Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Lyon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lyon or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon 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: Lyon or Cartagena?
Lyon
Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.
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 from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLyon €125Cartagena €44
The average daily cost (per person) in Lyon is €125, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €44. 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 Lyon and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLyon €53Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLyon €106Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Lyon and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Lyon 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: Lyon Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lyon €17Cartagena €6.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
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Funiculaire€5.20
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Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus€19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Business Car: $79
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City by Luxury Van: $93
- Arrival Transfer: Lyon Airport LYS to Lyon City in Business Car: $86
- Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Business Car: $79
- Departure Private Transfer Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS by Luxury Van: $93
- Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Business Car: $86
- Departure Transfer: Lyon City to Lyon Airport LYS in Luxury Van: $95
- Excellecar Private Driver - Stations & Airports Transfers: $82
- Group transfer from Lyon airport to City Center: $118
- Lyon : Private Transfer from/to Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport: $118
- Lyon Airport (LYS) to Val d'Isere/Espace Killy: Arrival Transfer: $77
- Lyon City Card with Airport Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.97
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.97
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.97
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.97
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.19
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $10
- Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Lyon or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Lyon 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 dayLyon €41Cartagena €9.13
Typical Food Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
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Pastry€1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
- Street Food Tour: $65
- Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $65
- Lyon Street Food Tour : $66
- 3h Lyon Vegan Food Tour: $66
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $67
- Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $77
- Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $81
- Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
- Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
- Old Town Food Tour: $97
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
- Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
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.Lyon €20Cartagena €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
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Lunch for 2€45
Tours and Activities in Lyon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- Lyon Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $4.84
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Cruise: $5.38
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Lyon Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.58
- Private Self-Guided Tour of the Curse Quest of Old Lyon: $8.74
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.77
- Lyon Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- French Resistance Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $9.68
- Old Lyon Walking In App Audio Tour: $9.77
- Lyon Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $9.94
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 dayLyon €24Cartagena €8.56
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:
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Drinks for 2€6.80
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Bottle of Wine€15
Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beaujolais Segway Tour with Wine Tasting: $65
- Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
- Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $99
- Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
- From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $107
- Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $107
- Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $107
- From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $107
- Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $107
- Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $108
- Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $109
- Golden stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon: $109
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 Lyon and Cartagena, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lyon 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 Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon 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 Lyon Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lyon or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Lyon 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 Lyon or Cartagena?
Lyon 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 Lyon or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and Cartagena. Most visitors come to Lyon for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Lyon is cooler than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 22°C (71°F) in July, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Lyon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lyon usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Lyon gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lyon usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cartagena. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JulyLyon 22°C (71°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Lyon as well as Cartagena. The autumn months attract visitors to Lyon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the autumn, Lyon is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lyon in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
In the autumn, Lyon often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Lyon gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Lyon usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 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 OctoberLyon 14°C (56°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lyon this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Lyon in the winter. In January, Lyon is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 4°C (39°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Lyon usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Lyon gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Lyon usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 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 JanuaryLyon 4°C (39°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Lyon during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Lyon is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 11°C (53°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Lyon often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Lyon gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
Lyon usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 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 AprilLyon 11°C (53°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Lyon
| Lyon | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.