Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Isla Mujeres?
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 Isla Mujeres 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 Isla Mujeres 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: Isla Mujeres or Cartagena?
Isla Mujeres
About eight miles from the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Isla Mujeres is an island in the Mexican Caribbean Sea. The town, of the same name, has a population of about 13,000. Tourism has grown in the area since the 1970s and today it is a significant part of the island's economy. As such, there are plenty of amenities that cater specifically to visitors. The island's proximity to Cuba make it a common transit point for Cubans in route to the United States.
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 Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Isla Mujeres Prices
Mexico PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla Mujeres $162Cartagena $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla Mujeres is $162, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $67. 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 Isla Mujeres and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla Mujeres $70Cartagena $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla Mujeres $140Cartagena $66
Compare Hotels in Isla Mujeres and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Isla Mujeres 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: Isla Mujeres Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla Mujeres $31Cartagena $9.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Isla Mujeres
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Isla Mujeres:
- Punta Sam / Isla Blanca to Cancún Airport (CUN)- Departure Private Transfer: $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Private Airport Transfers in air conditioning buses: $12
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Airport Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $12
- Private Transfer to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $12
- Rafael Nunez Airport Transfer to Cartagena Hotels: $13
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Rafael Nuñez Airport: $14
- Cartagena to Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG) - Departure Private Transfer: $15
- Cartagena Private Transfer from El Laguito to Rafael Núñez (CTG) Airport: $15
- Cartagena Private Transfer from Rafael Núñez (CTG) Airport to El Laguito: $15
- Cartagena to Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Departure Private Transfer: $18
- Cartagena Airport (CTG) to Cartagena - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Private Cartagena Airport Arrival: Effortless Transfer: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla Mujeres or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Isla Mujeres 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 dayIsla Mujeres $71Cartagena $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Cartagena's Low Cost Totumo Volcano Tour & City Food Tour: $12
- Food Tour History °Cafe Cartagena Tasting: $32
- Cartagena Bites & Stories: Local Street Food Tour: $40
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $40
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR with MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $42
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR WITH MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $42
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $50
- Cartagena Street Food Tour: 10 Local Tastings in the Walled City: $52
- Food Tour of the Old City Flavors and Culture: $59
- Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience): $59
- Sunset and Bright Plankton with Dinner at Playa Tranquila Baru: $64
- Street Food & Local Food Tour: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla Mujeres $18Cartagena $26
Tours and Activities in Isla Mujeres
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla Mujeres are as follows:
- Tour Isla Mujeres excursion in Collective Transparent Boat: $37
- Crystal Boat Tour to Isla Mujeres and Reefs: $38
- Excursion Crystal Boat Tour at the Caribbean: $41
- Transparent Boat Tour Isla Mujeres and Underwater Sightseeing: $52
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Adventure at the Underwater Museum: $59
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour Adventure: $63
- Snorkeling tour at 3 spots, Underwater Museum and reefs!: $70
- Snorkeling Adventure at Isla Mujeres Underwater MUSA & more: $74
- Isla Mujeres Snorkeling Tour: $82
- 3 Hours VIP Semiprivate Tour Isla Mujeres Full Snorkeling Experience: $88
- MUSA and the Manchones Reef: 2 Tank Dive Tour: $125
- Whale Shark Snorkeling Adventure in Isla Mujeres Season May-Sept.: $136
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $6.72
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $6.72
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Cartagena Self Guided Walking Tour Walled City Audio and Quiz: $7.98
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez Shared Tour: the magical Cartagena: $10
- Bilingual citytour with air conditioning + castle and stern ticket: $10
- Walled Group Tour with Live Audio System: $10
- San Felipe Barajas Fortress & Getsemani Shared Tour: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets.: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla Mujeres $23Cartagena $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cartagena Pub Crawl with Salsa Class and Shots: $25
- VIP Pub Crawl & Nightclubs in Walled City: $30
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $30
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $30
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $40
- Wine in the Wild: A Nature-Inspired Wine Tasting near Cartagena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla Mujeres and Cartagena, we can see that Isla Mujeres is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla Mujeres is in North 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 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 Isla Mujeres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Isla Mujeres 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 Isla Mujeres Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Isla Mujeres or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Isla Mujeres. When comparing the sizes of Isla Mujeres 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.
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.