Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Puerto Vallarta can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Puerto Vallarta remains a popular tourist destination with Americans, particularly during spring break when students flock to the area. The area is quite beautiful and has many gorgeous beaches, interesting jungles and waterfalls nearby, and no shortage of luxury resorts and four star restaurants. Many of the locals speak English and are friendly and open to helping tourists with directions or general information. Puerto Vallarta's popularity means that its prices are some of the highest in Mexico, particularly during holidays when the area can get quite crowded.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $115. 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 Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Puerto Vallarta? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Puerto Vallarta:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta 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 Puerto Vallarta 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 Puerto Vallarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Vallarta 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 Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena and Puerto Vallarta, 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.