Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paris or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris 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: Paris or Cartagena?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParis €232Cartagena €44
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €232, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €44. 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 Paris and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €151Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €302Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Paris and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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: Paris Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €21Cartagena €6.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Disneyland Private Transfer - Luxury Minivan Service: $185
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer for 1 to 3 Persons in Paris: $197
- Private Transfer from Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport: $84
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $268
- Airport Transfer Service Shuttle Disneyland Paris Taxi: $120
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Business Car: $101
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Luxury EQS: $143
- Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Luxury EQS: $143
- Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $185
- Airport: Private transfer to/from Paris - Charles de Gaulle: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer Paris Airport CDG to Paris by Sedan : $87
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport Charles de Gaulle OR Orly TO La Defense: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- 15. Transfer to SANTA MARTA from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $290
- Cartagena to Santa Marta Private Transfer Service: $268
- Cartagena to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $265
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $160
- San Diego to Long Beach Airport (LGB) - Departure Private Transfer: $157
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $156
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- Cartagena to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $136
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $125
- Full-Day in Isla del Encanto with Lunch and Transfer to the Pier: $114
- Walking Tour with Transfers - Gabriel García Márquez & Cartagena Walled City: $110
- Cartagena Rafael Nunez Airport (CTG): Transfer to Cartagena: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Paris 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 dayParis €41Cartagena €9.13
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1h30 Cooking Activity in English: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe Paris with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner : $33
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $49
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $52
- Paris : Seine River Bistronomic Dinner Cruise: $53
- Seine Cruise Departure from Pont Alexandre III with Dinner Included: $64
- Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise: $67
- Eat, play, love Montmartre: 3H Walking Food Tour -Kids friendly-: $68
- No Diet Club - Paris : Night food tour - Montmartre: $68
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
- 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise with Bistro Dinner: $68
- Le Marais Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $69
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.Paris €77Cartagena €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Free Walking Tour of Montmartre: $2.15
- Montmartre Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt Tour: $3.23
- Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.26
- Self Guided Tours in Paris with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.28
- Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $4.36
- Paris, Arc de Triomphe: tour with audio guide: $5.38
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.38
- Père-Lachaise Cemetery audio guide tour: $5.38
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Paris: $5.45
- Paris Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.46
- Self-Guided Tour - Père Lachaise Cemetery Audioguide, Paris: $5.46
- Self-Guided Tour - Louvre Audioguide, Paris: $5.46
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 dayParis €24Cartagena €8.56
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $11
- Original Pub Crawl: $16
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $20
- Latin Quarter Guided Pub Crawl to Bars and Clubs: $22
- Paris Bar Crawl: $24
- Paris Pub Crawl: $25
- Audio guided tour and wine tasting at Caves du Louvre: $32
- Paris Craft gin distillery guided Tour & Tasting in French: $32
- Wine Museum Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $39
- Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris: $39
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $43
- Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $43
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 Paris and Cartagena, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paris or Cartagena?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cartagena. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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 Paris or Cartagena?
Paris 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 Paris or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Paris as well as Cartagena. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paris this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In the summer, Paris is cooler than Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Paris in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Paris this time of the year. In the summer, Paris often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cartagena. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 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 JulyParis 20°C (68°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Paris or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Paris is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 13°C (56°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Paris usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In October, Paris usually receives less rain than Cartagena. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 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 OctoberParis 13°C (56°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Paris or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Paris during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Paris in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Paris can get quite cold in the winter. Paris is much colder than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 5°C (40°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Paris often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 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 JanuaryParis 5°C (40°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Paris or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Cartagena. Most visitors come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Paris is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Paris in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. Paris usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Paris usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Paris gets 50 mm (1.9 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 AprilParis 11°C (52°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Paris
| Paris | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.