Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or Leon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leon or Ushuaia?
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 Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia?
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.
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeon $59Ushuaia $11
The average daily cost (per person) in Leon is $59, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $11. 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 Ushuaia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeon $16Ushuaia $5.64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeon $32Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in Leon and Ushuaia
Looking for a hotel in Leon or Ushuaia? 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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leon $1.51Ushuaia -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport and Hotel Transfer in Ushuaia: $139
- Private Embarkation Debarkation Transfer: $129
- Private Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $120
- Private Transfer Airport-Port or Port-Airport (Ushuaia): $55
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Shared Transfer Airport-Hotel-Airport (Ushuaia): $37
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Transfer Ushuaia Airport - Hotel in Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport : $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Leon or Ushuaia?
Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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 $12Ushuaia $2.18
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
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Martial Glacier at Night with Dinner Included: $94
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leon $5.81Ushuaia $13
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
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Ushuaia City Tour: $26
- Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
- Tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park from Ushuaia: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeon $3.53Ushuaia -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leon and Ushuaia, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leon is in Central America and Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leon or Ushuaia?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Leon and Ushuaia, 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 Ushuaia?
Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia in the Summer?
Both Ushuaia 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.
Leon is much warmer than Ushuaia in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Ushuaia fluctuates around 10°C (50°F)in January.
In the summer, Leon often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ushuaiain January. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 169 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually gets more rain in July than Ushuaiain January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLeon 27°C (81°F)Ushuaia 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Leon or Ushuaia in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Ushuaia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
In the autumn, Leon is much warmer than Ushuaia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Ushuaia averages at about 6°C (43°F)in April.
Leon usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during autumn. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 74 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Leon usually receives more rain than Ushuaiain April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLeon 27°C (81°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Leon or Ushuaia in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leon as well as Ushuaia. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Ushuaia can be very cold. In January, Leon is generally much warmer than Ushuaiain July. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and Ushuaia fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In the winter, Leon often gets more sunshine than Ushuaiain July. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ushuaia receives 61 hours of full sun.
Leon usually gets less rain in January than Ushuaiain July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLeon 26°C (79°F)Ushuaia 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Leon or Ushuaia in the Spring?
Both Ushuaia and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
Leon is much warmer than Ushuaia in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Ushuaia fluctuates around 6°C (43°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually receives more sunshine than Ushuaia during spring. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Ushuaia receives 156 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leon usually receives less rain than Ushuaiain October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ushuaia receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLeon 29°C (84°F)Ushuaia 6°C (43°F)
Typical Weather for Ushuaia and Leon
| Leon | Ushuaia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.