Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Genoa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Genoa or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Genoa 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: Genoa or Cartagena?
Genoa
Located on the coast of northwest Italy, Genoa is a port city and capital of the Liguria region. With a long history as a rich and powerful trade center, Genoa's past of many centuries is still visible in its old port, stunning architecture, and charming alleyways. A traveler can spend days walking along seaside villas, admiring towering churches, and shopping the boutiques of the city. Genoa is also the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, featuring what is thought to be his birth home and many other quaint abodes.
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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGenoa €150Cartagena €44
The average daily cost (per person) in Genoa is €150, 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 Genoa and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGenoa €88Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGenoa €176Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Genoa and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Genoa 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: Genoa Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Genoa €8.69Cartagena €6.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Genoa
Also for Genoa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Private Transfer from Genoa to La Spezia by car or van: $254
- From Genoa to Florence Hotels - Private Transfer: $145
- From Genova: Portofino Return Transfer by Open-Top Bus: $64
- Genoa Airport (GOA) to Genoa - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Genoa Airport (GOA) to Genoa - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Genoa Airport (GOA) to Milan - Arrival Private Transfer: $111
- Genoa Airport (GOA) to Milan - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $223
- Genoa Airport (GOA) to Portofino hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
- Genoa Airport Transfers : Genoa City to Genoa Airport GOA in Business Car: $66
- Genoa Private Transfers : Genoa City to Genoa Cruise Port in Minivan: $66
- Genoa airport (GOA) to Savona Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Genoa airport (GOA) to Savona Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $118
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
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $160
- San Diego to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $157
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $156
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $136
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $125
- Full-Day in Isla del Encanto with Lunch and Transfer to the Pier: $114
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG): Transfer to Cartagena: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Genoa or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Genoa 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 dayGenoa €51Cartagena €9.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Genoa
For Genoa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Genoese cooking lesson in the garden with lunch: $68
- Genoa Old town Food Tour: $74
- Itinerant dinner in the old town: $75
- Street Food Tour: $85
- Do Eat Better Experience - Food Tours in Genoa: $86
- Traditional Food Tour: $91
- Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Camogli: $93
- Lunch or dinner and cooking demo at a local home in Savona: $93
- Dining experience with cooking demo and wines in Rapallo: $93
- Traditional Home Cooking Class in Genoa: $93
- Tour of Genoa historic center and wine tasting with dinner: $93
- Small-group Street food tour in Savona: $97
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.Genoa €20Cartagena €20
Tours and Activities in Genoa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Genoa.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Genoa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $7.00
- City Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $7.00
- City Highlights Self-guided Walking Tour: $8.50
- Lighthouse Entrance Ticket: $8.61
- Finance and Nobility: Explore medieval Genoa on a self-guided audio tour: $8.99
- Finance and Nobility Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Historic Guided Tour of Christopher Columbus' House: $11
- The City of Children and Young Museum Entry Ticket: $13
- Guided Tour of Rolli Palaces UNESCO Site, Genoa: $15
- Historic Shops in Tour Through Tradition and Flavours: $15
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 dayGenoa €10Cartagena €8.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Genoa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Genoa:
- Guided Eco Hiking and Sea View Wine Tasting in Portofino Park: $75
- 3 Hour Pesto Making and Wine Tasting Activity in Campetto Genoa: $105
- CAMOGLI: PRIVATE Ligurian Wine Tasting Experience and walking on National Park: $126
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 Genoa and Cartagena, we can see that Genoa is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Genoa 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 Genoa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Genoa 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 Genoa Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Genoa or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Genoa. When comparing the sizes of Genoa 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 Genoa or Cartagena?
Genoa 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 Genoa or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Genoa as well as Cartagena. Most visitors come to Genoa for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In July, Genoa is generally cooler than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Genoa average around 25°C (76°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Genoa this time of the year. In the summer, Genoa often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Genoa gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Genoa usually gets less rain in July than Cartagena. Genoa gets 12 mm (0.5 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 JulyGenoa 25°C (76°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Genoa or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Genoa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Genoa because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Genoa is cooler than Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Genoa averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Genoa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during autumn. Genoa gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In October, Genoa usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Genoa gets 97 mm (3.8 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 OctoberGenoa 19°C (66°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Genoa or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Genoa during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Genoa this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the winter, Genoa is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Genoa in January average around 11°C (51°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Genoa often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Genoa gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Genoa usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Genoa gets 71 mm (2.8 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 JanuaryGenoa 11°C (51°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Genoa or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Genoa and Cartagena. Many travelers come to Genoa for the beaches and the natural beauty. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Genoa is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Genoa average around 15°C (58°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. Genoa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during spring. Genoa gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Genoa usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Genoa gets 65 mm (2.6 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 AprilGenoa 15°C (58°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Genoa
| Genoa | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (58°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 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.