Should you visit Managua or Granada?
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 Granada can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
Which city is cheaper, Granada or Managua?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Managua is $45, while the average daily cost in Granada is $33. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Managua and Granada in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $36 in Managua For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $28 for a double occupancy room in Granada.
Food
In Managua travelers spend around $15 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Granada food costs typically run travelers around $12 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Managua $15
Granada $12
Typical Food prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Granada
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Granada.
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Middle Eastern 6-course dinner in Granada with a professional chef:
$49
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Albaicín & Sacromonte Guided Walking Tour with Flamenco & Tapas Dinner:
$81
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Small Group Food Tour in Granada:
$88
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Spanish Tapas Cooking Class in Granada:
$116
Local Transportation
To get around in Managua, the average visitor spends $17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $7.22 per day to get around in Granada.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer: Augusto C Sandino Int. Airport (MGA) to Managua:
$13
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Private Airport Transfer: from Managua to Augusto C Sandino Int. Airport (MGA):
$13
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Private Transfer From Managua International Airport:
$17
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Granada Transfer:
$44
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San Jorge Rivas Transfer:
$47
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Transfer Managua to Granada:
$52
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San Juan Del Sur Transfer:
$56
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Las Peñitas or Poneloya beach Transfer:
$67
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Private Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua:
$68
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One-Way Private Transfer from Managua to Granada:
$83
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Popoyo Beach Transfer:
$90
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Private Transfer in Nicaragua:
$110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
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Seville Private Transfer from Granada with sightseeing in Antequera and Cordoba:
$634
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Private Transfer: Granada to Federico García Lorca Granada Airport (GRX):
$622
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Granada to Seville Private Transfer:
$388
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Granada Private Transfer to Seville with a Visit to Cordoba:
$348
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Private Transfer from Granada to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$276
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Granada to Cordoba Private Transfer:
$275
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Granada to Malaga Airport Private Transfer:
$216
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One-Way Private Transfer from Granada to San Juan del Sur:
$119
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Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes minivan:
$107
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Private Transfer IN or OUT in Upscale Vehicle with Professional Driver:
$93
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One-Way Private Transfer from Granada to Managua:
$83
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Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes Sedan:
$81
Is it cheaper to fly into Managua or Granada?
Prices for flights to both Granada 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.
Entertainment
In Managua, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $13 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $8.77 per person, per day in Granada. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
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Masaya Volcano Night Tour:
$34
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Masaya Volcano National Park Evening Tour, with hotel pickup:
$34
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Nicaragua Private Guide and Transportation Service: Customized Tours:
$47
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Masaya Volcano Night Tour from Granada:
$48
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Coffee Tour:
$49
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Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour":
$54
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Granada+Apoyo Lagoon +handicraft market+ Masaya volcano night tour:
$55
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Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour:
$60
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Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour:
$60
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Managua City Tour:
$65
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Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour:
$68
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Granada Isletas and City tour:
$68
Typical Entertainment prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
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2-Day Seville Tour from Granada with Royal Alcazar Palace, Seville Cathedral and Flamenco Show:
$271
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3-Hour Walking Tour of Granada:
$55
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3-day Andalucia Tour: Codoba & Seville from Granada:
$917
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4WD Sierra Nevada Safari PRIVATE TOUR:
$118
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A day in the life of Granada - Private tour with a local:
$249
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Albaicin and Sacromonte Guided Tour:
$19
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Albaicin and Sacromonte Walking Tour:
$12
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Albaicin quarter - night private tour:
$115
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Albayzin and Sacromonte Electric Bike Tour in Granada:
$76
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Albayzin and Sacromonte Guided Walking Tour in Granada:
$19
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Albayzin and Sacromonte private tour at sunset with tapas:
$169
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Alhambra & Generalife Guided Premium Tour (Small Groups with Direct Entry):
$98
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Managua, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $9.34.
The average person spends about $6.32 on alcoholic beverages in Granada per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Managua
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Managua:
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Private Flor de Caña Rum Distillery and León City:
$165
Typical Alcohol prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
Sample the Local Flavors in Granada
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Granada:
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Wine Tasting in Granada:
$57
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Granada Tapas and wine tour!:
$67
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Granada Traditional Tapas and Wine Tour - by Oh My Good Guide!:
$81
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Small-Group Granada Tapas Bar Crawl Evening Tasting Experience:
$83
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BEST OF Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour - by OhMyGoodGuide!:
$106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Managua and Granada, we can see that Managua is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Granada.
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