Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena or San Juan?
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 San Juan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
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 $48San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in San Juan 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or San Juan? 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 San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.64San Juan $14
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
- San Diego to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $156
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $153
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $129
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $128
- Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG): Transfer to Cartagena: $108
- Arrival Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena by MiniSuv: $106
- Full-Day Beach at the Bora Bora Club with Transfer (Adults only): $105
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $10San Juan $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cartagena $22San Juan $49
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
- Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $39
- Private Beach Tour in Barú and Optional Bird Aviary: $120
- Private Tour & the best coffee of the world in Cartagena (Also for cruisers): $250
- Private city tour: $197
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- "Luxury Day in Tierra Bomba Exclusive Tour to the best Beach Club": $154
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $105
- 2 Hour Panoramic tour for cruise ship passengers: $61
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.39San Juan $12
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
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 San Juan 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cartagena or San Juan?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Cartagena and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Cartagena or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Cartagena during the summer 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 San Juan year-round.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in July than San Juan. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cartagena. In the summer, Cartagena often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Cartagena gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 29°C (84°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCartagena 29°C (84°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cartagena usually receives more rain than San Juan. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Cartagena usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Cartagena gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cartagena is around the same temperature as San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCartagena 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as San Juan. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In the winter, Cartagena often gets more sunshine than San Juan. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Cartagena is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cartagena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCartagena 27°C (81°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Cartagena usually receives less rain than San Juan. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 28°C (82°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCartagena 28°C (82°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Cartagena
| Cartagena | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.