Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hanoi or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hanoi and Cartagena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Hanoi or Cartagena?
Hanoi
Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.
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 Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHanoi $48Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $48, 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 Hanoi and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHanoi $25Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHanoi $50Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi 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: Hanoi Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hanoi $6.79Cartagena $7.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
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Taxi to Bus Station$1.18
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Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.15
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Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.39
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Short Taxi Ride$1.34
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Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- ( Deluxe & Small Group ) Bai Dinh Trang An Mua Cave Tour with Limousine Transfer: $54
- 1 Day Halong Cruise Tour with Transfer and early return to Hanoi: $24
- 1-Way Transfer between Hanoi and Ha Long via Limousine Bus: $22
- 2 Days 1 night Ba Be Lake BEST ADVENTURE: transfer,homestay,boat,kayak,swim,cave: $153
- 2 Days Halong Bay With Budget Cruise - Including Transfer From Hanoi: $148
- 2-Day Adenture Pu Luong Motorbike Tour with Transfer from HANOI : $125
- 2-Day Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay With Transfer: $190
- 2-Day In Halong Bay Cruise With Transfer From Hanoi: $180
- 2-Day Ninh Binh & Halong Bay With Transfer: $210
- 2-day Ha Long Bay Cruise included Transfer, Kayking and Swimming: $180
- 25 Minutes Scenic Halong Seaplane from Hanoi Transfer Expressway: $280
- 3-Day Halong Bay Cruise with Round-trip Transfer From Hanoi: $285
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 Hanoi or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Hanoi 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 dayHanoi $13Cartagena $9.82
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
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High End Dinner (for Two)$11
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.33
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Bowl of Pho$0.79
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Italian Dinner (for Food)$6.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi : $5.00
- Hanoi free food tour - Old Quarter food walking tour: $5.00
- Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.11
- (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR : $5.13
- Hanoi Street Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $19
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
- Street Food Tour By Walking: $21
- Walking Street Food Tour Small Group with Local Guide: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $22
- Hanoi street food tour small group tour: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Cooking Class & Bamboo Boats: $23
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.Hanoi $8.38Cartagena $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Puppet Theater$1.57
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The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.57
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National History Museum$1.57
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Puppet Theater Ticket$2.75
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket Cat Ba - Hanoi ( Bus+ Ferry ) - Best Selling: $0.02
- Hanoi Old Quarter Half-day Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Free walking tour: $5.00
- Private Walking Tour of Hanoi City: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour: $5.00
- Skip the line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets: $5.00
- Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- Sightseeing Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter: $5.00
- Hanoi Street Food Experience: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour: $5.00
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHanoi $7.58Cartagena $9.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour: $48
- Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $106
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 comparing the travel costs between Hanoi and Cartagena, we can see that Hanoi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Hanoi is in Asia and Cartagena is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hanoi Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Cartagena?
Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 50% larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi 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 Hanoi 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 Hanoi or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Hanoi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hanoi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Hanoi is May to September. It's quite rainy in Hanoi. In July, Hanoi usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Hanoi gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Hanoi is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Hanoi averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHanoi 29°C (84°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Hanoi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hanoi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
November to April is the dry season in Hanoi. Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hanoi. Hanoi usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Hanoi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Hanoi is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hanoi in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHanoi 25°C (77°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hanoi and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hanoi year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Hanoi usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cartagena. Hanoi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Hanoi is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Hanoi average around 17°C (63°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHanoi 17°C (63°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Hanoi as well as Cartagena. Hanoi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Also, November to April in Hanoi is the dry season. May to September in Hanoi is the rainy season. Hanoi receives a lot of rain in the spring. Hanoi usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Hanoi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Hanoi is cooler than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Hanoi averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHanoi 24°C (75°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Hanoi
| Hanoi | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (72°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.