Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Wellington or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington or Cartagena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Wellington or Cartagena?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWellington $104Cartagena $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $104, 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 Wellington and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $61Cartagena $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $122Cartagena $54
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Wellington 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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Cartagena $7.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13
- Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
- Private Airport Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $74
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $77
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $62
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 Wellington or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Wellington 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 dayWellington $30Cartagena $9.82
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$9.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $153
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $188
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.Wellington $16Cartagena $21
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.61
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa: Gallipoli Early Entry Ticket: $9.02
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour: $12
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Mana Māori Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour: $14
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Mana Māori Tour: $14
- Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket: $16
- Return Ferry Ticket from Queens Wharf, Wellington to Days Bay: $17
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $28
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $28
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 dayWellington $12Cartagena $9.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour: $94
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $96
- 5 hour Martinborough shared Chefs Wine Tour with Gourmet lunch: $153
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $172
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $361
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 Wellington and Cartagena, we can see that Wellington is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Wellington or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Wellington 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 Wellington or Cartagena?
Wellington 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 Wellington or Cartagena in the Summer?
Both Cartagena and Wellington during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Wellington this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
Wellington is much colder than Cartagena in the summer. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in July.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Wellington. In the summer, Wellington often gets more sunshine than Cartagenain July. Wellington gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun.
Wellington usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Cartagenain July. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 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 January and JulyWellington 18°C (64°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Cartagena. Many travelers come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Wellington is much colder than Cartagena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Wellington in April average around 15°C (58°F), and Cartagena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
Wellington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cartagena during autumn. Wellington gets 163 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 April, Wellington usually receives less rain than Cartagenain October. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 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 April and OctoberWellington 15°C (58°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Cartagena in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Cartagena. Many visitors come to Wellington in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
In July, Wellington is generally much colder than Cartagenain January. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 10°C (49°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cartagena. In the winter, Wellington often gets less sunshine than Cartagenain January. Wellington gets 122 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun.
Wellington receives a lot of rain in the winter. Wellington usually gets more rain in July than Cartagenain January. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 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 July and JanuaryWellington 10°C (49°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Wellington for the beaches during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Wellington is much colder than Cartagena in the spring. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Cartagena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. Wellington usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during spring. Wellington gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Wellington usually receives more rain than Cartagenain April. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 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 October and AprilWellington 13°C (55°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Wellington
| Wellington | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.