Which place is cheaper, Miami or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena or Miami?
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 Cartagena and Miami can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or Miami?
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.
Miami
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCartagena $48Miami $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Miami is $206. 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 Cartagena and Miami in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27Miami $132
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54Miami $264
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Miami
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Miami? 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 and Miami Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.49Miami $38
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): $29
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $160
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $10
- Airport Hotel Transfer: $19
- Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $23
- Airport Transfer Hotel: $35
- Airport Transfers Cartagena: $38
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $92
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
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Car Rental for a Day$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
- Miami Airport and Port of Miami transfers, Limo Service in Miami: $120
- Door to Door Shuttle Transfer from Miami to Orlando: $80
- Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Experience with roundtrip transfer: $66
- Everglades National Park & Airboat tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- From Miami - Private Transfer from Miami Hotels to Airport: $265
- From Miami Airport - Private Transfer to Hotels and Homes: $265
- From Miami Beach: Roundtrip Bimini Ferry and Hotel Transfers: $289
- From Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer: $57
- From Everglades Wildlife Show, Airboat & Bus Transfer: $40
- MIA: Transfer to Miami Beach, Aventura, Coral Gables: $150
- Miami & Key West: One-Way Transfer by Motor Coach Bus: $62
- Miami Int'l Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer to Miami Port: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Miami?
Prices for flights to both Miami and Cartagena 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 dayCartagena $9.82Miami $41
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
Typical Food Prices in Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
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Lunch with Drinks (for 2)$45
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David's Cafe Lunch (for 1)$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
- The Ultimate Little Havana Food Tour: $64
- Wynwood Street Art, Culture, Donuts & Walking Food Tour: $65
- South Beach Food Tour: $70
- A Taste of South Beach Food Tour: $70
- Little Havana Walking Food Tour: $75
- South Beach Miami Food & Fun Art Deco Food Tour : $79
- Wynwood Walls Art District Food Tour: $80
- Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show: $98
- Mango's Dinner and Show Ticket: $98
- Miami Dinner Party w/ Night Club Experience: $100
- Guided Small Group Little Havana Food Tour: $124
- Ukrainian cooking class in Miami: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cartagena $21Miami $31
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
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Haunted a Smartphone Audio Driving Tour : $5.94
- Little Havana Smartphone guided Audio App Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
- Miami Beach: Self-Guided Walking Tour With Audio Guide: $7.30
- Haunted Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $7.30
- Private Sightseeing Audio Walking Tour in Miami Beach: $7.99
- Sights of Downtown a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.99
- Luggage Storage and Cruise Lounge Area: $8.00
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Miami: $8.72
- Miami Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Miami Marlins Baseball Game Ticket at loandepot Park: $9.25
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Little Havana: $10
- Audio Tour of Downtown, South Beach, and Wynwood: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.21Miami $22
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
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Evening at a Bar$32
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
- Miami Bar Crawl: $25
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Small-Group Brewery Golf Cart Tour of Wynwood with a Local Guide: $59
- Wynwood Graffiti Brewery Golf Cart Tour: $63
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Party Bike Bar Crawl: $64
- Wynwood Bar Crawl: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Miami, we can see that Miami is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cartagena is in South America and Miami is in North 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami 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 Cartagena Expensive? and Is Miami Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cartagena or Miami?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena and Miami, 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 Cartagena or Miami?
Miami 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 Cartagena or Miami in the Summer?
Both Miami and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year. Also, the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Miami this time of year.
In July, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as Miami. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 29°C (84°F), and Miami fluctuates around 83°F (28°C).
It's quite sunny in Miami. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually receives less sunshine than Miami during summer. Cartagena gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Miami receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Miami. In July, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Miami. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Miami receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCartagena 29°C (84°F)Miami 83°F (28°C)
Should I visit Cartagena or Miami in the Autumn?
Both Miami and Cartagena during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Miami for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Cartagena is around the same temperature as Miami in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Miami fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In Miami, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Cartagena often gets less sunshine than Miami. Cartagena gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Miami receives 275 hours of full sun.
Miami gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Miami. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Miami receives 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCartagena 27°C (81°F)Miami 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Cartagena or Miami in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Miami. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Miami in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Cartagena is a little warmer than Miami. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cartagena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Miami averages at about 67°F (20°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Miami this time of the year. In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Miami during winter. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Miami receives 243 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Miami. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Miami receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCartagena 27°C (81°F)Miami 67°F (20°C)
Should I visit Cartagena or Miami in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Miami. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Miami for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Cartagena is generally a little warmer than Miami. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 28°C (82°F), and Miami fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Miami. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In the spring, Cartagena often gets less sunshine than Miami. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Miami receives 300 hours of full sun.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in April than Miami. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Miami receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCartagena 28°C (82°F)Miami 75°F (24°C)
Typical Weather for Miami and Cartagena
| Cartagena | Miami | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.2 inches (55 mm) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 6.4 inches (162 mm) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 81°F (27°C) | 9.4 inches (238 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 83°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 7.6 inches (194 mm) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
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.