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

Should you visit Salto or Leon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto or Leon, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Salto or Leon?

Salto

Salto is in the citrus growing region of Northern Interior Uruguay, on the east bank of the Rio Uruguay. It is closely connected to the neighboring Argentinian city of Concordia that lies across the river on the western bank. Salto is Uruguay's second-largest city and the most northerly crossing point to Argentina. Salto is a very picturesque city that has a relaxing feel the entire year. However, people mostly come here for the nearby hot springs and the recreation area above the enormous Salto Grande hydroelectric dam.

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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salto and Leon, we can see that Salto is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salto 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 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 Salto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salto 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 Salto Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Salto or Leon?

Leon has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Salto. When comparing the sizes of Salto 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 Salto or Leon?

Salto has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Leon experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Salto or Leon in the Summer?

Both Leon and Salto are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Salto is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Salto in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Leon averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Salto. Salto usually receives more sunshine than Leon during summer. Salto gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. It's quite rainy in Salto. In January, Salto usually receives less rain than Leonin July. Salto gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Salto or Leon in the Autumn?

Both Leon and Salto during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.

In April, Salto is generally cooler than Leonin October. Daily temperatures in Salto average around 19°C (65°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In the autumn, Salto often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leonin October. Salto gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun.

Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Salto. Salto usually gets less rain in April than Leonin October. Salto gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Salto or Leon in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Salto and Leon. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Salto is much colder than Leon in the winter. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 12°C (54°F) in July, and Leon fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. Salto usually receives less sunshine than Leon during winter. Salto gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Salto usually receives more rain than Leonin January. Salto gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Salto or Leon in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Salto as well as Leon. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.

In the spring, Salto is much colder than Leon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Salto in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Leon averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salto this time of the year. In the spring, Salto often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leonin April. Salto gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun.

Salto receives a lot of rain in the spring. Salto usually gets more rain in October than Leonin April. Salto gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Leon and Salto