Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena or Saint John?
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 Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or Saint John?
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.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCartagena $48Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Saint John? 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.Cartagena $7.64Saint John $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): $29
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $128
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $21
- Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $23
- Airport Transfer Hotel: $26
- Airport Transfers Cartagena: $37
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $129
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $10Saint John $56
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: $43
- 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
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Street food tour: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cartagena $22Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Totumo Mud Volcano Experience: $0.21
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.45
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.02
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.23
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.52
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego Neighborhood Tour: $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.39Saint John $44
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: $18
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cartagena or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Cartagena or Saint John in the Summer?
Both Saint John and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Saint John. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 29°C (84°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCartagena 29°C (84°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Saint John 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 Saint John. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Cartagena is around the same temperature as Saint John in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCartagena 27°C (81°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Saint John in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Saint John. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Cartagena is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cartagena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCartagena 27°C (81°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Saint John. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCartagena 28°C (82°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Cartagena
| Cartagena | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.