Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Marseille?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Marseille or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille 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: Marseille or Cartagena?
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
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 Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMarseille €148Cartagena €44
The average daily cost (per person) in Marseille is €148, 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 Marseille and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarseille €71Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarseille €142Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Marseille and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Marseille 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: Marseille Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marseille €28Cartagena €6.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass€3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- “Airport-Marseille Center Transfers: Luxury and Comfort VTC.”: $88
- Airport Marseille Transfer to Marseille Old Port: $91
- Aix en Provence-Transfer from or to Marseille Airport: $103
- Arles-Transfer From or To Airport MARSEILLE: $219
- Arrival Private Transfer Marseille Airport MRS to Marseille city or Port by Van: $102
- Arrival Transfer: MRS Airport to Marseille in Business Car: $109
- Arrival Transfer: MRS Airport to Marseille in Luxury Van: $114
- Cannes Private Transfer to Marseille Airport: $646
- Departure Private Transfer Marseille city or Port to Marseile Airport MRS by Van: $102
- Departure Transfer: Marseille to MRS Airport in Business Car: $109
- Marseille Airport (MRS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Marseille Hotel or Address): $216
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to (MPCT) Marseille Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- 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 City Center - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $20
- 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: $13
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Marseille or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Marseille 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 dayMarseille €42Cartagena €9.13
Typical Food Prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $64
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $73
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $94
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Marseille Food Tour - Bakeries, Chocolate and Patisseries: $103
- Marseille Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $108
- E-Bike and Food Tour: $118
- 3-Hour Shore Excursion Walking Food Tour: $118
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.Marseille €38Cartagena €20
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- Marseille:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.31
- Marseille Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.38
- Historical tour of Marseille with 12 audio guides on iPhone: $4.92
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Marseille Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-guided Like a Local Highlights Day Tour: $9.58
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Game & Sightseeing: $9.94
- Panier District Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Humorous and Informative Tour of the Historic Center of La Ciotat: $11
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
- Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
- 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
- Shore excursion Accessible sightseeing tour : $250
- Tour around the Rosario Islands 4 islands: $65
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarseille €27Cartagena €8.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $65
- Short Day Tour around Aix en Provence and Wine Tasting : $119
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $147
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $165
- From Provence Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $178
- From Bandol and Cassis Wine Tasting Tour: $178
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 Marseille and Cartagena, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Marseille 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille 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 Marseille Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Marseille or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Marseille. When comparing the sizes of Marseille 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 Marseille or Cartagena?
Marseille 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 Marseille or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Marseille during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In July, Marseille is generally cooler than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 24°C (75°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Marseille. In the summer, Marseille often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Marseille gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Marseille usually gets less rain in July than Cartagena. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMarseille 24°C (75°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Marseille or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and Cartagena. The autumn months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Marseille is much colder than Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Marseille gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Marseille usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMarseille 16°C (61°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Marseille or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Marseille as well as Cartagena. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Marseille this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the winter, Marseille is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Marseille in January average around 7°C (44°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Marseille often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Marseille gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Marseille usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Marseille gets 47 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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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMarseille 7°C (44°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Marseille or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Marseille is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 13°C (56°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Marseille gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Marseille usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Marseille gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMarseille 13°C (56°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Marseille
| Marseille | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.