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

Should you visit Brasilia or Managua?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brasilia and Managua can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Brasilia or Managua?

Brasilia

The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Managua or Brasilia?

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 Brasilia is $95, while the average daily cost in Managua is $67. 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 Brasilia and Managua in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Brasilia $31
    Managua $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Brasilia $62
    Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Brasilia and Managua

Looking for a hotel in Brasilia 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 Brasilia


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: Brasilia Hotel Prices and Managua Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Brasilia $20
    Managua $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua

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

  • From Leon: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
  • From One way shared transfer to Granada: $39
  • From One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $59
  • From San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Leon: $39
  • Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $75
  • Granada: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
  • 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 San Juan del Sur: $57

Is it cheaper to fly into Brasilia or Managua?

Prices for flights to both Managua and Brasilia 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
    Brasilia $50
    Managua $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Brasilia $18
    Managua $16

Tours and Activities in Brasilia

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

  • Brasilia : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $60
  • Brasilia Tour: $39

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
  • PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $80
  • Managua City Tour: $84
  • PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City + Catarina lookout: $85
  • full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
  • PRIVATE Granada+Apoyo Lagoon and Masaya volcano night tour: $96
  • Managua City Tour: $98

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Brasilia $13
    Managua $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brasilia and Managua, we can see that Brasilia is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brasilia is in South America 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 Brasilia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brasilia 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 Brasilia Expensive? and Is Managua Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Brasilia or Managua?

Brasilia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Brasilia 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.