A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) vs. Cartagena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cartagena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cartagena. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cartagena?

Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

An island of the Caribbean Netherlands, St. Eustatius, sometimes called Statia, is a small, relatively unknown destination to the greater tourist areas of the Caribbean. As a result, however, it is its own treasure consisting of a dormant volcano known as the Quill and featuring a lush rainforest, narrow volcanic beaches, many dive sites, and a quaint harbor town.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $225, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $69. 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cartagena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92
    Cartagena $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184
    Cartagena $68
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cartagena

Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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.

Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)


Hotels in Cartagena


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70
    Cartagena $9.48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):

  • One Way Transfer to Frigate Bay Beach: $40
  • One Way Transfer to Reggae and Cockleshell Beaches: $70
  • Private transfer from Park Hyatt & water taxi to R.L.B Airport: $45
  • Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $42
  • St Kitts & Nevis Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $42
  • St Kitts and Nevis Private Airport Transfer: $20
  • St. Kitts Beach Transfers Round trip: $67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

  • 18.Transfer (Rafael N-Hotel Decameron Baru Airport) or vice versa: $165
  • 2. Transfer from the Airport to the Cartagena Hotel (or vice versa): $40
  • 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $180
  • 6.Transfer (Airport-Manzanillo KARIBANA-ESTELAR) Or Vice Versa: $58
  • 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $250
  • Airport Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $12
  • Airport Private Transfer to Hotel in the urban City: $15
  • Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $33
  • Airport Transfer Hotel: $40
  • Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $101
  • Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $82
  • Arrival Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena by Sedan: $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cartagena?

Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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 day
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $89
    Cartagena $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius).

  • St.Kitts Downtown Basseterre Walking Food Tour: $75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.

  • Food Tour History °Cafe Cartagena Tasting: $40
  • PROFESSIONAL STREET FOOD TOUR With AUTHENTIC TASTINGS: $40
  • Cartagena Bites & Stories: Local Street Food Tour: $40
  • FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR WITH MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $40
  • Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
  • Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $43
  • Cartagena street food tour: taste authentic flavors: $52
  • Cartagena Street Food Tour: 10 Local Tastings in the Walled City: $52
  • Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience): $59
  • Street Food Tour with a local Foodie in Cartagena: $60
  • 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63
  • Street Food & Local Food Tour: $67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37
    Cartagena $27

Tours and Activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • St. Kitts Rum and Sights Tour with Beach Time: $26
  • Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of St Kitts: $40
  • St Kitts Top Sights Open Air Safari Tour with Beach Time: $45
  • Ken's Panoramic Tour: $50
  • City Tour and Beach Escape: $50
  • St Kitts 2 Hour Heritage and Coastal Tour with Drinks: $50
  • City Tour, Timothy Hill Lookout and South Friars Beach: $55
  • Rainforest Tours in St. Kitts: $62
  • St. Kitts Sea Glass Adventure and Volcanic Black Sand Beach Day: $65
  • Basseterre Plantation Half Day Tour: $66
  • St Kitts Rainforest Tour: $67
  • Full Island Panoramic Tour of St Kitts: $68

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cartagena Self Guided Walking Tour Walled City Audio and Quiz: $6.61
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $6.72
  • Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Cartagena Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h15 and 21 reviews: $7.00
  • Gabriel Garcia Marquez Shared Tour: the magical Cartagena: $10
  • San Felipe Barajas Fortress & Getsemani Shared Tour: $10
  • Walled Group Tour with Live Audio System: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
  • Self Guided Audio Tour The Great Battle Fort of San Felipe: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: Ghost of Downtown: Fear in the streets.: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part I: $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26
    Cartagena $12

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-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club): $16
  • Group Night Experience: Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
  • Cartagena Pub Crawl with Salsa Class and Shots: $25
  • Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $30
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $30
  • Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $40
  • Ultimate Party Combo Cartagena Sunset Boat Party & Pub Crawl: $57
  • Pub Crawl: $70
  • Wine in the Wild: A Nature-Inspired Wine Tasting near Cartagena: $150


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Cartagena, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Cartagena?

Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 870 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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.