A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Granada for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Granada?

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 Mar del Plata and Granada can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Granada?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

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.

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

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

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

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Granada?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Granada, 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 Mar del Plata or Granada?

Mar del Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Granada experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Granada in the Summer?

Both Granada and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.

In January, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Granadain July. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than Granadain July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 175 hours of full sun.

Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than Granadain July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Granada in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Granada. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Mar del Plata is much colder than Granada in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.

Granada receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Granadain October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Granada in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Granada. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.

In the winter, Mar del Plata is much colder than Granada. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Granada averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Granadain January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Granada in the Spring?

Both Granada and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Granadain April. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Granada fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

It's quite sunny in Granada. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Granada during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Granadain April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Granada and Mar del Plata