Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Punta del Este?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este 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.
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $98, 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 Punta del Este and Cartagena in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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.
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Punta del Este 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and Cartagena, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.
Punta del Este has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Punta del Este as well as Cartagena. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In January, Punta del Este is generally cooler than Cartagenain July. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 23°C (73°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 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 Punta del Este this time of the year. In the summer, Punta del Este often gets more sunshine than Cartagenain July. Punta del Este gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in January than Cartagenain July. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Cartagena and Punta del Este are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Punta del Este is much colder than Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
Punta del Este usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during autumn. Punta del Este gets 171 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 April, Punta del Este usually receives less rain than Cartagenain October. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Cartagena and Punta del Este during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the winter, Punta del Este is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta del Este in July average around 10°C (50°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Punta del Este often gets less sunshine than Cartagenain January. Punta del Este gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Punta del Este usually gets more rain in July than Cartagenain January. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta del Este and Cartagena. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Punta del Este is generally much colder than Cartagenain April. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 16°C (61°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Punta del Este, it's very sunny this time of the year. Punta del Este usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Punta del Este gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than Cartagenain April. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Punta del Este | Cartagena | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |