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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Managua?

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

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Managua?

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.

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.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and Managua, we can see that Managua 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 Managua 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 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 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 Managua Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Managua?

Managua has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of Mar del Plata. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Managua, 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 Managua?

Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata or Managua in the Summer?

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

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata usually receives more sunshine than Managua during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Managua. In January, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Managuain July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Managua receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

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

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

Managua gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in April than Managuain October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Managua receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

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

In July, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Managuain January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Managua receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

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

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Managua. In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than Managuain April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 242 hours of full sun.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than Managuain April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Managua receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Managua and Mar del Plata