Travel budget and cost of living in Cartagena (Colombia) how much does a trip cost?

Cartagena travel budget

Cartagena: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Cartagena

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Cartagena for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Cartagena compared to United States in 2024

On average, the cost of living in Cartagena in 2024 is 42% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Cartagena in 2024 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Cartagena by expense type

Restaurant budget in Cartagena

Lunch

$ 5.5/person
($ 3 to $ 8.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 19/person
($ 13 to $ 26)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 8.2/person
($ 5.9 to $ 9.4)

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24% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 1.6 for 500ml
($ 0.9 to $ 2.4)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 1 for 330ml
($ 1 to $ 1.1)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 1.6/cup
($ 0.4 to $ 1.8)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 0.6/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.6/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 1)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Cartagena

1-star hotel

$ 72/night
($ 15 to $ 339)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 176

2-star hotel

$ 106/night
($ 16 to $ 1046)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 157

3-star hotel

$ 131/night
($ 17 to $ 1098)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 231

4-star hotel

$ 225/night
($ 49 to $ 798)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 313

5-star hotel

$ 236/night
($ 114 to $ 475)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 448

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 58/month
($ 17 to $ 266)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 168

Room with kitchen

$ 190/month
($ 18 to $ 1129)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 171/month
($ 24 to $ 991)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 210

Cottage or guest house

$ 124/month
($ 28 to $ 647)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226

Family room

$ 200/month
($ 25 to $ 1201)

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4% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 210

Supermarket food budget in Cartagena

Milk

$ 1/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 1.2)

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7% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Bread

$ 1.5/500g
($ 1 to $ 2.3)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.6)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 2.1/12 eggs
($ 1.4 to $ 2.8)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 5.4/kg
($ 3.6 to $ 7.1)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Apples

$ 3.7/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 4.8)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 2.2)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.7/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 2.4)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.9
($ 0.3 to $ 1.1)

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62% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Public and private transport budget in Cartagena

Bus ticket

$ 0.8/ticket
($ 0.8 to $ 0.9)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.4/km
($ 1.5 to $ 2.8)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 0.8/litre
($ 0.6 to $ 1)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.3
($ 1.8 to $ 2.4)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Car hire

$ 80/24hrs
($ 29 to $ 233)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 73

Leisure activity budget in Cartagena

Cinema

$ 4.1/ticket
($ 2.8 to $ 5.3)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 8.4/hr
( $ 8.4)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Cartagena

Cigarettes

$ 2.4/pack
($ 2.3 to $ 3.6)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 60
($ 49 to $ 72)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 53

Summer dress

$ 38
($ 18 to $ 60)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Los Angeles → Bogota

$ 526
(fair price: $ 430)

New York City → Bogota

$ 522
(fair price: $ 448)

Toronto → Bogota

$ 609
(fair price: $ 507)

London → Bogota

$ 965
(fair price: $ 851)

Sydney → Bogota

$ 1857
(fair price: $ 1631)

Montreal → Bogota

$ 618
(fair price: $ 515)