Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Nassau?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Nassau or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau 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: Nassau or Cartagena?
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNassau $189Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $189, 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 Nassau and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNassau $109Cartagena $27
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNassau $218Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Nassau 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: Nassau Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nassau $32Cartagena $7.64
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
-
Water Taxi$8.02
-
Taxi to Cable Beach$25
-
Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- Atlantis Private Luxury Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $190
- Baha Mar ( Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood Hotels) Private Airport Transfers : $160
- Chippies Airport/Hotel Transfers Transportation: $55
- Group transfer: $68
- Low Cost Airport Transfers: $185
- Luxury MKT Town Car Private Roundtrip Transfer : $140
- Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS): Round-Trip Nassau Transfer: $252
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau cruise port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau hotels -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Nassau Airport (NAS): Private Transfer to Nassau cruise port: $164
- Nassau Cruise Port to Nassau hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.90
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.90
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.90
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.90
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.11
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Bilingual Private Transfer In Cartagena : $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Nassau 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
-
Food Meals for one dayNassau $53Cartagena $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Nassau Food Tour and Beach Break: $65
- Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
- Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
- Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $116
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $125
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Authentic Bahamian Cooking Class: $135
- Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
- Island Food Tour: $140
- Gourmet dinner & sunset cruise on luxury catamaran: $375
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
- 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
- Dinner cruise on Cartagena's bay with Sibarita Master: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nassau $37Cartagena $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
-
Jet Ski$50
-
4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
-
1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- Champagne and Diamond Shopping Experience in Downtown, Bahamas: $5.00
- Archie's Weekend Tour with Seafood Snack and Spanish Friendly: $7.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Nassau Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Jewel of the Bahamas: $15
- Heritage Museum of The Bahamas Nassau Guided Tour: $20
- Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours: $28
- Roundtrip Shuttle from Cruise Terminal at Prince George Wharf: $29
- Nassau Sightseeing Bus Tour: $35
- Big Bus Private Tour (minimum of 15): $43
- Bahamas Ghost Walking Tour: $44
- Banana Boat Adventure: $50
- Dis We Culture Tour (At least 6 passengers): $50
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.29
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.42
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.11
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.33
- Old Town & Artists' Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.48
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
- Emerald Museum and Factory Tour: $10
- Shared Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayNassau $19Cartagena $9.39
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
-
Cocktail$6.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
- Nassau Rum Distillery Tour: $25
- Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140
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 and Complimentary Drinks: $18
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $72
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Cartagena, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nassau 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau 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 Nassau Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nassau or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Nassau. When comparing the sizes of Nassau 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 Nassau or Cartagena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Nassau or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Nassau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Nassau usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Nassau gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Nassau is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nassau in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyNassau 28°C (82°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nassau as well as Cartagena. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Nassau receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nassau usually gets more rain in October than Cartagena. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In the autumn, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Nassau gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
In October, Nassau is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 26°C (79°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNassau 26°C (79°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Nassau are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nassau throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Nassau usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Nassau gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
Nassau is cooler than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNassau 21°C (70°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Nassau or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Nassau during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nassau because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Nassau usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nassau. In the spring, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Nassau gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Nassau is cooler than Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nassau in April average around 23°C (74°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilNassau 23°C (74°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Nassau
| Nassau | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (74°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (80°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.