Which place is cheaper, Granada or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Granada?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio 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 Ignacio or Granada?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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 Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72Granada $40
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, 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 Ignacio and Granada in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Granada $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Granada $34
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Granada
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio 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.
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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and Granada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Granada $8.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
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 Ignacio or Granada?
Prices for flights to both Granada and San Ignacio 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 daySan Ignacio $21Granada $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100Granada $10
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Barton Creek Tour: $98
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $115
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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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:
- Granada Kayak Tour: $30
- Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
- Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $39
- Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
- Granada City Tour: $40
- Granada's City Tour: $40
- Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
- Masaya Night Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
- Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
- City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Granada $7.50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and Granada, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ignacio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Ignacio 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 Ignacio Expensive? and Is Granada Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Granada?
Granada has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio 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 Ignacio or Granada?
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 San Ignacio or Granada in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Granada. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Granada receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Granada. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Granada during summer. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Ignacio in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Granada averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Granada 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Granada in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Granada. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Granada. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in October than Granada. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Ignacio often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Granada. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 195 hours of full sun.
In October, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as Granada. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 26°C (80°F), and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Granada 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Granada in the Winter?
Both Granada and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Granada. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Granada. San Ignacio usually receives less sunshine than Granada during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Granada receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
San Ignacio is cooler than Granada in the winter. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Granada fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Granada 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Granada in the Spring?
Both Granada and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.
San Ignacio usually gets more rain in April than Granada. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Granada, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Granada. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Granada receives 242 hours of full sun.
In the spring, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Ignacio in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Granada averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Granada 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Granada and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Granada | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 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.