Climate
90°F year-round
Rent (1BR)
$800–$1,400/mo
Internet
50–200 Mbps
Coworking
Limited — $80–$180/mo
Safety
Moderate — heavy tourist scam presence
What It's Like
Let's be honest: Cartagena is gorgeous for photos and brutal for living. The walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with stunning colonial architecture. It's also 90°F with crushing humidity, the most expensive city in Colombia, and the most tourist-scam-heavy. Every price is inflated for foreigners. Great for a 5-day trip, questionable for a month, and inadvisable as a nomad base.
Where to Stay in Cartagena
Browse apartments, hotels, and short-term rentals in Cartagena. Prices update in real-time.
✅ Pros
- UNESCO World Heritage walled city
- Stunning colonial architecture and photography
- Caribbean beaches nearby (Islas del Rosario)
- Strong restaurant scene in the old city
- Direct flights from many US cities
⚠️ Cons
- Most expensive city in Colombia by far
- Oppressive heat and humidity (90°F+)
- Everything priced for tourists — double Medellín costs
- Aggressive street vendors and scams
- Limited coworking infrastructure