Which place is cheaper, Leon or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
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 Pedro $135Leon $59
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, 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 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 $1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205
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 San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Leon $5.81
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $45
- Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $45
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
- SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $95
- Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
- Mexico Rocks Day Sail Shared Guided Tour: $129
- Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $163
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Leon $3.53
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro or Leon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro 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.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro or Leon?
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 Pedro or Leon in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Leon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny 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. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 28°C (82°F), and Leon fluctuates 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. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm 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 daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and Leon fluctuates 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. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine 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 average around 24°C (74°F), and Leon averages at 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. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
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. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 27°C (80°F), and Leon fluctuates 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) |
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.