the River Lagan and is set between many low hills that rise up around it.
One of the most famous, and tragic times in Belfast's history is referred to as "The Troubles." During this time, between 1969 and 1997, there were many bomb and gun attacks throughout the city. This left many areas as essentially no-go zones. Neighborhoods became completely lawless do to the lack of security and the damage is still visible today in some areas. In 1998 the Good Friday Agreement was signed and much of the politically motivated violence ended. The city actually received praise recently as the safest city in the UK based on crime rate. Tourism is growing and many visitors enjoy seeing this less popular travel destination. The city has a lot of character and will give you an interesting take on Irish and British history.
Belfast has a temperate climate and temperature and precipitation have little variation throughout the year. The climate is influenced by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, making it warmer than many cities that are found at the same latitude. Rain is common with precipitation falling an average of 157 days a year. Snow is much less common, although it does happen about ten days a year. The warmest days during the summer may reach a temperature around 25 degrees Celsius and the coldest days have lows that drop just below freezing.
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 Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelfast £133Cartagena £37
The average daily cost (per person) in Belfast is £133, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is £37. 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 Belfast and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelfast £68Cartagena £21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelfast £136Cartagena £42
Compare Hotels in Belfast and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Belfast 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: Belfast Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belfast £14Cartagena £5.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belfast
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belfast:
- Arrival Private Transfer Belfast Airport BHD or BFS to Belfast by Business Car: $95
- Arrival Private Transfer Belfast Airport BHD or BFS to Belfast by Luxury Van: $106
- Belfast Accommodation to Belfast City Airport (BHD) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Bangor Accommodation - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $54
- Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Belfast Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Belfast Accommodation - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $46
- Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Holywood Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Lisburn Accommodation - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $55
- Belfast City Airport BHD Executive transfer to Belfast 1-4 people: $58
- Belfast City to Belfast International Airport (BFS) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Belfast International Airport (BFS) to Lisburn City - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Departure Private Transfer Belfast to Belfast Airport BHD or BFS by Business Car: $91
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 Belfast or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Belfast 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 dayBelfast £51Cartagena £7.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belfast
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belfast.
- Guided Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $82
- Belfast Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $108
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.Belfast £18Cartagena £17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Belfast
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Belfast are as follows:
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Movie Tickets£8.00
Tours and Activities in Belfast
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belfast are as follows:
- Belfast’s Titanic Quarter: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Belfast's Iconic Sites: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.47
- Museum Ticket: $6.93
- Hillsborough Castle Gardens Entrance Ticket: $13
- If Buildings Could Talk Tour Belfast: $15
- If Buildings Could Talk Tour: $15
- Crumlin Road Gaol Experience: $18
- 2.5-Hour Street Murals Tour in Spanish: $19
- Belfast Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK: $19
- Belfast Murals Political Tour in Spanish: $19
- Line of Duty Guided Walking Tour: $21
- Belfast Line of Duty Walking Tour: $22
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 dayBelfast £7.86Cartagena £7.24
Sample the Local Flavors in Belfast
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Belfast:
- Pub Crawl and Bar Walking Tour with Two Drinks: $15
- Explore & Taste: Distillery Tour at Titanic Distillers: $32
- Belfast Giant's Causeway and Titanic Distillery Whiskey Tour: $69
- VIP Skip-the Line Titanic Museum and Distillery Tasting Tour: $119
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 Belfast and Cartagena, we can see that Belfast is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belfast 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 Belfast would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belfast 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 Belfast Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belfast or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Belfast 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 Belfast or Cartagena?
Belfast 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 Belfast or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Belfast and Cartagena. Most visitors come to Belfast for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Belfast is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Belfast in July average around 15°C (59°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Belfast gets 151 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Belfast usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Belfast gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBelfast 15°C (59°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Belfast or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Belfast as well as Cartagena. The autumn months attract visitors to Belfast because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In October, Belfast is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Belfast average around 9°C (48°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Belfast gets 92 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Belfast usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Belfast gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBelfast 9°C (48°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Belfast or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Belfast are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Belfast this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Belfast in the winter. Belfast is much colder than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in Belfast averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Belfast usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Belfast gets 50 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Belfast usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Belfast gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBelfast 4°C (39°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Belfast or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Belfast during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Belfast for the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the spring, Belfast is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Belfast in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Belfast often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Belfast gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
Belfast usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Belfast gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBelfast 8°C (46°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Belfast
| Belfast | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (48°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.