Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Frankfurt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Frankfurt or Cartagena?
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 Frankfurt and Cartagena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Frankfurt or Cartagena?
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the financial and business hub of Germany. It houses the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange, and often plays host to trade shows and business fairs. It has the country's most modern skyline and the largest airport. It is also a transportation hub for Germany with many important train lines passing through. The city itself is situated on the River Main. Some of the most important sights are along the river near Romer Square and include museums and monuments. This area pulls in millions of tourists every year. Although many sights are clustered in this area, it's important to head into more off the beaten path areas that can be enjoyable to explore. These areas offer glimpses into daily life in Frankfurt.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFrankfurt €122Cartagena €44
The average daily cost (per person) in Frankfurt is €122, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €44. 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 Frankfurt and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFrankfurt €58Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFrankfurt €116Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Frankfurt and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Frankfurt 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Frankfurt €25Cartagena €6.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Frankfurt
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Frankfurt:
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Car Rental€50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Frankfurt
Also for Frankfurt, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by business car: $54
- Arrival Private Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Arrival Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt in Car: $70
- Arrival Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt in Van: $76
- BaronFleet Frankfurt- Arrival & Departure Airport Transfers: $132
- Departure Private Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Departure Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Van: $81
- Departure Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA in Car: $70
- Departure Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA in Van: $76
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Baden-Baden Thermal - Arrival Transfer: $142
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $13
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $29
- Transfer in Private Minivan from City Center - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $20
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $20
- Transfer in Private Minivan Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $18
- Transfer from the airport to hotels in Boquilla: $13
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Frankfurt or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Frankfurt 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 dayFrankfurt €41Cartagena €9.13
Typical Food Prices in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Soda€2.00
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Bagel Sandwich and Latte€7.00
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Ham & Cheese Sandwich and Coffee€6.00
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Sandwich and Cola€7.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sharing Plate Food Tour In Frankfurt: $65
- FOOD TOUR WITH 3-4 LOCAL INSIDER FOODSPOTS: $81
- FOOD TOUR TO 3-4 LOCAL FOODSPOTS: $81
- Eltz Castle Small-Group Tour from Frankfurt with Dinner: $282
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Frankfurt €36Cartagena €20
Tours and Activities in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Selfguided Audiotour "Frankfurt Old Town": $3.22
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.84
- Frankfurt Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $7.00
- Struwwelpeter Museum Entry Ticket w/Audio Guide: $7.53
- Old Town Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.99
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour by Smartphone: $7.99
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.07
- Historisches Museum Entry Ticket: $8.61
- Discover Frankfurt's Heritage: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
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
- Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
- 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
- Shore excursion Accessible sightseeing tour : $250
- Tour around the Rosario Islands 4 islands: $65
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFrankfurt €30Cartagena €8.56
Typical Alcohol Prices in Frankfurt
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Frankfurt:
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Becks Beer€2.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Frankfurt
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Frankfurt:
- Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $22
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $34
- Full Day Private Rhine Valley Wine Tour Experience from Frankfurt: $280
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $282
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $286
- Guided Walk Tour With Apple Wine Tasting: $336
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $404
- Private Premium Pub Crawl Tour: $517
- Private Rhine Valley tour with river cruise & wine tasting: $752
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 Frankfurt and Cartagena, we can see that Frankfurt is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Frankfurt. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt or Cartagena?
Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Frankfurt during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In July, Frankfurt is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 19°C (67°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Frankfurt. In the summer, Frankfurt often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Frankfurt usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cartagena. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFrankfurt 19°C (67°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Cartagena. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Frankfurt is much colder than Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFrankfurt 11°C (51°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Cartagena. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Frankfurt. In the winter, Frankfurt is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Frankfurt in January average around 1°C (34°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Frankfurt usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFrankfurt 1°C (34°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the spring for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Frankfurt is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 10°C (50°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Frankfurt usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFrankfurt 10°C (50°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Frankfurt
| Frankfurt | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (34°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.