Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or La Paz?
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 La Paz 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 La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59La Paz $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Leon and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Leon or La Paz? 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: La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51La Paz $9.45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer In_ Day: $25
- Airport Transfer In_night: $47
- Airport Transfer Out_day: $25
- Airport Transfer Out_night: $25
- Bus Station Transfer In_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $21
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Paz Hotels to Airport : $27
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in La Paz City: $60
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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
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Food Meals for one dayLeon $12La Paz $17
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
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leon $5.81La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
- A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $226
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking city tour La Paz: $2.67
- La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
- Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
- Live Virtual City Tour - La Paz : $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Cable Car Ride: $10
- Private Sunset Tour in La Paz: $10
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- Titicaca Lake - Bus Ticket - From La Paz City - Ow: $12
- Gastronomic Tour Vivencial Tour de las Caseras: $13
- Private Cable Car City Tour: $18
- Cable Car, Cemetery, Shaman, and El Alto Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53La Paz $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and La Paz, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leon is in Central America and La Paz 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 La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 La Paz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Leon and La Paz, 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.
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.