Which place is cheaper, Leon or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Leon. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Leon?
Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
An island of the Caribbean Netherlands, St. Eustatius, sometimes called Statia, is a small, relatively unknown destination to the greater tourist areas of the Caribbean. As a result, however, it is its own treasure consisting of a dormant volcano known as the Quill and featuring a lush rainforest, narrow volcanic beaches, many dive sites, and a quaint harbor town.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $188Leon $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $188, while the average daily cost in Leon is $59. 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92Leon $16
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Leon? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70Leon $1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):
- International Airport/Private Jet Terminal Transfers: $67
- St. Kitts Hotel Transfers: $80
- Beach Transfer Frigate Bay Beach: $26
- Catamaran Party Cruise to Nevis from St Kitts with Transfer from Frigate Bay: $150
- Private Airport Transfer to Belmont Estate Farm, Kititian Hill: $70
- Private Transfer from St. Kitts Airport to Park Hyatt: $55
- ST Kitts private Luxury Air Port Transfer: $300
- Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer : $32
- St. Christophe Harbour Transfers: $67
- St. Kitts & Nevis Airport Hotel & Boat Shared/Private Transfers: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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
-
Food Meals for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $51Leon $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $19
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37Leon $5.81
Tours and Activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)
Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Panoramic Shore Tour And Beach: $27
- St. Kitts Beach Adventure: $30
- Historical Basseterre and Beach Experience : $40
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of St Kitts: $40
- Half-Island Tour of St Kitts: $46
- Capital City Tour and Beach Splash: $49
- Life In Paradise {Full Panoramic Tour}: $60
- Full Island Private Tour: $60
- Basseterre Plantation Private Half Day Tour: $60
- Rainforest Tours in St. Kitts: $62
- The Downtown Basseterre Local Cultural Food & Walking Tour: $65
- The Grand Tour of St. Kitts: $65
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayOranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26Leon $3.53
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Leon, we can see that Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is in Caribbean Islands 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 Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) than you might in Leon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Leon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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.
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.