Cartagena vs Medellín

Medellín leads Cartagena by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 60 to 56. Cartagena grades better on 6 measures, Medellín on 7; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Cartagena 56, Medellín 60
• OECD: Cartagena 55, Medellín 67
• UN Tourism: Cartagena 64, Medellín 68
• UNDRR: Cartagena 50, Medellín 52

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Cartagena 69, Medellín 65
• Economy and jobs: Cartagena 31, Medellín 56
• Climate and hazards: Cartagena 40, Medellín 80
• Water and environment: Cartagena 83, Medellín 88
• Community and housing: Cartagena 50, Medellín 50
• Access and continuity: Cartagena 50, Medellín 42

Where Cartagena is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 37.1 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Cotelco Cartagena y Bolívar / El Universal, Jan–Jul 2024). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Largest foreign market: 29.1 % of international arrivals or nights (El Universal / Corpoturismo (Corporación Turismo Cartagena de Indias), 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Aguas de Cartagena / Cartagena Cómo Vamos (Informe de Calidad de Vida 2025), 2025). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 5 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística), Boletín técnico IPC, August 2025 – August 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena, SACSA / Aerocivil, and INVIAS, 2024). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Corporación Turismo Cartagena de Indias (Corpoturismo) / Alcaldía de Cartagena, 2024). Grade 1/4.

Where Medellín is stronger

• Jobs in tourism industries: 7 % of employment in accommodation and food services (metro figure) (DANE (GEIH) via El Colombiano, July 2025). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 7 % of the labour force (metro figure) (DANE / Departamento Nacional de Planeación (DNP) - Mercado laboral urbano: Medellín, Q4 2024). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 0 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 171.6 kg per resident per year (Vivir en El Poblado / Medellín Cómo Vamos, 2025). At or below 350: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Colombia: #54 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Colombia: #54 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Cartagena in full · Medellín in full

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