Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Havana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Havana 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 Havana and Cartagena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Havana or Cartagena?
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
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 Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Havana Prices
Cuba PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHavana $74Cartagena $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $74, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $55. 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 Havana and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHavana $42Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHavana $84Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Havana and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Havana 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.Havana $19Cartagena $7.46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- 18.Transfer (Rafael N-Hotel Decameron Baru Airport) or vice versa: $156
- 2. Transfer from the Airport to the Cartagena Hotel (or vice versa): $40
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $167
- 6.Transfer (Airport-Manzanillo KARIBANA-ESTELAR) Or Vice Versa: $56
- Airport Private Transfer to Hotel in the urban City : $12
- Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $29
- Airport Transfer Hotel: $35
- Airport Transfers Cartagena: $38
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $91
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $63
- Baru: Rafael Nunez International Airport Private Transfer: $94
- TRANSFER CARTAGENA TO SANTA MARTA OR VICEVERSA IN SHARED CAR: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Havana 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 dayHavana $18Cartagena $17
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Cartagena Fritters Cooking Class – by Lunático Experience: $23
- Street food tour Cartagena: $40
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $44
- Traditional cooking class in a restaurant in the historic center: $45
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $47
- Flavors of Colombia: Cooking Class with Chef Andrés: $52
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $52
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Food Tour of the Old City Flavors and Culture: $59
- Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
- Cartagena Island Dinner (Island of Tierra Bomba): $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Havana $11Cartagena $21
Tours and Activities in Havana
Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets. : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $10
- Self Guided Audio Tour The Great Battle Fort of San Felipe: $11
- Shared Walking Tour of the Colonial Old Town: $11
- CITY TOUR OVERVIEW of the city Boots castle chiva: $11
- CITYTOUR of Cartagena Monuments, Walls and Castles : $11
- Historic Center & Getsemaní Shared Tour in Cartagena : $12
- Cartagena Sunset Walking Tour: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHavana $5.76Cartagena $9.17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Open Bar Sunset Cruise with Bar Crawl After Party: $16
- Group Night Experience: Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $21
- Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $21
- Getsemaní Pub Crawl with Shots and Dance Class: $22
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $24
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
- Centro Histórico Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $29
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
- Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club) : $50
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Havana and Cartagena, we can see that Havana is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Havana is in Caribbean Islands 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 Havana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Havana 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 Havana Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Havana or Cartagena?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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 Havana 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 Havana or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Havana are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Havana usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Havana gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Havana is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHavana 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Havana or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Havana during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Havana usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Havana gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Havana is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Havana averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHavana 25°C (77°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Havana or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Havana and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Havana usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Havana gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Havana is cooler than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Havana in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHavana 21°C (70°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Havana or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Havana as well as Cartagena. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Havana usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Havana gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Havana is generally cooler than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Havana average around 24°C (75°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHavana 24°C (75°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Havana
| Havana | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°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.