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

Should you visit Brasilia 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 Brasilia and Cartagena can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Brasilia or Cartagena?

Brasilia

The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Brasilia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Brasilia is $85, 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 Brasilia and Cartagena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Brasilia $36
    Cartagena $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Brasilia $72
    Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Brasilia and Cartagena

Looking for a hotel in Brasilia 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 Brasilia


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: Brasilia Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Brasilia $22
    Cartagena $7.49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

  • Private Transfer from Bocagrande to Port of Cartagena: $25
  • 15. Transfer to SANTA MARTA from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $290
  • 18.Transfer (Rafael N-Hotel Decameron Baru Airport) or vice versa: $90
  • 2. Transfer from the Airport to the Cartagena Hotel (or vice versa): $26
  • 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
  • 6.Transfer (Airport-Manzanillo KARIBANA-ESTELAR) Or Vice Versa: $40
  • 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $160
  • Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $21
  • Airport Transfers Cartagena: $38
  • Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $93
  • Arrival Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena by MiniSuv: $106
  • Baru: Rafael Nunez International Airport Private Transfer: $86

Is it cheaper to fly into Brasilia or Cartagena?

Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Brasilia 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
    Brasilia $33
    Cartagena $9.82

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

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

  • Street Food Tour with Lunch at Quaint Restaurant: $20
  • Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
  • Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $44
  • 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
  • Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
  • Cartagena Island Dinner (Island of Tierra Bomba): $60
  • Flavors of Colombia - Cartagena Street Food Tour: $60
  • Street food tour: $61
  • Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Brasilia $20
    Cartagena $21

Tours and Activities in Brasilia

Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Brasilia Tour: $52

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
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
  • Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.80
  • Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. : $10
  • Emerald Museum and Factory Tour: $10
  • Historic Free Tour Slavery and Gethsemane Heritage: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part I: $10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Brasilia $15
    Cartagena $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 and Complimentary Drinks: $18
  • Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $20
  • Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $20
  • Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
  • Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $67
  • Pub Crawl: $70


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


Which is Bigger, Brasilia or Cartagena?

Brasilia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Brasilia 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.