A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Roatan vs. Leon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Roatan 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 Roatan 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: Roatan or Leon?

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Leon or Roatan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $39, while the average daily cost in Leon is $60. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Roatan and Leon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Roatan $11
    Leon $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Roatan $22
    Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Leon

Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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.

Hotels in Roatan


Hotels in Leon


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: Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Roatan $19
    Leon $1.52
Typical Local Transportation prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $4.29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • bus & Taxi Uber Roatan transfer to the beach customize your tour: $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:

  • León hotels to Del Bajio Airport (BJX) - Departure Private Transfer: $138
  • Reliable one-way transfer Guanajuato Leon International Airport to Hotel: $161

Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Leon?

Prices for flights to both Leon and Roatan 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
    Roatan $9.48
    Leon $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: $12

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Roatan $27
    Leon $5.86

Tours and Activities in Roatan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:

  • Do It Your Way Roatán Free Style Tour.: $32
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan 360 Panoramic City Tour: $35
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan Private VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan Half Day Private City Tour: $45
  • Shore Excursion: Roatan Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour and Beach: $45
  • Roatan Island Tour: $45
  • Roatan animal sanctuary and island adventures: $47
  • Private Roatan Island Tour: $47
  • Island tour in Roatan: $49
  • Roatan Stewart Tours:best Of Roatan Tour '': $49
  • Roatan Shore Excursion: Hanging Bridges Eco Tour and Beach Break: $50
  • Good Samaritan Tour: $51

Tours and Activities in Leon

Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • León 3-Hour Guided City Tour Including Entrance Fees: $25
  • León: 5-Hour Volcano Boarding Tour on Cerro Negro: $35
  • Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro: $39
  • Leon City Walking Private Tour: $41
  • León: Flor de Caña Rum Factory 4-Hour Tour: $45
  • Leon City Tour: $46
  • León City tour and Mud pools of San Jacinto: $54
  • plant-based friendly tapas tour: $57
  • Volcano Boarding Private Tour: $62
  • Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
  • Private: León City Walking Tour from León: $63
  • Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour": $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Roatan $7.11
    Leon $3.56


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and Leon, we can see that Leon is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.

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Roatan vs. Leon Travel Comparison

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