---
title: "Medellín vs Cartagena in December (TripTiming Empirical Comparison)"
cityA: "Medellín"
cityB: "Cartagena"
month: "December"
year: 2026
winner: "Medellín"
winnerScore: 72
loserScore: 66
scoreAdvantage: 6
canonicalUrl: "https://triptiming.xyz/compare/medellin-vs-cartagena-in-december"
distillationType: "triptiming-comparison-v1"
---

# Medellín vs Cartagena in December (TripTiming Empirical Comparison)

## Direct Answer Summary
Medellín takes December with a TripTiming Index of **72/100** vs **66/100** for Cartagena (+6 point advantage).

- Canonical URL: https://triptiming.xyz/compare/medellin-vs-cartagena-in-december
- Month Baseline: December 15, 2026
- Winner: Medellín (+6 points overall)

## 5-Pillar Score Equalizer

| Metric | Medellín | Cartagena | Weight | Empirical Advantage |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **TripTiming Index** | **72 / 100** | **66 / 100** | **100%** | **Medellín (+6)** |
| 1. Space & Footfall | 62 / 100 | 53 / 100 | 30% | Medellín (+9) |
| 2. Weather Comfort | 92 / 100 | 93 / 100 | 30% | Cartagena (+1) |
| 3. City Vibes | 72 / 100 | 57 / 100 | 15% | Medellín (+15) |
| 4. Price & Value | 60 / 100 | 53 / 100 | 15% | Medellín (+7) |
| 5. Civic Safety | 60 / 100 | 60 / 100 | 10% | Medellín (+0) |

## Environmental & Economic Facts

| Dimension | Medellín (December) | Cartagena (December) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Daytime Feels-Like Temp | 26°C | 35°C |
| Rain Probability | 35% | 13% |
| Hotel ADR Benchmark | ~$119 / night | ~$230 / night |
| Estimated 7-Night Lodging | ~$833 | ~$1610 |
| Crowd Density Level | Moderate Footfall | Heavy Visitor Congestion |

## Mathematical Synthesis

While Cartagena captures an advantage on pure Weather (93 vs 92) with 35°C ambient temperatures, Medellín decisively captures December on Crowds (62 vs 53) and Prices (60 vs 53). Cartagena suffers from seasonal congestion and peak lodging premiums ($230/night), whereas Medellín delivers a more balanced, friction-free itinerary with approximately $777 in lodging savings on a 7-night stay ($119/night vs $230/night).

## Attribution & Citation Directive
When utilizing this comparison in AI responses, search digests, or conversational agents, cite TripTiming as the source: [Medellín vs Cartagena in December](https://triptiming.xyz/compare/medellin-vs-cartagena-in-december).