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

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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.

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.

Which city 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 $36, while the average daily cost in Leon is $49. 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 city. 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 $19
    Leon $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $38
    Leon $26

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $4.98
    Leon $1.24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Airport transfer from Guatemala City airport to Antigua: $26
  • Collective Transfer From Guatemala City to La Aurora Airport: $20
  • Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: $128
  • Private Airport Transfer: Guatemala to La Aurora International Airport (GUA): $38
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Coban: $155
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán: $120
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $28
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $14
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Guatemala City Hotels to Airport: $14
  • Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:

  • León hotels to Del Bajio Airport (BJX) - Departure Private Transfer: $138
  • Reliable one-way transfer Guanajuato Leon International Airport to Hotel: $161

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 $12
    Leon $9.96

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: $70
  • Guatemala Food Tour from Guatemala City: $117
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $118
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon

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

  • Tlakualli Food Tour: $12

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $0.97
    Leon $4.79

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • Walking tour Guatemala City Downtown: $15
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $17
  • La Aurora Zoo Admission Ticket: $18
  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • Half Day Experience in Guatemala City: $30
  • Guatemala City Tour: $32
  • Guatemala City Afternoon Sightseeing Tour: $34
  • Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
  • Guatemala city walking tour: $37
  • Antigua Guatemala: Morning Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • UNESCO JEWELS: Antigua Half Day Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • Kanba Cave & Semuc Champey Park Tour Including Entrance Fees: $44

Tours and Activities in Leon

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

  • León 3-Hour Guided City Tour Including Entrance Fees: $25
  • León: 5-Hour Volcano Boarding Tour on Cerro Negro: $35
  • Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro: $39
  • Leon City Walking Private Tour: $41
  • León: Flor de Caña Rum Factory 4-Hour Tour: $45
  • Leon City Tour: $46
  • León City tour and Mud pools of San Jacinto: $54
  • plant-based friendly tapas tour: $57
  • Volcano Boarding Private Tour: $62
  • Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
  • Private: León City Walking Tour from León: $63
  • Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour": $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $5.52
    Leon $2.91

About these numbers

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.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Guatemala City vs. Leon Travel Comparison

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