Cartagena
Colombia · South America · 1.0M people
Walled Caribbean port city, hot and humid year-round.
Ranked #234 of 303 overall · 10.39, -75.48
Overview
Cartagena sits in Colombia, on the South American continent, home to roughly 1.0 million people. It's known for warm, sun-heavy weather for most of the year. Cartagena is coastal, with the sea shaping daily life and the local economy. People who choose to settle in Cartagena tend to point to a genuinely affordable cost of living and a climate most people find easy to live with as the deciding factors. Within the 30 cities we track in South America, the regional average sits at 6.1/10, which puts Cartagena's 6.0/10 a little behind the regional norm. On CityMatch, Cartagena scores 6.0/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #234 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is climate at 8/10, while public transport is its softest spot at 4/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Reasonable day-to-day costs.
Varies a lot by neighborhood.
Air quality is acceptable most of the year.
A car helps for anything off the main routes.
Pleasant weather most of the year.
Solid, unremarkable healthcare access.
Solid enough for day-to-day remote work.
Is Cartagena right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
Climate scores 8/10 — genuinely pleasant weather is one of the clearer reasons people choose Cartagena.
At 7/10, Cartagena is genuinely easy on the budget — one of the more affordable options for the lifestyle it offers.
Air quality and environment score 6/10 here — outdoor time doesn't come with a mental asterisk.
Trade-offs
Transport is the soft spot at 4/10 — plan on a car or regular rideshares rather than relying on public transit alone.
Safety scores 5/10, the weakest link on Cartagena's scorecard and worth researching by neighborhood before moving.
Is Cartagena safe?
Safety is inconsistent in Cartagena (5/10) — some areas are genuinely fine, others warrant more caution. It's worth checking which part of the city you'll actually be in.
At night
We'd lean toward rideshares or taxis after dark rather than walking unfamiliar routes, particularly outside the main tourist and business districts.
For tourists
Tourists should do a bit more homework here than usual — checking which districts are considered fine for visitors and which are best avoided, especially after dark.
For families
Safety, healthcare (6/10) and environment (6/10) together suggest a reasonable, if not exceptional, environment for families.
For solo travelers
Solo travelers, and particularly those less familiar with the region, may want to research specific neighborhoods and current local advice more closely before finalizing plans.
On public transport
We'd be more selective about late-night public transport here — daytime use is generally fine, but off-peak service and platforms are worth a second thought.
Practical tips
- →Research specific neighborhoods before booking accommodation.
- →Arrange transport in advance for anything after dark rather than walking unfamiliar routes.
What's the climate like in Cartagena?
Climate is one of Cartagena's clearer strengths at 8/10 — the kind of weather that makes outdoor plans a default rather than a gamble.
Seasonal character
Tagged as a warm-climate city in our data — expect mild winters and a long stretch of pleasant, sun-heavy weather rather than a sharp seasonal divide.
Comfort level
Comfort level is high enough that climate rarely dictates day-to-day plans — a rare trait among the cities we track.
Best time to live here
With a climate this consistent, there isn't a single "best" window — most of the year works.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Cartagena
Put together, quality of life in Cartagena is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: cartagena doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's worth planning around.
Pace & lifestyle
Cartagena doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (6/10) and climate (8/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Transport (4/10) has real gaps — plan on a mix of public options, walking and rideshares depending on where you end up living.
Culture & leisure
Cartagena isn't specifically marketed on culture or nightlife in our data, which usually means a more everyday, less tourist-oriented pace of life — good for routine, less exciting for a short visit.
Based on its actual score profile, Cartagena tends to suit people who prioritize climate and cost of living over public transport — see "Who Cartagena suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Cartagena?
Cartagena scores 6/10 on environment — decent air quality most of the year, without being a specific standout.
Public spaces
Public space quality isn't separately measured in our data; the environment score above is the closest proxy we have, and it points to an unremarkable, workable baseline.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Cartagena suits
Digital nomad
Digital nomads — remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base (fit score 6.3/10 here).
Retiree
Retirees — retirees prioritizing healthcare, climate and a calm environment over nightlife or internet speed (fit score 6.2/10 here).
Freelancer
Freelancers — independent workers balancing cost of living against healthcare access (fit score 6.2/10 here).
Budget-conscious mover
Budget-conscious movers — movers for whom affordability outweighs every other factor (fit score 6.2/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Cartagena scores 7/10 on affordability — not cheap, but reasonable: expect a moderate budget to cover a comfortable, unremarkable lifestyle.
Safety
Safety is a mixed picture in Cartagena, scoring 5/10 — some neighborhoods are clearly safer than others, so location within the city matters more than usual.
Climate
The climate is a major selling point: Cartagena scores 8/10, with the kind of mild, sunny conditions that make outdoor life a year-round option rather than a summer-only one.
Quality of life
Cartagena scores 6.0/10 overall, but that average hides a real spread: climate (8/10) is genuinely strong, while public transport (4/10) pulls the picture down considerably. The average across all seven criteria is 6.0/10.
Transport
Getting around Cartagena takes some planning: transport scores 4/10, and a car or rideshare budget is worth factoring in for anything off the main routes.
Internet & remote work
Connectivity in Cartagena scores 6/10 — solid enough for remote work day-to-day, without being a headline reason to move here.
Why choose Cartagena?
The short version: choose Cartagena for its climate, and go in with clear eyes about public transport. Its 6.0/10 overall score reflects that balance rather than an unqualified recommendation.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Cartagena safe?
Cartagena scores 5/10 on safety, a mixed picture. Safety varies noticeably by neighborhood here, so it's worth researching specific areas before you commit to one.
What budget do I need to live in Cartagena?
Cartagena scores 7/10 on cost of living — a moderate budget is enough for a comfortable lifestyle, without it being a bargain destination.
Is Cartagena good for families?
Cartagena is a reasonable family option — safety (5/10) and healthcare (6/10) are solid enough, without being standout strengths.
Is Cartagena a good city for students?
Cartagena isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (7/10) and transport (4/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Cartagena suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in Cartagena, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (6/10) and cost of living (7/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in Cartagena?
Cartagena scores 8/10 on climate — mild, pleasant conditions for most of the year, one of the better climate scores in our database.
Is Cartagena pleasant to live in year-round?
Largely yes — with a climate score of 8/10 and an environment (air quality) score of 6/10, Cartagena holds up well across seasons.
Is Cartagena a good choice for a first move abroad?
A first move abroad is more demanding in Cartagena: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to just 5.3/10, so more preparation and local research is worth doing before committing.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Cartagena?
Cartagena scores 6/10 on internet — generally fine for remote work, without being a standout choice for it.
Is Cartagena a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 6.3/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Cartagena?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are the closest matches to Cartagena in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Cartagena worth living in?
Reasonably — Cartagena scores 6.0/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to Cartagena?
Based on its score profile, Cartagena suits people who value climate and cost of living more than the average mover — see the "Who Cartagena suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Cartagena walkable, and is public transport good?
Not especially — Cartagena scores just 4/10 on transport, so expect to lean on a car, bike or rideshares more than public transit alone.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Cartagena?
Climate is Cartagena's standout strength, scoring 8/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Cartagena?
Public transport is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 4/10 — the lowest of Cartagena's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.