Which place is cheaper, Leon or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Buzios or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Leon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Buzios or Leon?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesLeon Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $91Leon $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $91, 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 Buzios and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $36Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $72Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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.
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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $18Leon $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $91
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $182
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134
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 Buzios or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Buzios 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
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Food Meals for one dayBuzios $40Leon $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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $25Leon $5.80
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $11
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $27
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- Underwater Adventure in Diving and Snorkeling: $46
- Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Leon $3.52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Leon, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios 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 Buzios Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Leon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.