Which place is cheaper, Managua 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.
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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Managua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Puerto Iguazu or Managua? 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 Managua?
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.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Puerto Iguazu Prices
Argentina PricesManagua Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPuerto Iguazu $59Managua $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $59, while the average daily cost in Managua 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 Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPuerto Iguazu $42Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPuerto Iguazu $84Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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.
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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Puerto Iguazu $3.22Managua $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu
Also for Puerto Iguazu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Estancia Las Mercedes Day Trip with Lunch & Transfers: $399
- Full-day private transfer to Iguazu Falls: $185
- Puerto Iguazú: Jungle Fly Adventure with Transfers: $166
- Falls Package Both Sides with Transfers: $160
- Brazilian Waterfalls Tour and Bird Park with Transfer: $113
- Iguazú Falls Argentine and Brazilian Sides with Airport Transfers: $86
- Iguazú Falls Combo: Argentina & Brazil, with Transfers: $86
- Puerto Iguazú Combo: Iguazu Falls 2 Day Tours + transfers: $85
- Private Transfer from Puerto Iguazu Airport to Foz do Iguaçu: $83
- Iguazu Falls Saver Package! Both sides excursions & transfers: $79
- Iguazu Falls Argentina Brazil Duty Free Shop with Transfers: $60
- Wanda Mines Guided Tour with Transfer / From Iguassu Falls: $56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer, Transportation, Shuttle and Tours: $30
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $35
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Managua: $57
- Private Transfer: Managua Airport (MGA) to Hotels: $40
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- One way private Transfer Managua Airport- San Juan del Sur: $135
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
- One way shared transfer to Leon: $39
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $63
- Granada: One way shared transfer to Managua: $39
- From One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua 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
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Food Meals for one dayPuerto Iguazu $6.59Managua $30
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: $36
- Argentine Experience: Immersive Dinner & Wine Pairing in Iguazú: $75
- Iguazu Falls: The Argentine Experience Interactive Dinner: $75
- Dinner Show Rafain Steakhouse Gran Meliá Hotel Exclusive - Private Tour: $120
- 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
- Rafain Steakhouse Dinner & Show: $232
- Foz do Iguaçu: Argentinean Cooking Class: $244
- Iguazu Falls: Argentina Side Tour with Dinner & Tango Show: $278
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Puerto Iguazu $35Managua $16
Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu
For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2Day Iguazu Tour HELICOPTER Ride & Airfare from Buenos Aires: $1,290
- 3-Day Iguazu Falls Exploring Tour From Argentina and Brazil: $260
- Argentine Falls Package with Great Adventure and Brazilian Falls: $275
- Argentinean Falls with Gran Aventura Boat Tour: $261
- Bird Park & Iguassu Brazilian Side From Puerto Iguazú Hotels - Private Tour: $145
- Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $96
- Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls Tour from Puerto Iguazu: $49
- Brazilian Side of the Falls - All Tickets Included: $77
- Cataratas Iguazu Argentinas Tour and Great Adventure on boats tour: $80
- City Tour in Iguassu from Puerto Iguazú Hotels Private Tour: $90
- Explore Iguazu Falls in Brazil: An Unforgettable Experience: $44
- Fly Park Iguazú: Extreme Adventure in the Misiones Jungle: $75
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 2 full days tour Granada + Lava+Leon area: $210
- 3 full days tour at Granada +Masaya Lava tour+Managua and Leon: $189
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour": $88
- Apoyo Lagoon + Lava tour: $60
- Apoyo Lagoon, Masaya Crafts Market & Masaya Volcano Lava Tour: $100
- Best of Granada, Mirador de Catarina and Masaya Volcano Tour: $121
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $125
- Cerro Negro volcano, VIP experiences "Individual and Group"!!!: $205
- Complete Tour of Granada and Masaya: History, Beauty & Tradition: $115
- Discover the Best of Managua on a Private City Tour: $60
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Granada lake +Colonial City + Lava tour Masaya volcano: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPuerto Iguazu $8.22Managua $11
When comparing the travel costs between Puerto Iguazu and Managua, we can see that Managua is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Puerto Iguazu is in South America and Managua is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Puerto Iguazu or Managua?
Managua has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Puerto Iguazu. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Iguazu 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.
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.