Which city is cheaper, Leon or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro vs. Leon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Pedro or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro 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 Pedro or Leon?
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $135Leon $60
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in Leon is $60. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Pedro and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Leon $32
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Leon
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro 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 $34Leon $1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing Adventure Air Transfer: $255
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:
- León hotels to Del Bajio Airport (BJX) - Departure Private Transfer: $138
- Reliable one-way transfer Guanajuato Leon International Airport to Hotel: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and San Pedro 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 $40Leon $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Leon $5.86
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Jungle Tour in the City - from San Jose: $45
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $62
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $67
- Mexico Rocks Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $67
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $107
- Caves Kayaking Zipline Experience from Ambergris Caye San Pedro: $142
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure: $190
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San pedro Ambergris caye: $208
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from San Pedro Ambergris Caye: $220
- Crossing the highlands: From Cusco to Puno or Viceversa - Private tour: $421
- The best of San Pedro Town walking tour: $496
- The Best of San Jose Walking Tour: $509
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- León 3-Hour Guided City Tour Including Entrance Fees: $25
- León: 5-Hour Volcano Boarding Tour on Cerro Negro: $35
- Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro: $39
- Leon City Walking Private Tour: $41
- León: Flor de Caña Rum Factory 4-Hour Tour: $45
- Leon City Tour: $46
- León City tour and Mud pools of San Jacinto: $54
- plant-based friendly tapas tour: $57
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour: $62
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Private: León City Walking Tour from León: $63
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour": $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Leon $3.56
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Leon, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in Leon.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro or Leon?
Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm 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 Pedro or Leon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Leon. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
Leon receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Leon. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Pedro, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Leon during summer. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Temperatures in San Pedro average around 28°C (82°F), and Leon stays around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Leon in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as Leon. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Leon. San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Pedro usually gets more rain in October than Leon. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Pedro often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as Leon in the autumn. The temperature in San Pedro is usually 26°C (80°F) in October, and Leon stays around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Leon in the Winter?
Both Leon and San Pedro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In January, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Leon. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Leon. San Pedro usually receives less sunshine than Leon during winter. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Pedro is cooler than Leon. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Pedro in January are around 24°C (74°F), and Leon is about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Leon in the Spring?
Both Leon and San Pedro during the spring are popular places to visit. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
San Pedro usually gets more rain in April than Leon. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 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 Pedro. In the spring, San Pedro often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun.
In April, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Temperatures in San Pedro average around 27°C (80°F), and Leon stays around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and San Pedro
| San Pedro | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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