Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Krakow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Krakow or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Krakow or Cartagena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Krakow or Cartagena?
Krakow
Krakow is Poland's second largest city. It sits on both sides of the Wisla River at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. There are more than 1.4 million residents in the metropolitan area. Krakow is known as a historical and beautiful city that is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tourism makes up a large part of the city's economy, but there is also a university and several local colleges which are major employers as well. Technology has grown in recent years and the city has some notable employees including Google, IBM and Motorola. Other important industries include steel, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.
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 10-Day Tours in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrakow $65Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Krakow is $65, 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 Krakow and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrakow $42Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrakow $84Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Krakow 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: Krakow Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krakow $6.41Cartagena $7.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:
- 1945-1989 Communism Tour of Krakow Nowa Huta with Transfers: $160
- Airport to Cracow transfer by Luxurious VIP limo: $56
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City by Business Car: $39
- Arrival Private Transfer from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City in Luxury Van: $49
- Arrival Private Transfers from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City: $38
- Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer Service- Private Driver from Krakow: $109
- Auschwitz and Birkenau Round-Trip Transfer Premium from Krakow: $273
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Transfer from Krakow: $12
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Live Guided Tour and Transfer from Krakow: $32
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $217
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with Ticket and Transfer: $35
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Self-Guided Visit from Krakow with Private Transfers: $131
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 Krakow or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Krakow 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 dayKrakow $13Cartagena $9.82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.
- Walking Street Food Tour: $22
- Discovering Cracow's Local Flavour: Food Tour: $22
- From Polish Folk Show with All-You-Can-Eat Dinner: $32
- Folk Show & 3-Course Dinner at Jama Michalika Café: $44
- Polish Folk Show with 3 course dinner in Krakow legendary restaurant: $45
- Krakow : Folk Show Dinner Drinking and Fun ! Book Now!: $64
- Cabaret Show with Optional Dinner: $70
- Pierogi Cooking Class: Mastering the Art of Polish Dumplings: $74
- Half-Day Krakow Food Tour in Old Town and Kazimierz: $83
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $88
- Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $97
- Krakow Bites and Sights Food Tour: $104
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.Krakow $20Cartagena $21
Tours and Activities in Krakow
Here are a few actual costs in Krakow for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kraków in a nutshell - walking tour: $1.24
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Old Town Audio-Guided Walking Tour with Headset: $3.73
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- Old Town Audioguided walking Tour: $4.48
- Home Army Museum Emil Fieldorf “Nil” - Entrance Ticket: $4.54
- From Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: $4.98
- Wawel Hill Tour with Audio Guide: $5.60
- From Kraków: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip & Guided Tour: $6.22
- Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour: $6.72
- Krakow Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $7.00
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 dayKrakow $6.76Cartagena $9.21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:
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Vodka$13
Sample the Local Flavors in Krakow
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:
- Pub Crawl with 1 Hour of Unlimited Alcoholic Drinks: $22
- Kazimierz Pub Crawl with 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks: $22
- Pub Crawl - 1-hour Open Bar then Vip to 5 Clubs - Krakow: $24
- Pub Crawl 1 hour Open Bar and 5 Hours Clubs in Krakow with VIP: $24
- Halloween Pub Crawl - Krawl Through Krakow: $24
- Pub tour in Old Town with 1 hour open bar with a guide.: $25
- Pub Crawl with Shots, Drinks & Skip-the-Line Entry: $25
- Pub Crawl + Unlimited Drinks + VIP entry + Drinking Games & Photographer : $25
- Three-Hour Pub Crawl: $39
- Wieliczka Vineyard: Wine tasting with local snacks: $44
- Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $120
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Cartagena, we can see that Krakow is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Krakow is in Europe 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 Krakow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krakow 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 Krakow Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krakow or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Krakow. When comparing the sizes of Krakow 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 Krakow or Cartagena?
Krakow has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Krakow or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Krakow are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Krakow is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 19°C (67°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krakow. Krakow usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during summer. Krakow gets 201 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Krakow usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Krakow gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrakow 19°C (67°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Krakow during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Krakow is much colder than Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Krakow averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Krakow gets 97 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Krakow usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Krakow gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrakow 11°C (51°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Krakow and Cartagena. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Krakow can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Krakow is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Krakow in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. Krakow usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Krakow gets 38 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Krakow usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Krakow gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrakow -2°C (29°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Krakow or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Krakow as well as Cartagena. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In April, Krakow is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Krakow average around 10°C (50°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the spring, Krakow often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Krakow gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
Krakow usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Krakow gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrakow 10°C (50°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Krakow
| Krakow | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (40°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (33°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.