A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) vs. Leon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Leon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Leon can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Leon?

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)

Puerto Plata, nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, is a captivating destination known for its beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and vibrant culture. Whether you're arriving via the bustling Amber Cove cruise port or planning an extended stay, Puerto Plata offers a diverse range of experiences for every traveler.

Leon

Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.

With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Leon or Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is $231, while the average daily cost in Leon is $68. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Leon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $141
    Leon $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $282
    Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Leon

Looking for a hotel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Leon? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)


Hotels in Leon


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $9.01
    Leon $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)

Also for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cibao International Airport (STI) to Santiago hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Puerto Plata International Airport to Hotels (1 - 6): $62
  • Private Transfer Cibao International Airport to Puerto Plata: $115
  • Private Transfer Puerto Plata to Cibao Airport: $128
  • Private Transfer between STI Airport Santiago to Puerto Plata: $109
  • Private Transfer from Cibao Airport (STI) to Puerto Plata Port: $117
  • Private Transfer from Cibao International Airport to Puerto Plata: $110
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Plata Airport to Cabarete: $80
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Plata Port to Santiago: $84
  • Private Transfer from Santiago STI Airport to Santo Domingo: $160
  • Private Transfer from Santiago to Puerto Plata Port: $84
  • Private Transfer from or to Puerto Plata Airport.: $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:

  • From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
  • San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
  • One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
  • From Granada: One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Leon?

Prices for flights to both Leon and Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $75
    Leon $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.

  • Tlakualli Food Tour: $25
  • Cooking Workshop in Nicaragua: $25
  • Nicaraguan Food Cooking Workshop & Market Tour: $40
  • Cooking Class Private Tour: $55
  • Nicaraguan Cooking Class with a Local Family at Leon City: $60
  • Leon City: Cooking Class: $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $40
    Leon $5.80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)

For Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Snorkeling Tour
    $42
  • Banana Boat Ride
    $5.96
  • Paragliding
    $51
  • 1 Hr Kayak Rental
    $12
  • Water Skiing
    $18

Tours and Activities in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata).

  • Damjagua Waterfalls Tickets: $19
  • Puerto Plata City Tour with Pickup: $40
  • city and history tours: $44
  • Cayo Arena Tour – Paradise Island: $44
  • Guided Puerto Plata City Tour – Fortress, Rum & Umbrella Street: $45
  • Half Day Tour in Puerto Plata: $45
  • Cultural and Historical Tour of Puerto Plata: $45
  • Best Puerto Plata City Tour: $45
  • Puerto Plata City Tour Ron Puros Culture and History: $50
  • Waterfalls of Damajagua Tour: $50
  • Damajagua 7 Waterfalls Adventure – In Puerto Plata: $52
  • Amber Cove & Taino bay Shore Excursion - Puerto Plata City Tour: $55

Tours and Activities in Leon

Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $448
  • 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $227
  • A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $246
  • Half Day Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $49
  • Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
  • Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
  • Horseback Riding Private Tour : $120
  • Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
  • Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
  • Leon Colonial City Tour: $39
  • Leon Nicaragua City Tour: $122
  • Leon city: Walking tour by our landmarks.: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $13
    Leon $3.52


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Leon, we can see that Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is in Caribbean Islands and Leon is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) than you might in Leon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Leon?

Leon has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Amber Cove (Puerto Plata). When comparing the sizes of Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Leon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.