A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beijing vs. Managua for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Beijing or Managua?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing and Managua 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: Beijing or Managua?

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.

Managua

Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Managua or Beijing?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $75, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Beijing and Managua in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Beijing $39
    Managua $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Beijing $78
    Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Managua

Looking for a hotel in Beijing or Managua? 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 Beijing


Hotels in Managua


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: Managua Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Beijing $7.68
    Managua $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:


  • Taxi
    $4.69
  • Train from Airport for Two
    $6.88
  • Taxi to Hotel
    $8.25
  • 2 Metro Passes
    $2.20
  • Metro
    $0.55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:

  • Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 30pax: $850
  • Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 15pax: $490
  • Tank Driving Experience (hotel pickup & Roundtrip Transfer): $450
  • Private Beijing Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 5pax: $323
  • Beijing to Zun Hua Explore Qing Emperor's Tombs By Car Transfer : $285
  • Beijing Private Transfer: Mutianyu Great Wall Slow-Paced Visit: $280
  • Private Transfer to Beidaihe Summer Resort from Beijing: $272
  • 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $265
  • Private Transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace with A Guide: $259
  • 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
  • Beijing Layover of Comprehensive City Tour With Airport Transfer: $240
  • Beijing Hutong Culture Experience with Airport Transfer: $236

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua

Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua: $68
  • Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $75
  • Granada: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
  • Leon: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
  • Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
  • Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
  • Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
  • Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $100
  • Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
  • Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
  • One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
  • One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Managua?

Prices for flights to both Managua and Beijing 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
    Beijing $19
    Managua $17
Typical Food Prices in Beijing

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:


  • Popcorn
    $0.83
  • Hot Pot Dinner
    $6.88
  • Dumpling Breakfast for Two
    $2.75
  • Watermelon
    $1.93
  • Peking Duck Dinner for 2
    $16
  • Two Popsicles
    $0.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing

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

  • Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
  • Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
  • Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
  • 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
  • Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
  • Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
  • Gulou (the Drum Tower) of Beijing Dinner & Beer Walking Tour: $68
  • 3 hours Morning or Afternoon Tea Tasting on Maliandao Street and Tea Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Tour: $69
  • Beijing Gulou Night Market Food Tour: $75
  • discovery more Beijing back street evening food tour with locals : $79
  • Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
  • Acrobatic Show with Peking Duck Dinner Private Tour: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Beijing $24
    Managua $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing

Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Summer Palace for Two
    $8.25
  • Two Opera Tickets
    $58
  • Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)
    $9.63
  • Forbidden City (for 2)
    $17
  • Forbidden City Tickets
    $17
  • Audio Guides at Forbidden City
    $11

Tours and Activities in Beijing

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

  • 2-Day Small-Group Tour of Beijing Highlights, No Shopping: $258
  • 4-Hour Beijing Layover Tour to Hutong from Daxing Airport: $145
  • 9 Day Shared Tour from Beijing to Shanghai: $299
  • All Inclusive Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour: $204
  • All Inclusive Private Tour: Juyongguan Greatwall, Sacred Road, MingTombs : $176
  • Beijing 2 Summer Palace Private Garden Tour: $140
  • Beijing Art Tour: Seeing Fantastic Ming Murals at Fa Hai Temple : $220
  • Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with English Driver : $121
  • Beijing Private Tour of Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest and Water Cube: $297
  • China Art Museum and 798 Art Zone Private Tour: $137
  • China National Museum Ticket Pre-booking and Tiananmen Square : $50
  • Classic One Day Beijing Tour: $228

Tours and Activities in Managua

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.

  • Private lava tour-Masaya Volcano from Managua: $49
  • Masaya Volcano Tour: $53
  • Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
  • Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
  • PRIVATE Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour: $70
  • PRIVATE Day trip Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour from Managua: $80
  • Managua City Tour: $84
  • PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City + Catarina lookout: $85
  • full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
  • Managua City Tour: $88
  • PRIVATE Granada+Apoyo Lagoon and Masaya volcano night tour: $96
  • Full day tour: Granada + Boat ride+Handicraft Market+Catarina: $100

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Beijing $11
    Managua $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:

  • Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
  • 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Managua, we can see that Beijing is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing is in Asia and Managua 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Beijing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beijing than you might in Managua.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Managua Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Beijing or Managua?

Beijing has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Beijing and Managua, 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.


When is the best time to visit Beijing or Managua?

Beijing has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Managua experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Beijing or Managua in the Summer?

Both Managua and Beijing during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Beijing in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round.

In the summer, Beijing is around the same temperature as Managua. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beijing in July average around 27°C (80°F), and Managua averages at about 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in Beijing. In the summer, Beijing often gets more sunshine than Managua. Beijing gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 175 hours of full sun.

Managua gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually gets more rain in July than Managua. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Managua receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Beijing 27°C (80°F) 
    Managua 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Beijing or Managua in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Managua. Most visitors come to Beijing for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Beijing is generally much colder than Managua. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around 14°C (56°F), and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In Beijing, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beijing usually receives more sunshine than Managua during autumn. Beijing gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Managua receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Beijing usually receives less rain than Managua. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Managua receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Beijing 14°C (56°F) 
    Managua 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Beijing or Managua in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Managua. The winter months attract visitors to Beijing because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year.

The weather in Beijing can be very cold. Beijing is much colder than Managua in the winter. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around -4°C (26°F) in January, and Managua fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Managua. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beijing this time of the year. In the winter, Beijing often gets less sunshine than Managua. Beijing gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 244 hours of full sun.

Beijing usually gets less rain in January than Managua. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Managua receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Beijing -4°C (26°F) 
    Managua 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Beijing or Managua in the Spring?

Both Managua and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Beijing this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Managua because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Beijing is much colder than Managua. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beijing in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Managua averages at about 29°C (84°F).

It's quite sunny in Managua. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Beijing. Beijing usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Managua during spring. Beijing gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Beijing usually receives more rain than Managua. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Managua receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Beijing 14°C (57°F) 
    Managua 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Managua and Beijing

Beijing Managua
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -4°C (26°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb -1°C (30°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 6°C (42°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 14°C (57°F) 26 mm (1 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 20°C (68°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 25°C (76°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 27°C (80°F) 176 mm (6.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 25°C (78°F) 182 mm (7.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 20°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 14°C (56°F) 19 mm (0.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 5°C (41°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec -1°C (29°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)