Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo 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.
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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 Tamarindo is $121. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo:
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo.
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 Tamarindo are as follows:
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo is in Central 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Cartagena gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Cartagena is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The autumn brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Tamarindo. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Tamarindo. Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Cartagena usually gets less rain in October than Tamarindo. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Cartagena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. Cartagena gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Cartagena is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cartagena in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Both Tamarindo and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Cartagena usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. Cartagena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo during winter. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Both Tamarindo and Cartagena during the spring 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 Tamarindo year-round.
Cartagena usually gets less rain in April than Tamarindo. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Tamarindo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cartagena. In the spring, Cartagena often gets less sunshine than Tamarindo. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
Cartagena is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Cartagena | Tamarindo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |