Which place is cheaper, El Chalten or Managua?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Managua or El Chalten?
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 El Chalten can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Managua or El Chalten?
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.
El Chalten
El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManagua $55El Chalten $9.93
The average daily cost (per person) in Managua is $55, while the average daily cost in El Chalten is $9.93. 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 El Chalten in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManagua $23El Chalten $4.42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManagua $46El Chalten $8.84
Compare Hotels in Managua and El Chalten
Looking for a hotel in Managua or El Chalten? 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: Managua Hotel Prices and El Chalten Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Managua $20El Chalten $2.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Managua or El Chalten?
Prices for flights to both El Chalten 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
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Food Meals for one dayManagua $17El Chalten $3.66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Managua $16El Chalten $2.66
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- Private lava tour-Masaya Volcano from Managua: $49
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- PRIVATE Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour: $70
- PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $80
- PRIVATE Day trip Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour from Managua: $80
- Managua City Tour: $84
- PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City +Masaya Volcano Night Tour : $85
- full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
- PRIVATE Boat tour+Granada City and Catarina lookout from Managua: $88
- Managua City Tour: $88
Tours and Activities in El Chalten
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for El Chalten are as follows:
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $55
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $90
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManagua $11El Chalten $1.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Managua and El Chalten, we can see that Managua is more expensive. And not only is El Chalten much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Managua is in Central America and El Chalten 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 El Chalten would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Chalten 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 El Chalten.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Managua Expensive? and Is El Chalten Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Managua or El Chalten?
El Chalten has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Managua experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Managua or El Chalten in the Summer?
Both El Chalten and Managua during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Managua because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Managua is around the same temperature as El Chalten in the summer. The daily temperature in Managua averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Managua. Managua usually gets more rain in July than El Chaltenin January. Managua gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryManagua 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Managua or El Chalten in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Managua and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round.
In the autumn, Managua is a little warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Managua in October average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten averages at about 21°C (70°F)in April.
El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Managua gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Managua usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin April. Managua gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilManagua 27°C (81°F)El Chalten 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Managua or El Chalten in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Managua as well as El Chalten. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Managua is generally much warmer than El Chaltenin July. Daily temperatures in Managua average around 26°C (79°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Managua usually gets less rain in January than El Chaltenin July. Managua gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyManagua 26°C (79°F)El Chalten 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Managua or El Chalten in the Spring?
Both El Chalten and Managua are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year.
Managua is a little warmer than El Chalten in the spring. The daily temperature in Managua averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in El Chalten. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Managua. Managua usually receives more sunshine than El Chalten during spring. Managua gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in El Chalten. In April, Managua usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin October. Managua gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberManagua 29°C (84°F)El Chalten 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for El Chalten and Managua
| Managua | El Chalten | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 140 mm (5.5 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.