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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Leon?

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 Leon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Leon?

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.

Leon

Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.

With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.

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 Leon, we can see that Leon 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 Leon 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 Leon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leon 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 Leon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Leon?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Leon, 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 Leon?

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

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

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

Mar del Plata is cooler than Leon in the summer. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 20°C (69°F) in January, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mar del Plata this time of the year. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than Leonin July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Leon. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than Leonin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In the autumn, Mar del Plata is much colder than Leon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mar del Plata in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Leon averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Leonin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

In July, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Leonin January. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 9°C (47°F), and Leon fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

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

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

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

Mar del Plata is much colder than Leon in the spring. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Leon during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Leon and Mar del Plata