Which place is cheaper, Leon or Santo Domingo?
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 Santo Domingo or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Leon can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Leon?
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
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 Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesLeon Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $99Leon $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $99, 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 Santo Domingo and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $40Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $80Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Santo Domingo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.59Leon $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- La Romana Airport (LRM) to Santo Domingo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
- Private Airport Transfer (SDQ) to Santo Domingo / Punta Cana: $11
- Private Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Transfers To Pedernales & Barahona Hotels: $160
- Private Transfer From La Romana Cruise Port to Las Americas Inter. Airport: $150
- Private Transfer From Las Americas Inter. Airport to La Romana Cruise Port: $150
- Private Transfer From Santo Domingo City to Resort Casa de Campo: $175
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo Airport SDQ to Santo Domingo Port: $55
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo Port to Santo Domingo Airport SDQ: $55
- Private Transfer between Santo Domingo Airport and Punta Cana: $155
- Private Transfer from Int Las Americas Airport (SDQ): $27
- Private Transfer from Las americas Airport to Punta Cana : $90
- Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport to Bayahibe: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:
- From Granada: One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $39
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Santo Domingo 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 daySanto Domingo $53Leon $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leon.
- Tlakualli Food Tour: $25
- Cooking Workshop in Nicaragua: $25
- Nicaraguan Food Cooking Workshop & Market Tour: $40
- Cooking Class Private Tour: $55
- Nicaraguan Cooking Class with a Local Family at Leon City: $60
- Leon City: Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $14Leon $5.80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$42
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- Taínos 4D Experience Discover the Legacy of the Caribbean: $6.00
- Ron Barcelo Anejo Experience Factory Tour: $20
- Colonial Zone Bike Tour: $45
- Panoramic City Tour: $46
- Santo Domingo Small Group Walking Tour: Beer and Specialty Coffee: $59
- Iconic Highlights and historical Tour in Santo Domingo: $75
- Santo Domingo City Tour with Pickup Included From Santo Domingo: $75
- Half Day Santo Domingo Tour: Three Eyes Park to Colon Lighthouse: $80
- Full Day Tour to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana with Lunch: $80
- Santo Domingo Walking Tour for the Whole Family : $88
- Santo Domingo Cultural Tour: $89
- Full-Day Santo Domingo City Tour from Punta Cana: $89
Tours and Activities in Leon
Here are a few actual costs in Leon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Leon city: Walking tour by our landmarks.: $15
- Leon Colonial City Tour: $39
- Colonial City Tour: $39
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Half Day Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $49
- Volcano Board Adventure on Cerro Negro: $65
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- La Camellada Tour, Hiking and Swimming: $70
- Volcano Boarding Private Tour : $84
- Volcano Sandboarding Private Experience in Leon: $89
- Momotombo Volcano Tour with Local Guide: $90
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $7.54Leon $3.52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santo Domingo and Leon, we can see that Santo Domingo is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands and Leon is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Santo Domingo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or Leon?
Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo 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.