Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Medellin or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin 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: Medellin or Cartagena?
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
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, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $21Cartagena $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $21, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $45. 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 Medellin and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $4.44Cartagena $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $8.88Cartagena $52
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Medellin 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: Medellin Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $3.87Cartagena $7.14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Airport Transfer: $50
- Downtown hotels to Medellin Airport (MDE) - Departure Transfer: $21
- Guatapé Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $42
- Medellín Airport Transfer: $50
- Medellín Private Transfer from Medellín City to Olaya Herrera (EOH) Airport: $44
- Medellín to or from Guatapé Private Transfer: $63
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $55
- Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $42
- Medellin Airport MDE to Downtown Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Medellin Coffee Tour with transfer: $123
- Medellin J.M.C Intl Airport (MDE) - Private Arrival / Departure Transfer : $77
- Medellin Private Airport Pick-up transfer service: $35
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
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- 6.Transfer (Airport-Manzanillo KARIBANA-ESTELAR) Or Vice Versa: $40
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $160
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $10
- Airport Hotel Transfer: $24
- Airport Transfer Hotel: $35
- Airport Transfers Cartagena: $37
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $127
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Medellin 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 dayMedellin $8.99Cartagena $9.36
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$1.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Cooking Class Preparing Colombian Empanadas: $12
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $24
- Community project cooking class and Medellin social transformation tour: $65
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $71
- Private Street Food Tour, Eat like a Local in Medellin!: $85
- Medellín Food Tour: $94
- Sabaneta and Envigado Best Local Food Tour from Medellin: $99
- Medellin tour with Fernando Botero´s, street art and food tour: $145
- Medellin City Tour Including The History of Tango and Lunch or Dinner: $145
- Best Food Tour and Horseback Adventure in Medellin: $163
- Comuna 13, Fruit & Street Food Tour: $166
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 In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $38
- 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: $42
- Street Food Cooking Class, Mojito making & Fruit tasting: $50
- Cooking class, Caribbean lunch at our place: $51
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Street food tour: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $12Cartagena $20
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
- History and Street Art Tour in Comuna 13: $8.00
- Graffiti tour in commune 13 guided by locals: $10
- Graffitour Medellín: History, Transformation and Overcoming": $13
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
- Shared Tour of El Poblado "Sin Taboos" in Medellin: $13
- Comuna 13 Medellín (Graffitour) Discover the Transformation: $13
- Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
- Commune 13 Graffitour With Snacks Included: $14
- Graffiti Tour | Commune 13 guided by locals and Snacks: $15
- COMUNA 13 Graffiti Tour: $15
- Medellin Shared Walking Tour Metro ticket included: $16
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bay Tour by Sports Boat: $0.03
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $8.60
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $8.60
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.60
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.05
- Barù Island Playa Blanca with tourist guide: $9.51
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part I: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $6.74Cartagena $8.78
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl Nightlife in Medellin: $41
- Live the Nightlife Rooftop Pub Crawl : $49
- Chill Music, Food, Brewery & Sight seeing Tour : $75
- Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $125
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
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 Getsemaní: $18
- Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $19
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $21
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $23
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $23
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $44
- Get the Nightlife Vibe & Bar crawl: $57
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $64
- Pub Crawl: $70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Cartagena, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Cartagena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cartagena than you might in Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or Cartagena?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Medellin 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.
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.