Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Port-of-Spain?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Port-of-Spain or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Port-of-Spain and Cartagena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Port-of-Spain or Cartagena?
Port-of-Spain
Located on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, Port of Spain is the capital of the Caribbean island nation Trinidad & Tobago. It is a hub of activity, especially during the celebration of Carnival for which the island nation is famous.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPort-of-Spain $174Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Port-of-Spain is $174, 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 Port-of-Spain and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPort-of-Spain $80Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPort-of-Spain $160Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Port-of-Spain and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Port-of-Spain 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: Port-of-Spain Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Port-of-Spain $49Cartagena $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Private Transfer from Bocagrande to Port of Cartagena: $25
- 15. Transfer to SANTA MARTA from Cartagena Private or vice versa.: $290
- 18.Transfer (Rafael N-Hotel Decameron Baru Airport) or vice versa: $90
- 2. Transfer from the Airport to the Cartagena Hotel (or vice versa): $29
- 20. Transfer Rafael N. Airport-HOTEL LAS ISLAS-CALABLANCA: $142
- 8. Transfer to BARRANQUILLA from Cartagena Private or vice versa: $128
- Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $21
- Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $23
- Airport Transfer Hotel: $26
- Airport Transfers Cartagena: $37
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minibus: $129
- Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Port-of-Spain or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Port-of-Spain 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 dayPort-of-Spain $54Cartagena $10
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: $43
- 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
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Street food tour: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Port-of-Spain $59Cartagena $22
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Totumo Mud Volcano Experience: $0.21
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.45
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.02
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.23
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.52
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego Neighborhood Tour: $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPort-of-Spain $22Cartagena $9.39
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: $18
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Port-of-Spain and Cartagena, we can see that Port-of-Spain is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Port-of-Spain or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Port-of-Spain. When comparing the sizes of Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain 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 Port-of-Spain or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Port-of-Spain are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Port-of-Spain throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Port-of-Spain. In July, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Port-of-Spain gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during summer. Port-of-Spain gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Cartagena in the Autumn?
Both Cartagena and Port-of-Spain during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Port-of-Spain because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Cartagena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain usually gets more rain in October than Cartagena. Port-of-Spain gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Port-of-Spain. In the autumn, Port-of-Spain often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Port-of-Spain gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Port-of-Spain averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Port-of-Spain and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Port-of-Spain year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Port-of-Spain gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Port-of-Spain, it's very sunny this time of the year. Port-of-Spain usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Port-of-Spain gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Port-of-Spain in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPort-of-Spain 26°C (78°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Cartagena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Port-of-Spain as well as Cartagena. Port-of-Spain attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Port-of-Spain usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Port-of-Spain gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port-of-Spain this time of the year. In the spring, Port-of-Spain often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Port-of-Spain gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
In April, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPort-of-Spain 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Port-of-Spain
| Port-of-Spain | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.