Which place is cheaper, Leon or Veracruz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Veracruz 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 Veracruz and Leon can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Leon?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $122Leon $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $122, 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 Veracruz and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $54Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $108Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $28Leon $1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Arrival Private Transfer: $14
- Colima Airport (CLQ) to Colima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $28
- Shared Arrival Transfer: General Heriberto Jara International Airport to Veracruz Hotels: $23
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $32
- Airport Transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $50Leon $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: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $15Leon $5.81
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Double-Decker Bus Tour: $7.87
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
- San Juan de Ulua Fortress Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- San Juan de Ulua Fortress of Veracruz Skip-the-Line Ticket: $12
- Sightseeing City Tour and Aquarium: $22
- From Nature & Seafood Boat Tour to Madinga: $23
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $25
- Sightseeing City Tour and Wax & Ripley´s Museums: $25
- From San Juan de Ulua Prison Tour: $26
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $26
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $27
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $29
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: $163
- A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $226
- Half Day Private Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $35
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $103
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Old Leon and Asososca Lagoon Private Tour: $82
- Rum Tour & Chorotega Museum Experience: $62
- Somoto Canyon "Private Tour from Leon" : $154
- Telica Sunset Tour : $93
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $17Leon $3.53
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and Leon, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz 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 Veracruz Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Leon?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leon. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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 Veracruz or Leon?
Veracruz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Leon experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Veracruz or Leon in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Veracruz as well as Leon. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.
In July, Veracruz is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 27°C (81°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Veracruz this time of the year. In the summer, Veracruz often gets more sunshine than Leon. Veracruz gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Leon. Veracruz receives a lot of rain in the summer. Veracruz usually gets more rain in July than Leon. Veracruz gets 410 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVeracruz 27°C (81°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or Leon in the Autumn?
Both Leon and Veracruz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Veracruz is around the same temperature as Leon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Veracruz averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Veracruz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leon during autumn. Veracruz gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. It's quite rainy in Veracruz. In October, Veracruz usually receives less rain than Leon. Veracruz gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVeracruz 26°C (79°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or Leon in the Winter?
Both Leon and Veracruz during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
In the winter, Veracruz is cooler than Leon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Veracruz in January average around 21°C (71°F), and Leon averages at about 26°C (79°F).
In Leon, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Veracruz often gets less sunshine than Leon. Veracruz gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun.
Veracruz usually gets more rain in January than Leon. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVeracruz 21°C (71°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Veracruz or Leon in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Veracruz and Leon. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Veracruz is generally cooler than Leon. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 26°C (78°F), and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In Veracruz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Veracruz usually receives less sunshine than Leon during spring. Veracruz gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Veracruz usually receives more rain than Leon. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVeracruz 26°C (78°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and Veracruz
| Veracruz | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (71°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (71°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (74°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 410 mm (16.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 346 mm (13.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (76°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.