Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Malaga?
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 Malaga 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 Malaga 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: Malaga or Cartagena?
Malaga
Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors 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 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Malaga Prices
Spain PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMalaga €165Cartagena €51
The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €165, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €51. 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 Malaga and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMalaga €75Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMalaga €150Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Malaga and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Malaga 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: Malaga Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Malaga €31Cartagena €7.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
- Airport Transfer: Malaga Airport AGP to Malaga by Business Car: $63
- Airport Transfer: Malaga Airport AGP to Malaga by Luxury Car: $78
- Airport Transfer: Malaga Airport AGP to Malaga by Luxury Van: $69
- Airport Transfer: Malaga Airport AGP to Marbella by Luxury Van: $216
- Airport Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport AGP by Business Car: $63
- Alegria Flamenco in Malaga, with Transfer, Cocktail and Premium Location: $87
- Arrival Transfer: Malaga Airport AGP to Malaga by Business Car: $57
- Benalmadena: AGP Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $59
- From Luxury Higuerón Spa with Tesla X Transfer: $163
- Málaga-Costa Airport (AGP): Transfer to Malaga Cruise Port: $119
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) to Malaga Port - Arrival private Transfer: $68
- Malaga : Private Transfer to/from Airport and City: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Airport Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $7.00
- Transfers from the Airport to Hotels in Cartagena: $7.50
- Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG): $11
- Private Transfer to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $11
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Airport Private Transfer to Hotel in the urban City: $12
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Rafael Nuñez Airport: $13
- Private Transfer from Terminal to Hotel in Cartagena: $14
- Cartagena to Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG) - Departure Private Transfer: $15
- Cartagena Private Transfer from Rafael Núñez (CTG) Airport to El Laguito: $16
- Private Transfer from Manzanillo / Baru - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $17
- Private Transfer from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo / Baru: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Malaga or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Malaga 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 dayMalaga €60Cartagena €16
Typical Food Prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€30
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Dinner for 2€44
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Breakfast for 2€8.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
- Authentic Flamenco Dinner Show at Restaurant VinoMio: $17
- Hard Rock Cafe Entrance with Lunch or Dinner: $37
- Málaga: Morning Guided Food Tour: $75
- Japanese cooking class Sushi: $76
- Malaga -Italian cooking class : La domenica italiana: $76
- Authentic Paella Cooking Class with Sangría: $77
- Málaga: Spanish Cooking Workshop with Paella and Sangria: $77
- Malaga Tapas Cooking Class: $82
- Food Tour with Local Guide, Tapas, and Drinks: $83
- Pedregalejo Food Tour: Explore Malaga's most iconic quarter: $86
- Málaga: Tapas, Wine & Rooftops Small Group Food Tour: $93
- Málaga: Paella and Sangria Cooking Class with Market Visit: $93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Food Tour History °Cafe Cartagena Tasting: $36
- FLAVORS OF STREET FOOD TOUR w/ MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- Cartagena Bites & Stories: Local Street Food Tour: $40
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
- Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $43
- Cartagena street food tour: taste authentic flavors: $47
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $52
- Sunset and Bright Plankton with Dinner at Playa Tranquila Baru: $53
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $54
- Cartagena Bay White Night Tour with Outdoor Bar and Dinner: $58
- Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience): $59
- Cartagena Island Dinner (Island of Tierra Bomba): $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Malaga €31Cartagena €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
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Entrance to Castillos€7.10
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Concert€31
Tours and Activities in Malaga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
- Honey Museum Entry Ticket: $2.91
- Picasso's Puzzle Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.94
- Malaga's historic center: A self-guided tour created by a local official guide: $5.82
- Alcazaba de Málaga: Ticket and Self-Guided Tour created by an Official Guide: $5.82
- Essential Round : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $5.83
- Malaga Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $5.83
- Malaga Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Malaga City Center's Architecture: A Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Guided tour of Castillo Colomares: $11
- Skip the Line: Centre Pompidou in Malaga Ticket: $11
- Málaga: Picasso Birthplace Museum Ticket & City Audio Guide: $11
- Audioguide City Walk Malaga for cruises (German & English): $12
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $6.72
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
- Self Guided Audio Tour The Great Battle Fort of San Felipe: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part I: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego Neighborhood Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets.: $11
- Freetour Cartagena and Gethsemane, Caribbean Heritage and Tradition: $12
- Historic Center & Getsemaní Shared Tour in Cartagena: $13
- Tour in Chiva Rumbera with Party and Fun Music in Cartagena: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMalaga €22Cartagena €8.63
Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Málaga: Pub Crawl Málaga Madness: $14
- Malaga Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Clubs Entry: $19
- Bodegas Quitapenas: Guided Visit + Wine Tasting: $22
- Torremolinos Gay Pub Crawl & Nightclub Experience: $35
- Conrad Guided Cellar Tour and wine tasting in Ronda: $41
- Andalusian Wine Tasting Tapas and DE wine tastings: $45
- C/Echegaray 5 Málaga center: Malagueño Massage: Massage + Wine Tasting: $68
- Winederlust Wine Tasting: $70
- Málaga: Traditional Andalusian Tapas and Wine Tour: $72
- Malaga Food & Wine Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local: $76
- Ronda Wine Tasting with Tapas in a Scenic Vineyard: $78
- Sun and Wine Route - Small group, wine tasting and tapas included: $91
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-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club): $16
- Group Night Experience: Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl with Salsa Class and Shots: $25
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $26
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $40
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena: $45
- Ultimate Party Combo Cartagena Sunset Boat Party & Pub Crawl: $57
- Pub Crawl: $70
- Wine in the Wild: A Nature-Inspired Wine Tasting near Cartagena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malaga and Cartagena, we can see that Malaga is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Malaga 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 Malaga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malaga 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 Malaga Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Malaga or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 73% larger than the population of Malaga. When comparing the sizes of Malaga 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 Malaga or Cartagena?
Malaga 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 Malaga or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Malaga and Cartagena. Many travelers come to Malaga for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Malaga is cooler than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 25°C (77°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 Malaga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Malaga gets 348 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Malaga usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Malaga gets 2 mm (0.1 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 JulyMalaga 25°C (77°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Malaga or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Malaga as well as Cartagena. Many visitors come to Malaga in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the autumn, Malaga is cooler than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Malaga in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malaga this time of the year. In the autumn, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Malaga gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Malaga usually gets less rain in October than Cartagena. Malaga gets 54 mm (2.1 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 OctoberMalaga 19°C (67°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Malaga or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Malaga are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Malaga for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Malaga is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Malaga average around 12°C (54°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Malaga usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Malaga gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Malaga usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Malaga gets 83 mm (3.3 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 JanuaryMalaga 12°C (54°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Malaga or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Malaga during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Malaga because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Malaga is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Malaga. In the spring, Malaga often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena. Malaga gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
Malaga usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Malaga gets 40 mm (1.6 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 AprilMalaga 16°C (60°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Malaga
| Malaga | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (60°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 13°C (55°F) | 102 mm (4 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.