Which place is cheaper, Puerto Montt or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or Puerto Montt?
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 Montt 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 Montt?
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 Montt
The Lake District is a region of snow capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and endless miles of virgin and ancient forests. Found 1,016 km away from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt is famous for its beautiful lakes and its germanic architecture, old wooden houses and its legendary Iglesia Catedral, found on the town's main square, la Plaza de Armas. The monument, entirely built with alerce (cypress) wood, is the oldest building of the city. The capital of the Lake Region is a good starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59Puerto Montt $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in Puerto Montt is $89. 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 Montt in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16Puerto Montt $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32Puerto Montt $122
Compare Hotels in Leon and Puerto Montt
Looking for a hotel in Leon or Puerto Montt? 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 Montt Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51Puerto Montt $6.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Montt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Montt:
- 4 Days Tour Los Lagos Region with Transfer Chiloe and Peulla: $177
- Cruce Andino Office Private Transfer from Puerto Montt: $44
- Private Transfer from Puerto Airport (PMC) to Puerto Montt Port: $31
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $27
- Private Transfer from Puerto Montt Port to Puerto Airport (PMC): $31
- Puerto Airport (PMC) to Frutillar - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Frutillar: Roundtrip Transfer: $46
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) to Puerto Varas City- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Puerto Montt Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel in Puerto Varas: $24
- Puerto Montt Airport to Puerto Varas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $42
- Puerto Montt Airport(PMC) to Frutillar - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or Puerto Montt?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Montt 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 Montt $21
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 Montt $14
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 Puerto Montt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Montt are as follows:
- Frutillar Tour: $31
- Half day Llanquihue and Frutillar City tour : $44
- Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing: $47
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Tour from Puerto Montt: $56
- Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls Guided Tour: $62
- Osorno Volcano Tour+Petrohue Falls / Cruises / Spanish: $68
- Alerce Andino National Park/Alerce Millenario/Cruises: $77
- Private. City Tour Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas: $92
- Austral / Hornopiren Road Tour: $102
- Frutillar & Llanquihue Private Tour from Puerto Montt: $128
- 6 Hours Shared Tour in Calbuco and Millennial Forest : $130
- Tagua Tagua Lake and Wild Patagonia Tour: $133
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53Puerto Montt $4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and Puerto Montt, we can see that Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Montt 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 Puerto Montt Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or Puerto Montt?
Puerto Montt has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Leon and Puerto Montt, 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 Montt?
Puerto Montt 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 Montt in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Puerto Montt. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
In the summer, Leon is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leon in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 16°C (60°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Montt this time of the year. Leon usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Montt during summer. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Leon usually receives more rain than Puerto Monttin January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLeon 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Leon or Puerto Montt in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Leon as well as Puerto Montt. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Leon is generally much warmer than Puerto Monttin April. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Leon often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin April. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 104 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Montt. Leon receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Leon usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Monttin April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLeon 27°C (81°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Leon or Puerto Montt in the Winter?
Both Puerto Montt and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
Leon is much warmer than Puerto Montt in the winter. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Puerto Montt fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Montt during winter. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Montt receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Montt. In January, Leon usually receives less rain than Puerto Monttin July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLeon 26°C (79°F)Puerto Montt 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Leon or Puerto Montt in the Spring?
Both Puerto Montt 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 the spring, Leon is much warmer than Puerto Montt. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leon in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Montt averages at about 11°C (51°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Leon. In the spring, Leon often gets more sunshine than Puerto Monttin October. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Montt receives 151 hours of full sun.
Puerto Montt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Leon usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Monttin October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Montt receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLeon 29°C (84°F)Puerto Montt 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Montt and Leon
| Leon | Puerto Montt | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4.1 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.