Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Granada or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Granada and Cartagena. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Granada or Cartagena?
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGranada $40Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $48. 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 Granada and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGranada $17Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGranada $34Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Granada and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Granada 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: Granada Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Granada $8.57Cartagena $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.81
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.81
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.81
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.81
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.02
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Bilingual Private Transfer In Cartagena : $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Granada 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 dayGranada $14Cartagena $10
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.29
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
- Street food tour: $61
- 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Granada $10Cartagena $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.17
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- Granada Kayak Tour: $30
- Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
- Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $39
- Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
- Granada City Tour: $40
- Granada's City Tour: $40
- Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
- Masaya Night Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
- Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
- City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Totumo Mud Volcano Experience: $0.21
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.45
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.02
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.23
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.52
- Shared Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
- Emerald Museum and Factory Tour: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGranada $7.50Cartagena $9.39
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and Cartagena, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Granada is in Central America 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Cartagena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cartagena than you might in Granada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Granada or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Granada 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 Granada or Cartagena?
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.
Should I visit Granada or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Granada usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. Granada usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Granada gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGranada 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Granada or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Granada as well as Cartagena. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Granada receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Granada usually gets more rain in October than Cartagena. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Granada often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Granada gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
Granada is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGranada 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Granada or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Granada usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Granada. Granada usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Granada gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Granada is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Granada in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGranada 26°C (79°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Granada or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Granada during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Granada usually gets less rain in April than Cartagena. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Granada. In the spring, Granada often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Granada gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
In April, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 29°C (84°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGranada 29°C (84°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Granada
| Granada | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.