Which place is cheaper, Leon or Grande-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grande-Terre or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Grande-Terre 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: Grande-Terre or Leon?
Grande-Terre
Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrande-Terre €145Leon €54
The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is €145, while the average daily cost in Leon is €54. 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 Grande-Terre and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrande-Terre €82Leon €15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrande-Terre €164Leon €30
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre 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: Grande-Terre Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grande-Terre €9.00Leon €1.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:
- Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41
- Arrival Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Le Gosier by SUV: $50
- Departure Private Transfer from Le Gosier to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $51
- Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $41
- Departure Private Transfer from Saint-Francois to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
- Departure Private Transfer from Sainte-Anne to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $60
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport to Pointe-a-Pitre Hotels Arrival Transfer: $23
- Pointe-a-Pitre to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Grande-Terre 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 dayGrande-Terre €48Leon €11
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.Grande-Terre €45Leon €5.36
Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre
Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
- Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $31
- Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
- Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
- Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49
- *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
- Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
- Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $100
- Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $157
- Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $169
- Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $232
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrande-Terre €12Leon €3.26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and Leon, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre is in Caribbean Islands 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 Grande-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Leon?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Leon in the Summer?
Both Leon and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leon. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Leon during summer. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrande-Terre 27°C (81°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Leon in the Autumn?
Both Leon and Grande-Terre during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Leon. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the autumn, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Leon. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun.
Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Leon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrande-Terre 27°C (80°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Leon in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Leon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Leon. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leon during winter. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Grande-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Leon averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrande-Terre 24°C (76°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Leon in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Leon. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Leon. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Grande-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun.
In April, Grande-Terre is generally cooler than Leon. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrande-Terre 26°C (78°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and Grande-Terre
| Grande-Terre | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°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.