Which place is cheaper, Leon or Puerto Iguazu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Leon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Puerto Iguazu or Leon?
Puerto Iguazu
Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
-
Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesLeon Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $56Leon $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $56, while the average daily cost in Leon is $68. 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 Puerto Iguazu and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $40Leon $16
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $80Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Leon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.05Leon $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $97
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Hotels: $22
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $66
- Iguazu Falls in 2 Days: Argentina & Brazil with Transfers: $99
- Private Transfer between Airport and Downtown Iguazu: $39
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Private Transfer to or from Puerto Iguazu Airport IGR: $40
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Puerto Iguazú Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- From Granada: One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Puerto Iguazu 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 dayPuerto Iguazu $6.26Leon $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Iguazú: Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner: $34
- Madero Tango Show with Optional Dinner in Iguazu: $39
- ASADOR: Argentine Asado Cooking Class: $70
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Churrascaria Rafain - Show and Dinner: $125
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $130
- Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls - no transfers -: $152
- Experience Guamini Mision Dinner and Tango Show Gran Meliá Iguazú Exclusive: $155
- FD Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Dinner Tango Show -no transfer: $211
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $25
- Volcano Boarding Sunset Tour with Dinner and Drinks: $50
- Cooking Class Private Tour: $55
- Leon City: Cooking Class: $55
- Nicaraguan Cooking Class with a Local Family at Leon City: $60
- León - Niaragua: Private Cooking Class with Local Family: $60
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $33Leon $5.80
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full-Day Tour: $18
- Hito Tres Fronters and La Aripuca City Tour: $27
- Iguazu Falls: Complete Argentine Side Experience: $28
- Foz do Iguaçu: Brazil/Argentina Sides Iguazu Falls Day Tour: $41
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- From San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Tour: $46
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $48
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Full-Day Tour to Iguazu Falls: $49
- Iguazu Falls Argentine Side Tour & Ecological Train Ride: $55
- Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour: $57
- Iguazu Falls : Complete Argentine Side Experience: $59
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $1,205
- Cerro Negro Volcano Boarding Adventure from León: $90
- Half Day Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $69
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour": $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour: $120
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- León off the beaten track: authentic tour with a live local guide (100% in French): $13
- León’s Enchanting Streets Stroll : Private Romantic Tour: $482
- León’s Enchanting Streets Stroll : Romantic Private Walking Tour: $287
- León: Central Market Food Tasting Tour: $33
- León: Cerro Negro Volcano Boarding Adventure with Pickup: $72
- Leon City Walking Private Tour: $48
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $7.81Leon $3.52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Leon, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Iguazu Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Leon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu 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.