Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Managua?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Managua or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Managua or Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManagua $55Santa Elena $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Managua is $55, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $92. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManagua $23Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManagua $46Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Managua and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Managua or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Managua $20Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $211
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Managua or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 $17Santa Elena $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Managua $16Santa Elena $30
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $75
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Leon City and Rum Tasting Tour from Managua: $215
- Managua City Tour: $88
- Managua City Tour: $84
- Managua Love Stories: A Romantic Tour: $188
- Managua Love Stories: A Walking Tour: $97
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $319
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $163
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $70
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Day & Night Nature Tour in Monteverde Combo tour : $190
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- 5-in-1 Monteverde Cloud Forest Experience with Ziplining and Hanging Bridges: $232
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManagua $11Santa Elena $6.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Managua and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena than you might in Managua.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Managua Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Managua or Santa Elena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Managua or Santa Elena in the Summer?
Both Santa Elena and Managua are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in Managua. In July, Managua usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Managua gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Managua usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during summer. Managua gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Managua is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Managua average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyManagua 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Managua or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
Both Santa Elena and Managua during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Managua because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Managua. Managua usually gets less rain in October than Santa Elena. Managua gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Managua often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Managua gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun.
Managua is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Managua averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberManagua 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Managua or Santa Elena in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Managua and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Managua usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Managua gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In Managua, it's very sunny this time of the year. Managua usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during winter. Managua gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Managua is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Managua in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryManagua 26°C (79°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Managua or Santa Elena in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Managua as well as Santa Elena. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
Managua usually gets less rain in April than Santa Elena. Managua gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Managua this time of the year. In the spring, Managua often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena. Managua gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun.
In April, Managua is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Managua average around 29°C (84°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilManagua 29°C (84°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Managua
| Managua | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.