Which place is cheaper, Managua or Seoul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Seoul or Managua?
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 Seoul and Managua can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Managua?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $109Managua $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $109, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Seoul and Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $55Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $110Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Seoul or Managua? 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: Seoul Hotel Prices and Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $16Managua $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.69
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Short Taxi Ride$5.16
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Metro Ride$0.99
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport 1-12 pax: $204
- Lotte World Ticket with Private Transfer: $181
- Private Transfer from Incheon Airport to Seoul up to 12 pax: $181
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $170
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Gimpo Airport (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport to Seoul City (1-12 pax): $167
- Private Airport Transfer - Incheon Airport ⇔ Seoul (Up to 7 or 11 people): $138
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $101
- Private Airport Transfer * Incheon Airport <-> Seoul (1-5 people): $100
- Private Transfer l Airport to/from Seoul: $100
- Private Airport Transfer : Incheon airport to/from Seoul(~7 pax): $99
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City to Incheon Airport (1-5 pax): $98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport private transfer from Managua.: $25
- Managua Augusto Sandino Airport(MGA) to Managua- Arrival Transfer: $33
- Managua to Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) - Departure Transfer: $33
- San Jorge Rivas Transfer: $47
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
- Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
- Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua: $68
- Private Transfer from Managua Augusto Airport to Corinto Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Managua City Hotels to Corinto Cruise Port: $71
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua and Seoul 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 daySeoul $30Managua $17
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.42
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Waffle$0.74
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Dippin' Dots$1.47
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Chicken Fried Rice$4.05
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Chicken Stick$1.47
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.40
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Lunch Buffet$4.42
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Donut$0.74
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Mushroom Burger$3.83
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.43
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Udon & Sushi$5.16
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Fresh Burger$3.54
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.32
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.69
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Fried Rice$4.05
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Vietnamese Dinner$7.00
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.00
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Donut$1.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Korean Cooking @ Seoul Cooking Club!: $0.11
- Gyeongbokgung Palace : Tour, dinner and coffee: $37
- Seoul Mangwon Market Social Night Food Tour: $44
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $47
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $48
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $54
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $58
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $58
- Half Day Seoul Afternoon Food Tour and visit 3 landMarks of Seoul: $67
- Night Market Food Tour: $70
- Energizing Korean Cooking Class in a Local Home in Seoul: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $27Managua $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.90
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Movie Ticket$5.90
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Kimchi Museum$2.21
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Full Day Tour Jeonju Hanok Village, Wansan Park and Gakwonsa: $72
- Private Tour Nami Island with Petite France 'and/or' The Garden of Morning Calm: $98
- ‘Itaewon Class’ Night Tour: $24
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 2-Hour Makgeolli Tasting Experience in Seoul: $37
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2D 1N Phoenix Pyeongchang Reseot Stay + Trout Ice-Fishing Festival Tour: $144
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $48
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 63 Aqua Planet and 63 Building Seoul Observatory Tickets: $14
- ARMY must visit BTS tour in Seoul: $55
- Activity - Mt. Bukhan Hiking Guided Tour: $150
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- Private lava tour-Masaya Volcano from Managua: $49
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- PRIVATE Laguna de apoyo day pass + masaya volcano lava tour: $70
- PRIVATE Boat ride + Colonial city tour at Granada+Catarina lookout: $80
- PRIVATE Day trip Granada Isletas +Colonial City tour from Managua: $80
- Managua City Tour: $84
- PRIVATE Boat tour + Granada City +Masaya Volcano Night Tour : $85
- full tour Somoto Canyon Nicaragua: $86
- PRIVATE Boat tour+Granada City and Catarina lookout from Managua: $88
- Managua City Tour: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Managua $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $11
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $21
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $43
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $81
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and Managua, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul is in Asia and Managua 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul than you might in Managua.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul Expensive? and Is Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Managua?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Seoul and Managua, 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 Seoul or Managua?
Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Managua experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Seoul or Managua in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Managua. The summer months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Managua throughout the year.
In July, Seoul is generally around the same temperature as Managua. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 26°C (78°F), and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
In the summer, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Managua. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Managua. Seoul receives a lot of rain in the summer. Seoul usually gets more rain in July than Managua. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain, while Managua receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Managua 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Managua in the Autumn?
Both Managua and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Managua because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Seoul is much colder than Managua in the autumn. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Managua fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. Seoul usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Managua during autumn. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Managua. In October, Seoul usually receives less rain than Managua. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Managua receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Managua 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Managua in the Winter?
Both Managua and Seoul during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Managua year-round.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Seoul. In the winter, Seoul is much colder than Managua. Typically, the winter temperatures in Seoul in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Managua averages at about 26°C (79°F).
In Managua, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Seoul often gets less sunshine than Managua. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Managua receives 244 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets more rain in January than Managua. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Managua receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Managua 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Managua in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Managua. Many visitors come to Seoul in the spring for the activities around the city. Managua attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Seoul is generally much colder than Managua. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 13°C (55°F), and Managua fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Managua this time of the year. In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Managua during spring. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Managua receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Seoul usually receives more rain than Managua. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Managua receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Managua 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Managua and Seoul
| Seoul | Managua | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.