Cartagena
Colombia's priciest city, especially inside the walls.
- Lean
- $58
- Comfort
- $326
Sharply pricier. Tracks Colombia as a whole.
Pricier than the national figure of $96 a day.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
As of November 12, 2026, a mid-range day in Cartagena costs about $134 per person, excluding flights: about 40% more than the average for Colombia. For US-dollar travelers it is 14.4% more expensive than a year ago after inflation, in line with Colombia as a whole. Colombia's priciest city, especially inside the walls.
What your money buys in Colombia
Exchange rates and inflation are national, so the city follows this line. The dashed line is the exchange rate alone; the solid line is after inflation.
Cartagena, in five questions
City costs are the national model scaled by a premium of +40% that we set by hand. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does a day in Cartagena cost?
- About $58 on a lean budget, $134 mid-range and $326 in comfort, per person per day as of November 12, 2026, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates: the national figure for Colombia, updated daily, scaled by a city premium.
- Is Cartagena expensive compared with the rest of Colombia?
- Cartagena costs about 40% more than the national average for Colombia, which is $96 a day mid-range. Colombia's priciest city, especially inside the walls.
- Is Cartagena cheaper to visit than last year?
- The exchange rate moved −12.4% for US-dollar holders over twelve months while prices in Colombia rose +5.9%, a real change of −14.4%. City prices broadly follow the country.
- When is the best time to visit Cartagena for lower prices?
- For Colombia the shoulder months, with workable weather and lower prices, are June, September. Peak season is December, January, February, March, July, August.
- Is Cartagena safe?
- The US State Department rates Colombia at Level 3: Reconsider travel. Country-wide levels can hide large differences between cities and regions, so read the full advisory.