Should you visit Belize City or Managua?
Should I visit Belize City or Managua? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate � meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Managua or Belize City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $70, while the average daily cost in Managua is $45. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Belize City and Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $78 in Belize City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $36 in Managua For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Belize City can vary, the average travelers spends about $22 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Belize City should cost around $8.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Belize City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
In Managua travelers spend around $15 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Belize City $22
Managua $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private Mayan Cooking and Tasting Experience in Cayo:
$70
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See and Taste Belize Cave Tubing and Food Tour:
$77
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Belize Cultural Food Tour Altun Ha Ruin Included:
$95
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Mestizo Food Tour (Rum & Ruin Included):
$125
Local Transportation
Belize City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $4.64 per person, per day on transportation in Belize City.
To get around in Managua, the average visitor spends $16 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Helicopter Transfer to Grand Caribe Heliport, Ambergris Caye:
$1,493
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Private Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels:
$160
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Tours&airport transfer:
$128
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Private Transfer: Belize Airports or Water Taxi Terminal to Hotel in San Ignacio:
$96
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Belize: Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Transfer:
$45
-
Belize Travelcation Airport Shuttle & Transfers:
$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer Managua to Granada:
$52
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San Juan Del Sur Transfer:
$56
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San Jorge Rivas Transfer:
$47
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Private Transfer in Nicaragua:
$110
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Private Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua:
$68
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Private Transfer From Managua International Airport:
$17
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Private Airport Transfer: from Managua to Augusto C Sandino Int. Airport (MGA):
$13
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Private Airport Transfer: Augusto C Sandino Int. Airport (MGA) to Managua:
$13
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Popoyo Beach Transfer:
$90
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One-Way Private Transfer from Managua to San Juan del Sur:
$146
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One-Way Private Transfer from Managua to Granada:
$83
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Las Peñitas or Poneloya beach Transfer:
$67
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua and Belize City 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Belize City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $23 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In Managua, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $13 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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4-Day Aktun Tunichil Muknal and Lamanai City Tour:
$560
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5-Day Belize Sea and Land Adventure:
$799
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7-Night Tour Including The Orchid Garden Eco-Village Lodge and Ambergris Caye:
$1,399
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9-Day Tour Including Tikal Islander and Ambergris Caye:
$1,499
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All Day Reef fishing tour with lunch from Belize City:
$540
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Altun Ha & Belize City Tour from Caye Caulker:
$163
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Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from Belize City:
$208
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Altun Ha City v.i.v Tour:
$79
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Altun Ha Maya & Belize City Adventure:
$85
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Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour:
$85
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Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City:
$70
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Altun Ha and Belize City Tour from San Pedro:
$180
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
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3 full days tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua:
$271
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4-Days Tour in Colonial Nicaragua:
$1,090
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5-Day Granada Adventure from Managua:
$853
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7-Day Best of Nicaragua Experience from Managua:
$914
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7-Day Volcano Adventure:
$1,587
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Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour":
$54
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Best of Nicaragua 7-Day Tour: Lakes, Islands and Volcanoes:
$1,608
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Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout:
$68
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Boat ride on lake Granada+Colonial sightseeing+Night tour at Masaya volcano:
$68
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Boat tour + Granada City +Masaya Volcano Night Tour:
$68
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Boat tour+Granada City and Catarina lookout:
$68
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Cerro Negro Volcano Boarding & Boat Tour:
$145
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Belize City spend on average $9.58 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Managua, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $9.28.
Sample the Local Flavors in Managua
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Managua:
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Private Flor de Caña Rum Distillery and León City:
$165
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and Managua, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Belize City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belize City than you might in Managua.
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