Which place is cheaper, Leon or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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 Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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San Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala PricesLeon Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $44Leon $68
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $44, while the average daily cost in Leon is $68. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.31Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $17Leon $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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Leon $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer From Panajachel Atitlan to Antigua: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- From Granada: One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $39
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
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Food Meals for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $19Leon $21
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:
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Lemonade$2.08
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Cake$1.30
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$2.99
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:
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Cooking Workshop in Nicaragua: $25
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $25
- Nicaraguan Cooking Class with a Local Family at Leon City: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $22Leon $5.80
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:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.95
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.01
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
- Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $35
- Authentic Art and Culture Tour in San Juan La Laguna: $35
- Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $36
- Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve : $40
- La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $40
- Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $40
- Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
- Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $47
- Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
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: $435
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $221
- A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $240
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $49
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $120
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Leon Colonial City Tour: $39
- Leon Nicaragua City Tour: $122
- Leon city: Walking tour by our landmarks.: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.63Leon $3.53
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.
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.