A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Fernando vs. Granada for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Fernando or Granada?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Granada, 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: San Fernando or Granada?

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

Granada

Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Granada or San Fernando?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in Granada is $40. 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 San Fernando and Granada in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Fernando $74
    Granada $17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Fernando $148
    Granada $34
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Granada

Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or Granada? 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 San Fernando


Hotels in Granada


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: Granada Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Fernando $50
    Granada $8.57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:

  • One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Granada?

Prices for flights to both Granada and San Fernando 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
    San Fernando $48
    Granada $14

Typical Food Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:


  • Pizza
    $2.29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Fernando $28
    Granada $10

Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:


  • Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour
    $8.17

Tours and Activities in Granada

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

  • Bird Watching Tour: $90
  • Boat Tour and Granada City Tour: $120
  • Charming Granada Outdoor "Private Tour" : $92
  • Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
  • Fabulous Night Tour in Masaya Volcano from Granada: $158
  • From Full-Day Tour to 6 Attractions with Lunch incl: $125
  • Full Day Tour Isletas + Pueblos Blancos + Laguna from Granada: $120
  • Full Day Tour in Granada with Volcano Visit: $224
  • Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
  • Granada City Tour: $40
  • Granada Colonial City Tour and Masaya Volcano: $130
  • Granada Kayak Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Fernando $22
    Granada $7.50

Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:


  • Tequila
    $1.36


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Granada, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Granada 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in Granada.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Granada Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Granada?

Granada has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Granada, 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 San Fernando or Granada?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit San Fernando or Granada in the Summer?

Both Granada and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.

Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than Granada. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the summer, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Granada. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 175 hours of full sun.

In the summer, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Granada averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit San Fernando or Granada in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Granada. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Granada receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of rain as Granada. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Granada during autumn. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as Granada. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    Granada 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit San Fernando or Granada in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Granada. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.

San Fernando usually gets more rain in January than Granada. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Granada. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the winter, San Fernando often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Granada. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 244 hours of full sun.

San Fernando is around the same temperature as Granada in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Granada fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Fernando 26°C (78°F) 
    Granada 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit San Fernando or Granada in the Spring?

Both Granada and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Granada. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Granada. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Granada during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Granada averages at about 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    Granada 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Granada and San Fernando

San Fernando Granada
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (78°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 51 mm (2 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 252 mm (9.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 225 mm (8.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 203 mm (8 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 199 mm (7.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 155 mm (6.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)