Georgetown vs Cartagena
In numbers
Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.
House or apartment rent
per monthGeorgetownfrom GYD 80kfrom GYD 80kCartagena≈ $1,070–2,140COP 3.5–7.04MWinter
averageGeorgetown23–29 °C23–29 °CCartagena24–31 °C24–31 °CPrecipitation
per yearGeorgetown2,263.3 mm2,263.3 mmCartagena1,017 mm1,017 mm
By topic
A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.
Housing
Georgetown
Even a decent one-bedroom apartment for under 80k Guyana dollars (about 380 US dollars) a month is hard to find (2024). Oil workers get housing allowances of 2500+.
SpecialistStabroek News: City rents high and going higher, 18 June 2024 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
A three-bedroom apartment by listings: median 5.5 million pesos a month (about 1,640 dollars), half within 3.5-7 million. In stratum 6 the median is 6.8 million.
SpecialistFincaraíz: three-bedroom apartments for rent in Cartagena · checked 6 Oct 2026
A resale three-bedroom by listings: median 975 million pesos (about 290 thousand dollars), half within 750 million - 1.49 billion. Mostly Bocagrande and Castillogrande.
SpecialistFincaraíz: three-bedroom apartments for sale in Cartagena · checked 6 Oct 2026
Money and prices
Georgetown
Prices in Georgetown rose 3.6% in the year to August 2026, food 4.4%. Since the end of 2018 the food price index has risen by about 70%.
OfficialBureau of Statistics: Consumer Price Index, Georgetown, August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
The DANE minimum food basket for Cartagena is 238,308 pesos per person a month, about 953 thousand (285 dollars) for a family of four. Figures for 2025.
OfficialDANE: monetary poverty 2025, presentation of results with poverty lines by city · checked 6 Oct 2026
A family of four in Cartagena counts as poor with income below 2.1 million pesos a month, about 630 dollars (2025). 34.6% of residents are poor, more than in Medellín and Cali.
OfficialDANE: monetary poverty 2025, presentation of results with poverty lines by city · checked 6 Oct 2026
Healthcare
Georgetown
Nothing yet
Cartagena
Hospital Serena del Mar of the Santa Fe de Bogotá foundation: in Colombia's top 20 in the Newsweek 2026 ranking and first in Cartagena and the Caribbean region. Over 60 specialties.
SpecialistEl Universal: Hospital Serena del Mar, first in Cartagena in the Newsweek 2026 ranking · checked 6 Oct 2026
Transport
Georgetown
CJIA international airport at Timehri: American, United, JetBlue, KLM, British Airways, Copa, Avianca and Caribbean airlines. Driving from the airport at night is not advised.
OfficialCheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA): list of airlines · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
In 2025 about 7.2 million passengers passed through Cartagena airport, 1.7 million of them international. The most popular destinations are Lima, New York, Mexico City, Madrid and Miami.
OfficialAerocivil, open data: commercial air traffic by origin-destination, 2020-2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Climate
Georgetown
There is no winter: in the coolest month, January, it is 23 degrees at night and 29 by day. All year round 29-31 by day and 23-24 at night.
OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Georgetown · checked 6 Oct 2026
About 2260 mm a year, two rainy seasons: May-July (270-330 mm a month) and December-January (185-260). Driest are February, September and October, about 90-110 mm.
OfficialWMO World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Georgetown · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
There is no winter: even in the coolest month, January, it averages 23.6 degrees at night and 30.5 during the day. In June-July, 25.7 at night and 31.6 during the day.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Cartagena 1971-2000 · checked 6 Oct 2026
About 1,020 mm a year. From December to April it is almost dry (1-35 mm a month), rains from May to November, most of all in October: 235 mm and 16 rainy days.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Cartagena 1971-2000 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Safety
Georgetown
Stabroek Market is off limits to US embassy staff at all times. The UK and US name Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Agricola and Sophia as dangerous.
OfficialU.S. Department of State: Guyana Travel Advisory, Level 3, 25 August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
The coast where Georgetown stands is below sea level and relies on sea defences. Drainage is poorly maintained, and floods happen in the rainy seasons (May-June, December-January).
OfficialUK Foreign Office: Guyana travel advice, Safety and security (updated 30 December 2025) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
According to Ministry of Defense open data, Cartagena had 360 homicides in 2025 and 381 in 2024. In January-August 2026 there were 191, against 244 in the same period of 2025.
OfficialColombian Ministry of Defense, open data: homicides by municipality (HOMICIDIO) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Internet and phone
Georgetown
Median fixed internet speed in Guyana is 149 Mbit/s download and 43 upload (Speedtest, August 2026). There are no mobile data.
SpecialistSpeedtest Global Index: Guyana, median speeds, August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
Nothing yet
Services
Georgetown
GPL electricity: 43.43 Guyana dollars per kWh plus 351 a month for consumption above 75 kWh. 300 kWh is about 13.4k, roughly 64 US dollars.
OfficialGPL: electricity tariffs in force since 11 April 2021 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cartagena
Water with sewerage for 15 m³ at the Aguas de Cartagena tariff: stratum 4 about 136 thousand pesos a month (41 dollars), stratum 5 about 241 thousand, stratum 6 about 289 thousand.
OfficialAguas de Cartagena: water and sewerage tariffs, second half of 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Surtigas piped gas for homes: 2,539 pesos per m³ plus 3,942 pesos a month per bill. 30 m³ comes to about 80 thousand pesos (24 dollars). Strata 5-6 pay 20% more.
OfficialSurtigas: piped gas tariffs for regulated users, September 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Since September 2026 a kWh from Afinia costs 1,033 pesos, the price for stratum 4. 300 kWh a month is about 310 thousand pesos (93 dollars), a typical amount for a family with air conditioning.
SpecialistEl Universal: Afinia's price per kWh rose from 950 to 1,033 pesos from September 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

