A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tel Aviv vs. Cartagena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tel Aviv or Cartagena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tel Aviv 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.

Where Should I go: Tel Aviv or Cartagena?

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.

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 Luxury Tours to Israel, The Best Budget Tours to Israel, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Tel Aviv?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tel Aviv is $140, 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 Tel Aviv and Cartagena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tel Aviv $87
    Cartagena $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tel Aviv $174
    Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Tel Aviv and Cartagena

Looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv 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.

Hotels in Tel Aviv


Hotels in Cartagena


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: Tel Aviv Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tel Aviv $8.78
    Cartagena $7.49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:


  • Local Bus to Central Bus Station
    $1.59
  • Taxi to Airport
    $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:

  • From Biblical Highlights Tour with Transfer: $124
  • From Jerusalem Day Trip with Transfer: $124
  • Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
  • Jerusalem: Private Airport Transfer - Great Service !: $118
  • Netanya: Private Airport Transfer - Great Service !: $118
  • Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
  • Private Haifa Transfer - from/to Tel Aviv City or (TLV) Airport : $239
  • Private Intercity Transfer - from your Tel Aviv Hotel to your Jerusalem Hotel: $80
  • Private Round trip Airport Transfers - Airport to Tel Aviv Area and return: $174
  • Private Tel Aviv Departure Transfer - Hotel/Accommodation to Airport: $89
  • Private Tel Aviv Departure Transfer from your Hotel /Accommodation to Airport: $35
  • Private Transfer from Herzlia to Ben Gurion Airport: $116

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: $160
  • Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $10
  • Airport Hotel Transfer: $19
  • Airport Transfer - Hotel Cartagena: $23
  • Airport Transfer Hotel: $35
  • Airport Transfers Cartagena: $38
  • Arrival Private Transfer Cartagena Airport CTG to Cartagena City by Minivan: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Tel Aviv or Cartagena?

Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Tel Aviv 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tel Aviv $28
    Cartagena $9.82
Typical Food Prices in Tel Aviv

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:


  • Dinner for Two
    $23
  • Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka
    $131
  • Lunch at Segev Sarona
    $34
  • Aroma Iced Coffee
    $3.77
  • Lunch at the airport
    $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tel Aviv

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tel Aviv.

  • Tel Aviv Food Tour of the Carmel Market: $49
  • Carmel Market Food Tour: $49
  • Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market: $49
  • Private Jaffa Flea Market Hapishpeshim Food Tour: $60
  • 3 hours Levinsky Market Food Tour : $104
  • The 10 Tastings of Tel Aviv With Locals: Private Food Tour : $230
  • Private Food Tour to Carmel Market : $266

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: $44
  • 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
  • Street food tour: $61
  • 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tel Aviv $23
    Cartagena $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv

Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Masada tour from Tel Aviv
    $79
  • Etzel museum
    $4.04

Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv

Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • The Trail of Independence: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Tel Aviv: $9.99
  • The Story of Gan HaHashmal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Discover Tel Aviv's Bauhaus Legacy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Self-guided Graffiti tour in Tel Aviv in your own time and your own pace: $24
  • All the Best of Tel Aviv Walking Tour: $28
  • Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
  • Tel Aviv Jaffo Skyline Sightseeing Cruise of Coast Line: $29
  • Historic walking tour of Tel Aviv - Secrets of Sarona - Self-Guided Tour: $30
  • Jaffa Walking Tour: Old Jaffa, Jaffa Port & the Flea Market: $35
  • Tel Aviv Street Art Tour (Graffiti): $35
  • Jaffa and Neve Tzedek Neighborhoods Walking Tour: $39

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Emeralds Tour: $0.03
  • Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.35
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
  • Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.50
  • Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.42
  • Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.58
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: Pirate Tales in Cartagena: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - Legends of the Streets of Downtown : $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour of Getsemaní Neighborhood: $10
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tel Aviv $22
    Cartagena $9.21

Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:

  • Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour with Shots: $22
  • Pub Crawl with Clubs, dance bars and free shots: $22
  • Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $24
  • Pub Crawl with 4 Stops and Free Shots: $30
  • Tel Aviv Craft Beers Pub Crawl: $42
  • Wine Tour North of Israel from Tel Aviv: $959

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: $19
  • Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
  • Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
  • Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
  • Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $72


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tel Aviv and Cartagena, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tel Aviv is in Middle East 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 Tel Aviv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tel Aviv or Cartagena?

Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Tel Aviv. When comparing the sizes of Tel Aviv 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.