Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Leon and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in Leon or Puerto Madryn? 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: Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 $12Puerto Madryn $5.69
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 $5.81Puerto Madryn $5.77
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leon is in Central America and Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or Puerto Madryn?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Leon and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
In July, Leon is generally a little warmer than Puerto Madrynin January. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Leon usually receives more rain than Puerto Madrynin January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLeon 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Leon or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Leon as well as Puerto Madryn. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Leon is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in April.
Leon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Leon usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madrynin April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLeon 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Leon or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn 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 the winter, Leon is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leon in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Madryn during winter. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leon usually receives less rain than Puerto Madrynin July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLeon 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Leon or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn 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.
In April, Leon is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin October. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Leon usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Madrynin October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLeon 29°C (84°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Leon
| Leon | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.