Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Melbourne or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne 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: Melbourne or Cartagena?
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
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 Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMelbourne $179Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $179, 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 Melbourne and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $120Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $240Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne 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: Melbourne Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Cartagena $7.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport Arrival Or Departure Luxury Car Transfers : $110
- Airport Transfers: $143
- Arrival Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Sedan: $115
- Arrival Transfer from Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Van: $163
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $167
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $178
- Departure Transfer Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Sedan: $115
- Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van: $163
- From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne: $79
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $958
- GoBlu-EV: 100% Electric Cabs for Airport & City Transfer in MEL: $33
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $208
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 Melbourne or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Melbourne 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 dayMelbourne $31Cartagena $9.82
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.64
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Pizza$4.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $87
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $120
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $124
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $132
- Great Ocean Road Sunset Tour with Dinner and Wildlife Park: $144
- Phillip Island Penguins, Wine Tasting and Dinner from Melbourne: $147
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.Melbourne $28Cartagena $21
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Melbourne:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- MoPA Children's Museum Admission Ticket: $9.25
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.91
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Explore Melbourne's Pulse: A CBD In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $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 dayMelbourne $17Cartagena $9.21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $87
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $104
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $117
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $129
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $140
- Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $181
- Champion Racehorse Tour with Beer and Wine Tasting: $194
- Pour Decisions | Wine Tour in Yarra Valley (Private Tour): $260
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 Melbourne and Cartagena, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Cartagena?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne 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 Melbourne or Cartagena?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Melbourne during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Melbourne is cooler than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 20°C (68°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in July.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Melbourne. In the summer, Melbourne often gets more sunshine than Cartagenain July. Melbourne gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets less rain in January than Cartagenain July. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 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 January and JulyMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Cartagena. Many travelers come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Melbourne is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Melbourne in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during autumn. Melbourne gets 170 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 April, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Cartagenain October. Melbourne gets 50 mm (2 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 April and OctoberMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Cartagena. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In July, Melbourne is generally much colder than Cartagenain January. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 9°C (49°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Melbourne often gets less sunshine than Cartagenain January. Melbourne gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Melbourne usually gets more rain in July than Cartagenain January. Melbourne gets 43 mm (1.7 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 July and JanuaryMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Melbourne is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 14°C (57°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Melbourne. Melbourne usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during spring. Melbourne gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Melbourne usually receives more rain than Cartagenain April. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 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 October and AprilMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.