Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu 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: Puerto Iguazu or Cartagena?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $56Cartagena $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, 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 Puerto Iguazu and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $40Cartagena $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $80Cartagena $68
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.03Cartagena $9.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $113
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Iguazu Falls (Argentina & Brazil) + Biocenter with Transfers: $126
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
- Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
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
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- Transfer from your Hotel, Airbnb, home to the Airport: $24
- Transfer from Hotels to Rafael Nuñez Cartagena Airport: $23
- Transfer from Airport to Hotels in Cartagena Manzanillo and Barú: $62
- Transfer by speedboat (1 way) Cartagena Islas del Rosario: $50
- Transfer Cartagena: $53
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Private transfer one way to or from Cartagena airport: $20
- Private transfer from the airport to the hotel in Cartagena: $35
- Private transfer from Cartagena to Santa Marta or viceversa: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.21Cartagena $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $70
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Puerto Iguazú: Romantic Dinner at Pristine Iguazú Camp: $306
- Puerto Iguazú: Pristine Day Iguazú Nature and Food Tour: $332
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Cartagena $27
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
- Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Iguazu Falls: Complete Argentine Side Experience: $48
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour: $57
- Iguazu Falls : Complete Argentine Side Experience: $58
- Iguazu Falls : Complete Argentine Side Experience: $59
- Iguazú Falls National Park Entry Ticket or Flexipass 3 days: $60
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour.: $140
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $32
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $135
- 2 Hours Cartagena Sunset Bay Cruise with Drinks: $39
- 2 hrs Tour in Cartagena Bay with Sunset View: $32
- 2-Hour Cartagena Bay Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $65
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $85
- 2-Hour Tour of Getsemani Color and Art: $80
- 3 Hour Panoramic tour for cruise ship passengers: $61
- 3 Private Islands Experience in Cartagena: $120
- 4 Destinations VIP Tour of Rosario Islands with Snorkeling and Lunch: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.75Cartagena $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 Puerto Iguazu and Cartagena, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Cartagena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cartagena than you might in Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu 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.
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.