Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or The Hague?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit The Hague 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 The Hague and Cartagena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: The Hague or Cartagena?
The Hague
The Hague is a metropolitan city in the province of South Holland, where the Dutch government is located. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima currently reside there with their three children. The Hague is home to the U.N.'s International Court of Justice, as well as the International Criminal Court. It is the third largest city in the country, with a population of just over 500,000.
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 Luxury Tours to Netherlands, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Netherlands, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThe Hague €178Cartagena €44
The average daily cost (per person) in The Hague is €178, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €44. 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 The Hague and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThe Hague €104Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThe Hague €208Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in The Hague and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in The Hague 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: The Hague Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.The Hague €19Cartagena €6.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in The Hague
Also for The Hague, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Amsterdam: Private Transfer to/from The Hague: $280
- Amsterdam: Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Den Haag: $17
- Amsterdam: Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Den Haag: $20
- Den Haag: Train Transfer Den Haag from/to Rotterdam: $8.29
- Eindhoven: Train Transfer Eindhoven from/to Den Haag: $28
- From One-Way Private Transfer to Schiphol Airport: $258
- Private Transfer from The Hague City to Schiphol Airport : $137
- Private Transfer from The Hague to Amsterdam: $137
- Taxi Transfer from The Hague to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: $126
- Utrecht: Train Transfer Utrecht from/to Den Haag: $16
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
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- 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 City Center - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $20
- 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: $13
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into The Hague or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and The Hague 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 dayThe Hague €55Cartagena €9.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in The Hague
For The Hague, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- WALKING DINNER DELFT | 3 courses incl. 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
- WALKING DINNER ZOETERMEER | 3 courses + 3 drinks and a lot of fun: $87
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.The Hague €34Cartagena €20
Tours and Activities in The Hague
For The Hague, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in The Hague: $3.27
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Delft: $3.27
- The Hague Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- The Historical Heart of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $7.00
- Delft: Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $7.29
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $8.07
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.07
- Gilde Den Haag: City Walking Tour NL-DEU-ENG: $8.61
- The Hague Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Muzee Scheveningen History Museum Entry Ticket: $10
- Uncover In-App Audio Tour of Dutch Majesty: $11
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
- Palenque Native Guide, free entrance tickets, dance show & lunch: $110
- 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
- Shore excursion Accessible sightseeing tour : $250
- Tour around the Rosario Islands 4 islands: $65
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThe Hague €30Cartagena €8.56
Sample the Local Flavors in The Hague
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in The Hague:
- The Hague Pub Trail: Pub crawl with interactive online game: $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 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 The Hague and Cartagena, we can see that The Hague is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since The Hague is in Europe 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 The Hague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in The Hague 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 The Hague Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, The Hague or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of The Hague. When comparing the sizes of The Hague 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 The Hague or Cartagena?
The Hague has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cartagena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit The Hague or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and The Hague during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to The Hague because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the summer, The Hague is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in The Hague in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in The Hague. In the summer, The Hague often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena. The Hague gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
The Hague usually gets more rain in July than Cartagena. The Hague gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThe Hague 17°C (62°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit The Hague or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both The Hague and Cartagena. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to The Hague this time of year. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, The Hague is generally much colder than Cartagena. Daily temperatures in The Hague average around 11°C (51°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The Hague usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during autumn. The Hague gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Cartagena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, The Hague usually receives less rain than Cartagena. The Hague gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThe Hague 11°C (51°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit The Hague or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to The Hague as well as Cartagena. Many travelers come to The Hague for the shopping scene and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in The Hague. The Hague is much colder than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in The Hague averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, The Hague often gets less sunshine than Cartagena. The Hague gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
The Hague usually gets more rain in January than Cartagena. The Hague gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThe Hague 2°C (36°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit The Hague or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and The Hague are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to The Hague in the spring for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, The Hague is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in The Hague in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The Hague usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during spring. The Hague gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, The Hague usually receives more rain than Cartagena. The Hague gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThe Hague 8°C (46°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and The Hague
| The Hague | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.