Which place is cheaper, Leon or Saint John's?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint John's or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint John's 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: Saint John's or Leon?
Saint John's
If you've been to St. John's, Antigua, you were likely on a cruise - which means you likely did not have enough time to truly experience the magic of this tiny island getaway.
St. Johns is the capital of the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Located on Antigua, this tropical city lives up to its status as a tropical paradise. With 365 beaches on the island, you can enjoy the luxury of lounging in the sand every day of the year.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint John's $222Leon $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint John's is $222, while the average daily cost in Leon is $59. 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 Saint John's and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint John's $120Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint John's $240Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Saint John's and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Saint John's 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint John's $17Leon $1.51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint John's
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint John's:
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Local Bus$1.52
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Taxi From Airport$6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint John's
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint John's:
- 3-Hours Snorkeling Activity in Stingray City - Transfer Included: $128
- 3-Hours Stingray City - Transfer, Spanish-Italian Guide Included: $155
- Airport Transfer from/to all resorts in Antigua - Water Inc.: $59
- Airport Transfers to Antigua Hotels/Resorts: $170
- Antigua - VIP Fast Track On Arrival ONLY And Round Trip Transfer : $99
- Antigua V.C. Bird Airport (ANU) to Island - Round-Trip Transfer : $155
- Antigua VC Bird Airport to Island Hotels Private Arrival Transfer: $82
- Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU) to island Private Transfer: $77
- Antigua&BarbudaV.C.Bird Airport(ANU)to island hotels-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $254
- Biggvee Airport Roundtrip Transfer: $70
- Island to Antigua&Barbuda V.C.Bird Airport(ANU)- Private Transfer: $77
- JTAT Private Transfers & Tours, Saint John's, Antigua and Barbuda: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint John's or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Saint John's 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 daySaint John's $68Leon $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint John's
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint John's.
- City Lime Food Tour: Taste our culture on Antigua's only food tour in the city!: $105
- Discover the Flavors of St. Johns Food Tour: $125
- Private Art Tour or Food Tour: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint John's $103Leon $5.81
Typical Entertainment Prices in Saint John's
Here are a few typical costs in Saint John's for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Museum of Antigua & Barbu$3.00
Tours and Activities in Saint John's
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John's for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chariot City Tour Antigua: $20
- City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Antigua Shore Excursion: City of St John's Sightseeing Tour: $59
- Cultural and Historical Home Tour in The Antiguan Experience : $66
- Small-Group Hiking Experience in Antigua: $70
- Glenmon taxi and tours: $70
- 2-Hours Stingray City Experience in Antigua: $73
- Antigua Historical Sites Island Tour: $75
- Kayak Eco Adventures Glass Kayak Nature and Snorkeling Tour: $75
- Authentic Antiguan Experience: $79
- TRIPLE ACTIVITY TOUR, Bike Kayak Hike, ANTIGUA : $80
- Nightlife Tour of Antigua and Barbuda: $80
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint John's $18Leon $3.53
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint John's and Leon, we can see that Saint John's is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint John's is in Caribbean Islands 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 Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon 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 Saint John's would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John's than you might in Leon.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint John's Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint John's or Leon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Saint John's. When comparing the sizes of Saint John's 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.
When is the best time to visit Saint John's or Leon?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Saint John's or Leon in the Summer?
Both Leon and Saint John's are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John's throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. It's quite rainy in Saint John's. In July, Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leon. Saint John's gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually receives more sunshine than Leon during summer. Saint John's gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint John's is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 27°C (81°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint John's 27°C (81°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Leon in the Autumn?
Both Leon and Saint John's during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John's because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John's. Saint John's usually gets more rain in October than Leon. Saint John's gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Saint John's. In the autumn, Saint John's often gets more sunshine than Leon. Saint John's gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun.
Saint John's is around the same temperature as Leon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint John's averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint John's 27°C (80°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Leon in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John's and Leon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John's year-round. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Saint John's usually receives more rain than Leon. Saint John's gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In Saint John's, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint John's usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leon during winter. Saint John's gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Saint John's is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint John's in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Leon averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint John's 24°C (76°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Saint John's or Leon in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Saint John's as well as Leon. Saint John's attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
Saint John's receives a lot of rain in the spring. Saint John's usually gets more rain in April than Leon. Saint John's gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint John's this time of the year. In the spring, Saint John's often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. Saint John's gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun.
In April, Saint John's is generally cooler than Leon. Daily temperatures in Saint John's average around 26°C (78°F), and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint John's 26°C (78°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and Saint John's
| Saint John's | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
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.