Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Palma de Mallorca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Palma de Mallorca 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: Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena?
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca is a resort city and capital of the Spanish island, Mallorca, in the western Mediterranean. It is home to landmarks like Gothic cathedrals and medieval fortresses, but is also host to sandy beaches where the city meets the sea in a backdrop of surrounding mountains. Amidst the city itself you will find it easy to get lost in the charm of cobbled lanes, busy markets, boutiques, and historic courtyards.
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 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPalma de Mallorca €139Cartagena €45
The average daily cost (per person) in Palma de Mallorca is €139, 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 Palma de Mallorca and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPalma de Mallorca €69Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPalma de Mallorca €138Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Palma de Mallorca and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Palma de Mallorca 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: Palma de Mallorca Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Palma de Mallorca €25Cartagena €7.03
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Palma de Mallorca
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€6.80
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Bus Ride€1.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palma de Mallorca
Also for Palma de Mallorca, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Coasteering in South Mallorca with Transfers: $71
- Mallorca Airport (PMI) to Magaluf - Arrival Private Transfer: $43
- Arrival Private Transfers : Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Business Car: $79
- Arrival Private Transfers : Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Luxury Car: $147
- Arrival Transfer from Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma by Luxury Car: $123
- Arrival Transfer from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Private Car: $103
- Departure Private Transfer from Palma to PMI Airport by Sedan: $88
- Departure Private Transfers : Palma to Mallorca Airport PMI in Business Car: $79
- Departure Private Transfers : Palma to Mallorca Airport PMI in Luxury Van: $130
- Departure Transfer from Palma to Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI in Private Car: $103
- Departure Transfer from Palma to Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI in Private Van: $119
- Departure Transfer to Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI by Van: $134
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 Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca 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 dayPalma de Mallorca €45Cartagena €9.21
Typical Food Prices in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Soda€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Spanish Cooking Class Experience in Palma with 5+ Tastings: $21
- Spanish Cooking Experience in Mallorca: $109
- The Award-Winning PRIVATE Food Tour of Mallorca: The 10 Tastings: $130
- Mediterranean cooking experience in nature: $131
- 4-Hour Market Visit and Traditional Cooking Workshop in Palma: $147
- Sailboat Dinner and Movie Night: $650
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.Palma de Mallorca €34Cartagena €20
Tours and Activities in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Palma Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Kingdom of Mallorca: $6.99
- Self-Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $7.27
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.07
- AbenteuerDate, Palma,Santa Catalina, Tour with Fun Activities in German Language: $9.83
- AbenteuerDate Alcudia, Interactive Fun Tour in German Language: $9.83
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Legends of Palma: $10
- Secrets with the Palma Medieval Jewish Quarter Audio Tour: $11
- Palma: Couple Adventure, fun game and city walk: $11
- Uncover Secrets of Palma: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Mallorca Cathedral Skip The Line Tickets: $13
- Self-guided tour to must visit places in Mallorca : $14
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 dayPalma de Mallorca €29Cartagena €8.63
Typical Alcohol Prices in Palma de Mallorca
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
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Coffee€3.10
Sample the Local Flavors in Palma de Mallorca
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Palma de Mallorca:
- Wine tasting with wines from the smallest wineries in Mallorca: $43
- Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour in Alcudia Old Town: $43
- Guided tour of the Winery with wine tasting, Vineyard and much more!: $49
- Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour: $53
- Gourmet Tapas and Wine Tour in Palma de Mallorca : $54
- Gastronomic Mallorquin Wine Tasting & local delicacies: $71
- Wine Tasting Experience with Mallorcan Delights in Alcudia: $87
- Sa Clasta Mallorca Wine Tours: $158
- Sa Clasta Wine Tours, Mallorca: $158
- Mallorca Bodega & Olive Tour with Wine Tasting (full day): $163
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 Palma de Mallorca and Cartagena, we can see that Palma de Mallorca is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Palma de Mallorca. When comparing the sizes of Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena?
Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Palma de Mallorca for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the summer, Palma de Mallorca is cooler than Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Palma de Mallorca. In the summer, Palma de Mallorca often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Palma de Mallorca gets 334 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Palma de Mallorca usually gets less rain in July than Cartagena. Palma de Mallorca gets 7 mm (0.3 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 JulyPalma de Mallorca 24°C (76°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Palma de Mallorca and Cartagena. The autumn months attract visitors to Palma de Mallorca because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Palma de Mallorca is generally cooler than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Palma de Mallorca average around 19°C (66°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Palma de Mallorca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Palma de Mallorca usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Palma de Mallorca gets 204 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, Palma de Mallorca usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Palma de Mallorca gets 58 mm (2.3 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 OctoberPalma de Mallorca 19°C (66°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Palma de Mallorca as well as Cartagena. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Palma de Mallorca this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Palma de Mallorca is much colder than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in Palma de Mallorca averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Palma de Mallorca often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Palma de Mallorca gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Palma de Mallorca usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Palma de Mallorca gets 41 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryPalma de Mallorca 11°C (52°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Palma de Mallorca or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Palma de Mallorca 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 the spring, Palma de Mallorca is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Palma de Mallorca in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palma de Mallorca. Palma de Mallorca usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during spring. Palma de Mallorca gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Palma de Mallorca usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Palma de Mallorca gets 46 mm (1.8 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 AprilPalma de Mallorca 14°C (57°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca
| Palma de Mallorca | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 38 mm (1.5 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.