Which place is cheaper, Pucon or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or Pucon?
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 Pucon 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 Pucon?
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.
Pucon
A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.
Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59Pucon $100
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in Pucon is $100. 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 Pucon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16Pucon $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32Pucon $86
Compare Hotels in Leon and Pucon
Looking for a hotel in Leon or Pucon? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51Pucon $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pucon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pucon:
- Private Transfer Pucon Thermal Resorts to Temuco Airport: $49
- Pucon Temuco Airport Private Transfer: $130
- Pucon to Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC) -Departure Transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or Pucon?
Prices for flights to both Pucon 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 $12Pucon $38
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leon $5.81Pucon $37
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 Pucon
Here are a few actual costs in Pucon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Rafting Experience in Pucon: $60
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience on the Correntoso River: $68
- Sightseeing Tour in Pucon and Villarica: $93
- Half Day Tour to The Eyes Of Caburgua from Pucon: $93
- Private Half Day Andean Lakes Experience with pickup: $110
- Full Day Private Tour Ascending Sollipulli Volcano: $140
- Local Chile-Bavarian Culinary Pretzel Baking Experience n Sausage: $149
- Full Day Excursion Tour to Quetrupillán Volcano: $177
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53Pucon $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and Pucon, we can see that Pucon 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 Pucon 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 Pucon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pucon 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 Pucon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or Pucon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Leon and Pucon, 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 Pucon?
Pucon 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 Pucon in the Summer?
Both Pucon and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
Leon is much warmer than Pucon in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Pucon. Leon usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during summer. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Leon. In July, Leon usually receives more rain than Puconin January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLeon 27°C (81°F)Pucon 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Leon or Pucon in the Autumn?
Both Pucon and Leon during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Leon is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Pucon averages at about 11°C (52°F)in April.
In the autumn, Leon often gets more sunshine than Puconin April. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun.
Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually gets more rain in October than Puconin April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLeon 27°C (81°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Leon or Pucon in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Pucon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
In January, Leon is generally much warmer than Puconin July. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In Leon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Leon usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.
Pucon receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Leon usually receives less rain than Puconin July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLeon 26°C (79°F)Pucon 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Leon or Pucon in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Leon as well as Pucon. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Leon is much warmer than Pucon in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In the spring, Leon often gets more sunshine than Puconin October. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pucon. Leon usually gets less rain in April than Puconin October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLeon 29°C (84°F)Pucon 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Pucon and Leon
| Leon | Pucon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 297 mm (11.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 247 mm (9.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 63 mm (2.5 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.