Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Quepos or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Cartagena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Cartagena?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, 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 Quepos and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Quepos 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56Cartagena $7.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- 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 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: $12
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
- Transfer High-end - Kia Quoris: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $30Cartagena $10
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
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.Quepos $17Cartagena $22
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
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
- 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
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- "Luxury Day in Tierra Bomba Exclusive Tour to the best Beach Club": $154
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $105
- 2 Hour Panoramic tour for cruise ship passengers: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Cartagena $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 Quepos and Cartagena, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos 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 Quepos or Cartagena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Quepos or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Quepos during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually gets more rain in July than Cartagena. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Quepos often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
In July, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 28°C (82°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQuepos 28°C (82°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Quepos gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Quepos usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Quepos usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during autumn. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Quepos is around the same temperature as Cartagena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQuepos 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Cartagena. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Quepos usually gets less rain in January than Cartagena. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 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 Quepos this time of the year. In the winter, Quepos often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Quepos is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Quepos in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQuepos 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Quepos usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 29°C (85°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQuepos 29°C (85°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Quepos
| Quepos | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.