Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Buzios or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or Cartagena?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $77Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, 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 Buzios and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Cartagena $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $28
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
- Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $241
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $99
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $108
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $36
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $40
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- 15. Transfer to SANTA MARTA from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $290
- Cartagena to Santa Marta Private Transfer Service: $268
- Cartagena to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $265
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $159
- San Diego to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $155
- Departure Private Transfer Cartagena City to Cartagena Airport CTG by Minibus: $129
- Full-Day in Isla del Encanto with Lunch and Transfer to the Pier: $114
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG): Transfer to Cartagena: $107
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $93
- Playa Blanca Round-Trip Transfer: $91
- Cartagena International Airport - Private Transfer From or To Cartagena City: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $24Cartagena $10
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
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $45
- 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
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Street food tour: $61
- Dinner on a boat at Cartagena Bay: $68
- Dinner cruise on Cartagena's bay with Sibarita Master: $70
- Street Food Tour of Cartagena: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27Cartagena $22
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $29
- Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $29
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
- 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $35
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $37
- From Buzios To Arraial With Photos On A Private Tour!: $50
- Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51
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
- Private Beach Tour in Barú and Optional Bird Aviary: $120
- Rosario Islands Full Day Tour: $156
- Walking Tour of Cartagena Including a Colombian Cup of Coffee: $95
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
- 2 and a half hour Chiva Disco and Rumba Tour: $14
- 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $90
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $52
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Cartagena $9.39
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 Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $20
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $45
- Pub Crawl: $70
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $73
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Cartagena, we can see that Buzios 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios 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 Buzios Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.
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.