Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Leon or El Chalten?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Leon and El Chalten can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Leon or El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 Leon and El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16El Chalten $4.42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Leon and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Leon or El Chalten? 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: El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51El Chalten $2.37
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten and Leon 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 dayLeon $12El Chalten $3.66
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.Leon $5.81El Chalten $2.66
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
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and El Chalten, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leon is in Central America and El Chalten is in South 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Leon or El Chalten?
El Chalten 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 Leon or El Chalten in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
Leon is around the same temperature as El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Leon usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLeon 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Leon or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Leon as well as El Chalten. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Leon is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in El Chalten. Leon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Leon usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLeon 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Leon or El Chalten in the Winter?
Both El Chalten and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
In January, Leon is generally much warmer than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In January, Leon usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLeon 26°C (79°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Leon or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Leon during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Leon is a little warmer than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.
In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Leon. In the spring, Leon often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Leon usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLeon 29°C (84°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Leon
| Leon | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.