Which place is cheaper, Manaus or San Juan del Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Manaus?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Juan del Sur and Manaus. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Juan del Sur or Manaus?
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $53Manaus $59
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, while the average daily cost in Manaus 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 San Juan del Sur and Manaus in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Manaus $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Manaus $84
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Manaus
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur or Manaus? 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 Juan del Sur Hotel Prices and Manaus Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Manaus $7.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
- 24-hour hotel transfer - airport in Manaus: $17
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Manaus?
Prices for flights to both Manaus and San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur $18Manaus $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Manaus -
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Tour to Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls: $70
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $70
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Manaus $2.84
When comparing the travel costs between San Juan del Sur and Manaus, we can see that Manaus is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Juan del Sur is in Central America and Manaus is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan del Sur Expensive? and Is Manaus Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Manaus?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Manaus, 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 Juan del Sur or Manaus?
Manaus has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Manaus in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Manaus. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Manaus in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Manaus fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.
In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than Manausin January. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 114 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Manaus. San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in July than Manausin January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 264 mm (10.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Manaus 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Manaus in the Autumn?
Both Manaus and San Juan del Sur are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
In the autumn, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Manaus. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan del Sur in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Manaus averages at about 28°C (82°F)in April.
San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 112 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Manaus. It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. In October, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Manausin April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 311 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Manaus in the Winter?
Both Manaus and San Juan del Sur during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as Manausin July. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 26°C (79°F), and Manaus fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Manaus, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. In the winter, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than Manausin July. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Manaus receives 214 hours of full sun.
San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Manausin July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 85 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)Manaus 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Manaus in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Manaus. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Manaus in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Manaus fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in October.
In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Manaus during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Manaus receives 171 hours of full sun in the spring.
Manaus receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Manausin October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Manaus receives 113 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)Manaus 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Manaus and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | Manaus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 264 mm (10.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 311 mm (12.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.6 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.