Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tulum 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 Tulum 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: Tulum or Cartagena?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $122Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $122, 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 Tulum and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $60Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $120Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Tulum 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $28Cartagena $7.64
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Akumal, Tulum: $191
- Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $117
- One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $160
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Transfer From Cancun Airport - Tulum: $208
- Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun International Airport: $160
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $210
- Private Transfer in Vehicle from Tulum to Cancun Airport : $91
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM - up to 9 pax: $299
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $254
- Roundtrip Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $269
- Tulum to Bacalar - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $153
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.81
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.81
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.81
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.81
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.02
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
- Service private transfers Airport/Hotel and vice versa in Cartagena: $12
- Bilingual Private Transfer In Cartagena : $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Tulum 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 dayTulum $34Cartagena $10
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $86
- Vegan Walking Food Tour with Tasting: $87
- Mexican Cooking from Scratch and Mezcal Tasting in a Local Home in Tulum: $87
- Mayan Night Guided Tour, Cenote Swim and Mayan Dinner: $209
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more) : $299
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
- Street food tour: $61
- 2 hours Sibarita Express Dinner: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $32Cartagena $22
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Audioguide Tulum, Audioguide-App Mayastadt Tulum, Tour Tulum Archaeological Site: $4.31
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Coba Ruins: The trail of the Mayas: $10
- Tulum Archeological Site Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $12
- Self-Guided Mayan Ruins Tour: $13
- Explore Coba: The Ultimate Self-Guided Audio & Map Tour: $15
- Archeological Guided Walking Tour in Tulum: $20
- Archaeological Site Guided Walking Tour: $20
- Tulum Mural Tours: $36
- Playa del Carmen: ATV, Cenote, and Zipline Tour with a Meal: $41
- Entrance tickets to swim in 4 Cenotes in Casa Tortuga Park: $42
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Totumo Mud Volcano Experience: $0.21
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.45
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.02
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.23
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.52
- Shared Walking Tour through the Historic Center of Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
- Emerald Museum and Factory Tour: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $25Cartagena $9.39
Sample the Local Flavors in Tulum
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tulum:
- 30 Minutes Brewery Tour in Tulum: $39
- Wine Tasting at Pan y Vino Tulum: $58
- Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour: $69
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 Tulum and Cartagena, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North 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 Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum 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 Tulum Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum 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 Tulum or Cartagena?
Tulum 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 Tulum or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and Cartagena. Many visitors come to Tulum in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Tulum is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tulum in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tulum usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Tulum gets 232 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
Tulum gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Tulum usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTulum 28°C (83°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Tulum or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Tulum as well as Cartagena. Most visitors come to Tulum for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In October, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the autumn, Tulum often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Tulum gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Tulum receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Tulum usually gets more rain in October than Cartagena. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to April in Tulum is the dry season. June to October in Tulum is the rainy season. Also, June to October in Tulum is the hurricane season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTulum 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tulum or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Tulum because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Tulum is cooler than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Tulum usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTulum 23°C (74°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Tulum or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Tulum during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Tulum this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
In the spring, Tulum is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tulum in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the spring, Tulum often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
Tulum usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. November to April is the dry season in Tulum. June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. Also, the hurricane season in Tulum is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTulum 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Tulum
| Tulum | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (78°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 72 mm (2.8 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.