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

Should you visit Leon or Valdivia?

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 Valdivia 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 Valdivia?

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.

Valdivia

Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.

When comparing the travel costs between Leon and Valdivia, we can see that Valdivia is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Leon is in Central America and Valdivia is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leon Expensive? and Is Valdivia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Leon or Valdivia?

Leon has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Valdivia. When comparing the sizes of Leon and Valdivia, 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 Valdivia?

Valdivia 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 Valdivia in the Summer?

Both Valdivia 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 Valdivia in the summer. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Valdivia fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in January.

In Valdivia, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Leon often gets less sunshine than Valdiviain January. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 296 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually gets more rain in July than Valdiviain January. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Leon or Valdivia in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Valdivia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.

In the autumn, Leon is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leon in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Valdivia averages at about 11°C (52°F)in April.

Leon usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during autumn. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Valdivia 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 Valdiviain April. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Leon or Valdivia in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Leon as well as Valdivia. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Leon is generally much warmer than Valdiviain July. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 26°C (79°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 7°C (45°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 Valdiviain July. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 66 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Valdivia. Leon usually gets less rain in January than Valdiviain July. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Leon or Valdivia in the Spring?

Both Valdivia 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 Valdivia in the spring. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during spring. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. In April, Leon usually receives less rain than Valdiviain October. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Valdivia and Leon