Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Santa Marta?
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 Santa Marta 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 Santa Marta 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: Santa Marta or Cartagena?
Santa Marta
Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.
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, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia.
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Santa Marta Prices
Colombia PricesCartagena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Marta $44Cartagena $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Marta is $44, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is $62. 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 Santa Marta and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Marta $15Cartagena $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Marta $30Cartagena $60
Compare Hotels in Santa Marta and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta 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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Marta $5.83Cartagena $8.46
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:
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Gas$5.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta
Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport to Zona Rodadero and Pozos Colorados – One-Way Transfer: $24
- Arrival or Departure Transfer: Simón Bolívar Airport: $14
- Boat transfer to Parque Tayrona Cabo San Juan: $82
- Cartagena to or from Santa Marta Private Transfer: $178
- Exclusive transfer Santa Marta - Cartagena: $229
- Private Transfer Santa Marta to Palomino (or vice versa): $154
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $14
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Airport SMR to Santa Marta Port: $70
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Airport SMR to Santa Marta Port: $14
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Cruise Port to Santa Marta city: $70
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Cartagena Airport (CTG): $214
- Private Transfer from Santa Marta Port to Santa Marta Airport SMR: $70
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 by speedboat (1 way) Cartagena Islas del Rosario: $50
- Transfer Private Airport Hotel in Cartagena: $96
- Transfer Cartagena: $53
- The best private Transfer from/to Cartagena airport. ONE WAY: $27
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Private transfer one way to or from Cartagena airport: $20
- Private transfer from Cartagena to Santa Marta or viceversa: $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Marta or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Santa Marta 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 daySanta Marta $19Cartagena $19
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$3.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Santa Marta Street Food Tour: 7 Tastings with a Local Guide: $39
- Santa Marta Walking Food Tour: $65
- Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $69
- SamarioCaribeño Chef's Table Cooking Lesson and Breakfast: $87
- Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $114
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- PROFESSIONAL STREET FOOD TOUR With AUTHENTIC TASTINGS: $39
- FLAVORS OF CARTAGENA STREET FOOD TOUR with MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- FLAVORS OF STREET FOOD TOUR w/ MOUTHWATERING TASTINGS: $39
- Food Tour History °Cafe Cartagena Tasting: $40
- Cartagena Bites & Stories: Local Street Food Tour: $40
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $52
- Street Food Tour with a local Foodie in Cartagena: $52
- Cartagena street food tour: taste authentic flavors: $52
- Cartagena Cooking Class with Local Chef (Small Group Experience): $59
- Cartagena Old Town Authentic Food Tour with 9 Flavorful Tastings: $59
- 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63
- Street Food & Local Food Tour: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Marta $15Cartagena $24
Tours and Activities in Santa Marta
For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Santa Marta Marine World Aquarium Admission Ticket and Guide: $8.80
- Mariposario Sierra Nevada Entry Ticket: $8.97
- Tour in Chiva Rumbera Music Party and Fun in Santa Marta: $15
- Chiva Rumbera VIP Night Tour + Beer: $17
- Patrimonial Walking Tour: Hidden Stories of Santa Marta: $18
- A Pearl In The Caribbean-walking tour in English: $18
- Santa Marta Graffiti Tour: Urban Art & Culture: $18
- Full City of Santa Marta Tour and its Charms: $20
- Historic Center Bike Tour: $20
- BE RELAX TOUR - Bahia Concha: $22
- SANTAMARTA: Panoramic History and Culture City Tour by Chiva: $25
- Historic Center Bike Sightseeing Tour with a Local Guide: $25
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
- 2 Hours Cartagena Sunset Bay Cruise with Drinks: $39
- 2 hrs Tour in Cartagena Bay with Sunset View: $30
- 2-Hour Cartagena Bay Tour: $27
- 2-Hour Color and Art Tour in Getsemani: $65
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Bazurto Market: $70
- 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 Islands Tour Cartagena with Snorkel, Cholon & Lunch: $75
- 4-Hour Fishing Experience with Locals Near Cartagena: $210
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Marta $7.42Cartagena $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:
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Beer$0.64
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Beer$2.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Marta
Also in Santa Marta, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $24
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $25
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Santa Marta, Colombia: $25
- Bar Crawl In Santa Marta: $125
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!: $21
- Thursday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $26
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $28
- Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $40
- Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena: $45
- Ultimate Party Combo Cartagena Sunset Boat Party & Pub Crawl: $57
- Wine in the Wild: A Nature-Inspired Wine Tasting near Cartagena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Marta and Cartagena, we can see that Cartagena is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta 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 Santa Marta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Marta Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Marta or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santa Marta. When comparing the sizes of Santa Marta 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.