A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leon vs. Saint John for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leon or Saint John?

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 Saint John 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 Saint John?

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.

Saint John

With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.

This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Leon or Saint John?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Leon or Saint John in the Summer?

Both Saint John and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Leon. In July, Leon usually receives more rain than Saint John. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Leon is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Should I visit Leon or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

Saint John 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 Saint John. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Leon is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Leon or Saint John in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Leon usually receives less rain than Saint John. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In January, Leon is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit Leon or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Leon as well as Saint John. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

Leon usually gets less rain in April than Saint John. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Leon is around the same temperature as Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Typical Weather for Saint John and Leon