Should you visit Roatan or Leon?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare 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. So, let's dig into it.
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 $31, while the average daily cost in Leon is $49. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Roatan and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $18 for a double occupancy room in Roatan.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Leon is $26. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Food in Roatan costs travelers about $7.72 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Leon food costs typically run travelers around $10 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Roatan $7.72
Leon $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Roatan is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $15 per person, per day, on local transportation in Roatan.
The cost of a taxi ride in Leon is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $1.26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Leon.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
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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:
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León hotels to Del Bajio Airport (BJX) - Departure Private Transfer:
$138
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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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Roatan typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Entertainment and activities in Leon typically cost an average of $4.87 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
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Do It Your Way Roatán Free Style Tour.:
$32
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Shore Excursion: Roatan 360 Panoramic City Tour:
$35
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Shore Excursion: Roatan Private VIP Customizable Island Tour:
$35
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Shore Excursion: Roatan Half Day Private City Tour:
$45
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Shore Excursion: Roatan Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour and Beach:
$45
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Roatan Island Tour:
$45
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Roatan animal sanctuary and island adventures:
$47
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Private Roatan Island Tour:
$47
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Island tour in Roatan:
$49
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Roatan Stewart Tours:best Of Roatan Tour '':
$49
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Roatan Shore Excursion: Hanging Bridges Eco Tour and Beach Break:
$50
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Good Samaritan Tour:
$51
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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León 3-Hour Guided City Tour Including Entrance Fees:
$25
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León: 5-Hour Volcano Boarding Tour on Cerro Negro:
$35
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Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro:
$39
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Leon City Walking Private Tour:
$41
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León: Flor de Caña Rum Factory 4-Hour Tour:
$45
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Leon City Tour:
$46
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León City tour and Mud pools of San Jacinto:
$54
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plant-based friendly tapas tour:
$57
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Volcano Boarding Private Tour:
$62
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Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience:
$62
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Private: León City Walking Tour from León:
$63
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Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour":
$67
Alcohol
The average person spends about $5.79 on alcoholic beverages in Roatan per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Leon may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $2.96 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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.
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