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

Should you visit Piriapolis or Managua?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Managua, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Piriapolis or Managua?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Managua or Piriapolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Piriapolis and Managua in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $27
    Managua $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $54
    Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Managua

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or Managua? 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.

Hotels in Piriapolis


Hotels in Managua


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Managua Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $31
    Managua $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua

Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
  • Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
  • Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
  • Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
  • Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
  • Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
  • Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
  • PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
  • Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
  • Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
  • Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
  • San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Managua?

Prices for flights to both Managua and Piriapolis 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 day
    Piriapolis $23
    Managua $17

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.89
    Managua $16

Tours and Activities in Managua

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.

  • Private lava tour-Masaya Volcano from Managua: $49
  • Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
  • Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
  • Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
  • PRIVATE Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour: $70
  • PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $80
  • PRIVATE Day trip Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour from Managua: $80
  • Managua City Tour: $84
  • PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City +Masaya Volcano Night Tour : $85
  • full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
  • PRIVATE Boat tour+Granada City and Catarina lookout from Managua: $88
  • Managua City Tour: $88

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $8.11
    Managua $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Managua, we can see that Piriapolis is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Piriapolis 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 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 Piriapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis Expensive? and Is Managua Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Managua?

Managua has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or Managua?

Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis or Managua in the Summer?

Both Managua and Piriapolis during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round.

In the summer, Piriapolis is cooler than Managua. Typically, the summer temperatures in Piriapolis in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Managua averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Piriapolis. In the summer, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Managuain July. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 175 hours of full sun.

Managua gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in January than Managuain July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Managua receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Piriapolis 23°C (73°F) 
    Managua 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Managua in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Managua. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Piriapolis is generally much colder than Managuain October. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 17°C (63°F), and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Piriapolis usually receives less sunshine than Managua during autumn. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Managua receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Managuain October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Managua receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Piriapolis 17°C (63°F) 
    Managua 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Managua in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Managua. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year.

Piriapolis is much colder than Managua in the winter. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 10°C (50°F) in July, and Managua fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Managua. In the winter, Piriapolis often gets less sunshine than Managuain January. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 244 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in July than Managuain January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Managua receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Piriapolis 10°C (50°F) 
    Managua 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Managua in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Piriapolis is much colder than Managua. Typically, the spring temperatures in Piriapolis in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Managua averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Managua. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Managua during spring. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Managuain April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Managua receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Piriapolis 16°C (61°F) 
    Managua 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Managua and Piriapolis

Piriapolis Managua
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 23°C (73°F) 75 mm (3 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 11°C (52°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 10°C (50°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)