Which place is cheaper, Leon or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Florianopolis or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis or Leon?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $62Leon $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, while the average daily cost in Leon is $59. 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 Florianopolis and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $26Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $52Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Florianopolis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Leon $1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $40
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
- One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
- Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $84
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
- Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
- Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $22Leon $12
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $26Leon $5.81
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.59
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
- Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $23
- Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $30
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $32
- Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
- Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $37
- Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
- Private Tour: The 7 Most Preserved Beaches on the South Island by Floripa Nativa: $39
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $42
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: $163
- A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $226
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.68Leon $3.53
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.59
When comparing the travel costs between Florianopolis and Leon, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Florianopolis is in South America and Leon is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Leon?
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.
When is the best time to visit Florianopolis or Leon?
Florianopolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Leon experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Florianopolis or Leon in the Summer?
Both Leon and Florianopolis during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
In January, Florianopolis is generally around the same temperature as Leonin July. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 25°C (76°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the summer, Florianopolis often gets more sunshine than Leonin July. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun.
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Florianopolis. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in January than Leonin July. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyFlorianopolis 25°C (76°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Leon in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and Leon. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Florianopolis is cooler than Leon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 22°C (71°F) in April, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Leon during autumn. Florianopolis gets 179 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Leon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Florianopolis usually receives less rain than Leonin October. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberFlorianopolis 22°C (71°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Leon in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as Leon. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
In the winter, Florianopolis is much colder than Leon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Florianopolis in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Leon averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. In the winter, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than Leonin January. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun.
Florianopolis usually gets more rain in July than Leonin January. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryFlorianopolis 17°C (62°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Florianopolis or Leon in the Spring?
Both Leon and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Florianopolis is generally cooler than Leonin April. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 20°C (68°F), and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It's quite sunny in Leon. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than Leon during spring. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Florianopolis. In October, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than Leonin April. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilFlorianopolis 20°C (68°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and Florianopolis
| Florianopolis | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (76°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 95 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (71°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
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.