A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Managua vs. Cafayate for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Managua or Cafayate?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Managua and Cafayate can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Managua or Cafayate?

Managua

Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.

Cafayate

Cafayate is located in the province of Salta, in the central zone of the Valles Calchaquies. The small town has about 12,000 residents and is 1,329 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

People head to the small town of Cafayate to explore its vineyards and unique rock formations. It has become an important tourist destination in the area and there is a large golf course under construction just outside of town.

Cafayate is an important wine production center. The wines in the area thrive from the low humidity mild weather of the valleys. The town receives less than 250 millimeters of precipitation a year.

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


Which place is cheaper, Cafayate or Managua?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Managua is $67, while the average daily cost in Cafayate is $53. 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 Managua and Cafayate in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Managua $23
    Cafayate $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Managua $46
    Cafayate $68
Compare Hotels in Managua and Cafayate

Looking for a hotel in Managua or Cafayate? 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.

Hotels in Managua


Hotels in Cafayate


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: Managua Hotel Prices and Cafayate Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Managua $20
    Cafayate $5.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua

Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $127
  • Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
  • Nicaragua Private Transfer Service Managua and San Juan del Sur: $100
  • Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
  • Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $63
  • From One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $59
  • One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
  • San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Managua: $57
  • PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
  • San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
  • Granada: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
  • One way shared transfer to Leon: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Managua or Cafayate?

Prices for flights to both Cafayate and Managua 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Managua $30
    Cafayate $6.46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Managua $16
    Cafayate $40

Tours and Activities in Managua

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.

  • Granada + Boat ride+Handicraft Market+Catarina+ Lava tour: $120
  • Granada lake +Colonial City + Lava tour Masaya volcano: $60
  • 3 full day tour at Granada, Lava tour and Leon : $210
  • Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
  • Apoyo Lagoon + Lava tour: $48
  • Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
  • Complete Tour of Granada and Masaya: History, Beauty & Tradition: $115
  • Discover the Best of Managua on a Private City Tour: $60
  • Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
  • Managua Capital City Private Tour: $90
  • Managua City Tour: $98
  • Managua City Tour: $84

Tours and Activities in Cafayate

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cafayate.

  • Foz do Iguaçu: Day Tour of the Argentina and Brazil Sides: $96
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Cachi, & Hornocal 3-Day Tour: $136
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Humahuaca & Salinas Grandes 3-Day Tour: $106
  • From Salta: Cafayate, Salinas Grandes, & Hornocal Tour: $128
  • From Salta: Full-Day Wine and Valley Tour to Cafayate: $45
  • From Salta: Local Landscape, Winery, and Culture Tour: $130
  • Unveiling Premium Wine Road Adventure: $127

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Managua $11
    Cafayate $19


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Managua and Cafayate, we can see that Managua is more expensive. And not only is Cafayate much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Managua is in Central America and Cafayate 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 Cafayate would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cafayate 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 Managua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Managua than you might in Cafayate.

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


Which is Bigger, Managua or Cafayate?

Managua has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Cafayate. When comparing the sizes of Managua and Cafayate, 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.