A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guatemala City vs. Leon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guatemala City or Leon?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City or Leon?

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Leon or Guatemala City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, 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 Guatemala City and Leon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $24
    Leon $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $48
    Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Leon

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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.

Hotels in Guatemala City


Hotels in Leon


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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.17
    Leon $1.51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Guatemala Airport to San Felipe de Lara RoundTrip PrivateTransfer: $154
  • Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $77
  • Guatemala City Airport(GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Round-Trip Transfer: $132
  • Private transfer to Antigua: $74
  • PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $24
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
  • Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
  • Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in Guatemala City: $30
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
  • Private one way transfer in Guatemala: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Leon?

Prices for flights to both Leon and Guatemala 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Guatemala City $15
    Leon $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.

  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.21
    Leon $5.83

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:

  • Culinary Experience in Guatemala City: $15
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $17
  • Guided Walking Tour in Guatemala City: $25
  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
  • Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
  • UNESCO JEWELS: Antigua Half Day Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
  • City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
  • Tour around antigua's villages: $50

Tours and Activities in Leon

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

  • Leon City Walking Private Tour : $41
  • Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
  • Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
  • Telica Sunset Tour : $77
  • Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $79
  • Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
  • Horseback Riding Private Tour : $87
  • Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
  • Cerro Negro Volcano Boarding & Boat Tour: $120
  • Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
  • Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
  • 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $165

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.84
    Leon $3.54


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Leon, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Leon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leon than you might in Guatemala City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Leon?

Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.