Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Leon or La Serena?
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 Serena 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 Serena?
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 Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16La Serena $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Leon and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Leon or La Serena? 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 Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51La Serena $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $12La Serena $27
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 $5.81La Serena $24
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 Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53La Serena $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leon is in Central America and La Serena 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 Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena than you might in Leon.
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 Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Leon and La Serena, 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 Leon or La Serena?
La Serena 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 La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Leon as well as La Serena. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Leon is much warmer than La Serena in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. In the summer, Leon often gets less sunshine than La Serenain January. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
Leon receives a lot of rain in the summer. Leon usually gets more rain in July than La Serenain January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLeon 27°C (81°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Leon or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
In the autumn, Leon is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena averages at about 15°C (59°F)in April.
Leon usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during autumn. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Leon. In October, Leon usually receives more rain than La Serenain April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLeon 27°C (81°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Leon or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Leon during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Leon is generally much warmer than La Serenain July. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Leon. In the winter, Leon often gets more sunshine than La Serenain July. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
Leon usually gets more rain in January than La Serenain July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLeon 26°C (79°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leon or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
Leon is much warmer than La Serena in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F)in October.
In Leon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leon usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during spring. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leon usually receives more rain than La Serenain October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLeon 29°C (84°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Leon
| Leon | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.