Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Jaco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jaco 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.
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
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 Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaco is $104, 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 Jaco and Cartagena in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Jaco 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.
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Jaco 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.
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaco and Cartagena, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaco 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 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco 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 Jaco Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 230 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Jaco 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Both Cartagena and Jaco during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jaco because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Jaco. Jaco usually gets more rain in July than Cartagena. Jaco gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Jaco often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Jaco gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
In July, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 28°C (82°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Jaco and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jaco year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Jaco gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Jaco usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Jaco gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Jaco usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during autumn. Jaco gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Jaco is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Jaco averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The winter brings many poeple to Jaco as well as Cartagena. Jaco attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Jaco usually gets less rain in January than Cartagena. Jaco gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jaco this time of the year. In the winter, Jaco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena. Jaco gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Jaco is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Jaco in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
Both Cartagena and Jaco are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jaco throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Jaco usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Jaco gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Jaco. Jaco usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Jaco gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Jaco is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Jaco average around 29°C (85°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Jaco | Cartagena | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |