Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Dublin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dublin or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dublin or Cartagena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dublin or Cartagena?
Dublin
Dublin is the vibrant and fun capital city of Ireland and home to over a third of the country's population. There are almost 2 million people in the metropolitan area. It's also the most common entry point into the country for visitors. Once you arrive, its a good idea to head over to the main tourist office in St. Andrew's Church off Grafton Street. They can give you maps and information to make sure your trip is efficient and fun. Many people enjoy seeing what remains of the Georgian architecture throughout the city. Much of the city is also modernist in style with many blocks made up of offices.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Ireland, The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDublin €143Cartagena €45
The average daily cost (per person) in Dublin is €143, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €45. 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 Dublin and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDublin €68Cartagena €25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDublin €136Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Dublin and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Dublin or Cartagena? 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: Dublin Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dublin €19Cartagena €7.03
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dublin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Dublin:
-
Rental Car for a Day€15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dublin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dublin:
- Dublin Airport Or Dublin City To Martinstown House Private Chauffeur Transfer: $287
- 4 to 8 People Private Transfer from Dublin Airport to City Centre: $76
- Arrival Transfer Dublin Airport to Dublin City by Van or Minibus: $109
- Arrival Transfer: Dublin Airport DUB to Dublin in Business Car: $103
- Belfast | Coach transfer from / to Dublin: $13
- Chauffeur Luxury Driver Private Transfer: $142
- Child Friendly | Dublin Airport Transfer: $170
- Collon House & Garden To Dublin Airport Or City Private Chauffeur Transfer : $298
- Departure Transfer Dublin to Dublin Airport by Van or Minibus: $109
- Departure Transfer: Dublin to Dublin Airport DUB in Luxury Van: $111
- Dublin Airport & City Transfers : $182
- Dublin Airport Or Dublin City To Bellinter House Private Chauffeur Transfer: $293
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Dublin or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Dublin 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
-
Food Meals for one dayDublin €49Cartagena €9.21
Typical Food Prices in Dublin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dublin:
-
Lunch Lynam's Pub€3.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dublin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dublin.
- Discover the Flavors of Dublin on a Guided Street Food Tour: $30
- Dublin 3-Course Dinner and Live Shows at The Irish House Party: $31
- No Diet Club - Best Food Tour in Dublin !: $59
- Dublin Irish Night Show, Dance and Traditional 3-Course Dinner: $60
- NO DIET CLUB - Best Food Tour in Dublin !: $62
- Grand Canal Cruise with Dinner: $72
- Delicious Walking Food Tour: $81
- Delicious Dublin Food Tour: $82
- Dublin Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $87
- Howth Coastal Craft Beer and Seafood Tour: $96
- Bread, Beer & Bia: Irish Cooking Class & Dinner in Dublin: $99
- Irish Craic & Cuisine: Cooking Class & Dinner in Central Dublin: $106
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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dublin €25Cartagena €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dublin
Here are a few typical costs in Dublin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Wild Wicklow Tour€26
-
Guinness Brewery for Two€27
-
St Pauls Cathedral€4.50
-
Dublin Writer's Museum€6.30
Tours and Activities in Dublin
Here are a few actual costs in Dublin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Self Guided Tours Dublin With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Dublin Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.37
- Retracing Viking Origins on a Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.63
- Dublin city tour: audio guide in your smartphone: $5.38
- Dublin city tour: audio guide for smartphone in French: $5.38
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Dublin: $5.46
- Temple Bar Self-Guided Must-See Highlights Tour: $6.35
- City Highlights Self-guided Walking Tour: $6.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDublin €17Cartagena €8.63
Sample the Local Flavors in Dublin
Also in Dublin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Authentic Brewery Tour: $11
- Generation Pub Crawl: $15
- Dublin Epic Pub Crawl: Experience Dublin's pubs and nightlife: $15
- "Dublin Delight Pub Expedition" Pub Crawl: $16
- The Dublin Liberties Distillery: Tour with Whiskey Tasting: $18
- The Dublin Liberties Distillery - Guided Tour and Whiskey Tasting: $19
- Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $22
- Exclusive Brewery Tour and Tasting at Kildare Brewing Co, Sallins: $22
- Skip the Line: Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour and Tasting in Dublin Ticket: $22
- The Black Experience Pub Tour: $22
- City Pub Crawl Experience: $24
- Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery Experience: $24
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dublin and Cartagena, we can see that Dublin is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dublin is in Europe and Cartagena is in South 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 Dublin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dublin 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 Dublin Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dublin or Cartagena?
Dublin has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Dublin and Cartagena, 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 Dublin or Cartagena?
Dublin 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 Dublin or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Dublin are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Dublin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Dublin is much colder than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Dublin averages around 16°C (60°F) in July, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Dublin usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Dublin gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Dublin usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Dublin gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyDublin 16°C (60°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Dublin or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Dublin during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Dublin because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the autumn, Dublin is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dublin in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Dublin often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Dublin gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dublin usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Dublin gets 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDublin 11°C (52°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dublin or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dublin and Cartagena. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dublin this time of year. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Dublin is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Dublin average around 6°C (42°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. Dublin usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Dublin gets 56 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Dublin usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Dublin gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDublin 6°C (42°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dublin or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Dublin as well as Cartagena. Many travelers come to Dublin for the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Dublin is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Dublin averages around 8°C (47°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the spring, Dublin often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Dublin gets 157 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
Dublin usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Dublin gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilDublin 8°C (47°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Dublin
| Dublin | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (42°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (47°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (57°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (60°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (56°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 65 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (44°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.