Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Mandeville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandeville or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or Cartagena?
Mandeville
Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.
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 dayMandeville $81Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, 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 Mandeville and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandeville $38Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandeville $76Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandeville $31Cartagena $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $13
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $29
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $20
- Transfer in Private Minivan Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $18
- Transfer from the airport to hotels in Boquilla: $12
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
- Transfer High-end - Kia Quoris: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Mandeville 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 dayMandeville $24Cartagena $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.Mandeville $8.31Cartagena $22
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Beach Buggy ATV Adventure Tour CARTAGENA: $135
- Eco cultural Historical Tour beyond Old City! + Pool: $98
- Exciting Beach Buggy ATV Tour in Cartagena : $165
- Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $39
- Private Beach Tour in Barú and Optional Bird Aviary: $120
- Private Tour & the best coffee of the world in Cartagena (Also for cruisers): $250
- Private city tour: $197
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- "Luxury Day in Tierra Bomba Exclusive Tour to the best Beach Club": $154
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $105
- 2 Hour Panoramic tour for cruise ship passengers: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandeville $6.51Cartagena $9.39
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 Mandeville and Cartagena, we can see that Mandeville is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville 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 Mandeville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mandeville 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 Mandeville Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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 Mandeville or Cartagena?
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.
Should I visit Mandeville or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Mandeville during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Mandeville usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cartagena. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 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. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the summer, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMandeville 29°C (83°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Mandeville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Cartagena. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Mandeville is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mandeville in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMandeville 28°C (82°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Cartagena. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Mandeville usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 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 Mandeville this time of the year. In the winter, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
In January, Mandeville is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (79°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMandeville 26°C (79°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Mandeville or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 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 Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
Mandeville is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMandeville 26°C (80°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Mandeville
| Mandeville | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 104 mm (4.1 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.