Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or San Juan?
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 San Juan 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 San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $192. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Leon and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Leon or San Juan? 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $210
- Mendoza: One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan (SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Ponce: $125
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $105
- Private Transportation in Puerto Rico From or To San Juan Airport(SJU) Transfers: $33
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 11Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $103
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $12San Juan $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
- Private Local Food Tour in San Juan: $275
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leon $5.81San Juan $49
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Walking tour of Oaxaca City: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 San Juan 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Leon and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Leon or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Leon during the summer 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 San Juan year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Leon often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Leon is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeon 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Leon or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Leon usually receives more rain than San Juan. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. Leon usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Leon is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeon 27°C (81°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Leon or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leon as well as San Juan. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Leon usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In the winter, Leon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In January, Leon is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeon 26°C (79°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Leon or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Leon usually receives less rain than San Juan. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
Leon is around the same temperature as San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeon 29°C (84°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Leon
| Leon | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.