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

Should you visit San Fernando or Leon?

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

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

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.

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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Leon, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando 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 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 Leon.

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 Leon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Leon?

Leon has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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 San Fernando or Leon?

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 Leon in the Summer?

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

It's quite rainy in Leon. San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than Leon. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the summer, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Leon. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit San Fernando or Leon in the Autumn?

Both Leon and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando 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 San Fernando. In October, San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leon. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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 Leon during autumn. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Fernando is around the same temperature as Leon in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit San Fernando or Leon in the Winter?

Both Leon and San Fernando during the winter 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 Leon year-round.

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

In Leon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the winter, San Fernando often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun.

In the winter, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Fernando in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Leon averages at about 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit San Fernando or Leon in the Spring?

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

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leon during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Leon and San Fernando