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

Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Leon?

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

Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Leon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: San Pedro La Laguna or Leon?

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

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 Guatemala, The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Leon or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Leon 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 Pedro La Laguna and Leon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.24
    Leon $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
    Leon $32
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Leon

Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Leon? 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 Pedro La Laguna


Hotels in Leon


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    Leon $1.51

Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Leon?

Prices for flights to both Leon and San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna $11
    Leon $12
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class around Lake Atitlan: $50
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.

  • Tlakualli Food Tour: $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $22
    Leon $5.83
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Tour a NGO non profit Vocational Training Center Amigos de Santa Cruz and explore the Mayan village: $33
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
  • Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Lake Atitlan Lower Mayan Trail Hiking Tour from Panajachel: $51
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
  • Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $52
  • sunset tour : $55
  • Lake Atitlan Villages Tour on ATV: $57

Tours and Activities in Leon

Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $165
  • A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $228
  • Cerro Negro Volcano Boarding & Boat Tour: $120
  • Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
  • Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
  • Horseback Riding Private Tour : $87
  • Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
  • Leon City Walking Private Tour : $41
  • Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
  • Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
  • Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
  • Telica Sunset Tour : $77

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58
    Leon $3.54


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

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


Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Leon?

Leon has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna 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.