A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Plata vs. Granada for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Plata or Granada?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Plata and Granada can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or Granada?

La Plata

Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.

Granada

Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Granada or La Plata?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.62, while the average daily cost in Granada is $40. 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 La Plata and Granada in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Plata $3.47
    Granada $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Plata $6.94
    Granada $34
Compare Hotels in La Plata and Granada

Looking for a hotel in La Plata or Granada? 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 La Plata


Hotels in Granada


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: La Plata Hotel Prices and Granada Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Plata $2.47
    Granada $8.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:

  • One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Granada?

Prices for flights to both Granada and La Plata 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
    La Plata $3.37
    Granada $14
Typical Food Prices in La Plata

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:


  • Ice Cream
    $0.01

Typical Food Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:


  • Pizza
    $2.29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Plata $2.16
    Granada $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in La Plata

For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Sciencias Naturales Museum Entrance Fee
    $0.01

Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:


  • Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour
    $8.17

Tours and Activities in Granada

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

  • Bird Watching Tour: $90
  • Boat Tour and Granada City Tour: $120
  • Charming Granada Outdoor "Private Tour" : $92
  • Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
  • Fabulous Night Tour in Masaya Volcano from Granada: $158
  • From Full-Day Tour to 6 Attractions with Lunch incl: $125
  • Full Day Tour Isletas + Pueblos Blancos + Laguna from Granada: $120
  • Full Day Tour in Granada with Volcano Visit: $224
  • Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
  • Granada City Tour: $40
  • Granada Colonial City Tour and Masaya Volcano: $130
  • Granada Kayak Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Plata $1.20
    Granada $7.50

Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:


  • Tequila
    $1.36


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

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


Which is Bigger, La Plata or Granada?

La Plata has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of La Plata and Granada, 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 La Plata or Granada?

La Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Granada experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Granada in the Summer?

Both Granada and La Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.

In the summer, La Plata is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Plata in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Granada averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

In the summer, La Plata often gets more sunshine than Granadain July. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 175 hours of full sun.

Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Plata usually gets less rain in January than Granadain July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    La Plata 25°C (77°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit La Plata or Granada in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Granada. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, La Plata is generally cooler than Granadain October. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (65°F), and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Granada during autumn. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Granada receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, La Plata usually receives less rain than Granadain October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    La Plata 18°C (65°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit La Plata or Granada in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Granada. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.

La Plata is much colder than Granada in the winter. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Granada fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Granada. In the winter, La Plata often gets less sunshine than Granadain January. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 244 hours of full sun.

La Plata usually gets more rain in July than Granadain January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    La Plata 12°C (53°F) 
    Granada 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit La Plata or Granada in the Spring?

Both Granada and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, La Plata is much colder than Granada. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Plata in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Granada averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Granada. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Granada during spring. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in La Plata. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Granadain April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    La Plata 18°C (64°F) 
    Granada 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Granada and La Plata

La Plata Granada
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 24°C (75°F) 101 mm (4 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 22°C (71°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 18°C (65°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 15°C (59°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 12°C (53°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 12°C (53°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 13°C (55°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 18°C (64°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 21°C (69°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec 23°C (74°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)