Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Kingston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kingston or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston 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.
Where Should I go: Kingston or Cartagena?
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $109Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $109, 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 Kingston and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $64Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $128Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Kingston 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: Kingston Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $30Cartagena $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- 10. Norman Manley Intl Kingston Airport Fun-Transfer to/from Montego Bay Resorts: $125
- Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
- Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
- All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $22
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
- Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
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: $128
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $21
- Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $23
- Airport Transfer Hotel: $26
- Airport Transfers Cartagena: $37
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $129
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Kingston 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 dayKingston $27Cartagena $10
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
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Street food tour: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kingston $13Cartagena $22
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
- Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
- Ocho Rios Shore Excursion: Bus Tour of Ocho Rios, Fern Gully and Turtle Beach: $62
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
- Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
- Kingston Half Day Community and Art Tour: $70
- Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
- Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
- Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81
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
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego Neighborhood Tour: $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Cartagena $9.39
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
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 Kingston and Cartagena, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston 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 Kingston Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Kingston 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 Kingston 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 Kingston or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Kingston are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Kingston usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Kingston gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Kingston gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 29°C (83°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKingston 29°C (83°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Kingston during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. Kingston usually gets more rain in October than Cartagena. Kingston gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. In the autumn, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Kingston gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
Kingston is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kingston averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKingston 28°C (82°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kingston and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Kingston usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Kingston gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kingston usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Kingston gets 257 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Kingston is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kingston in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKingston 26°C (79°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kingston or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kingston as well as Cartagena. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Kingston usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Kingston gets 27 mm (1.1 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 Kingston this time of the year. In the spring, Kingston often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Kingston gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
In April, Kingston is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Kingston average around 26°C (80°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKingston 26°C (80°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Kingston
| Kingston | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 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.