Travel Budget for Leon

Departamento de Leon, Nicaragua
Central America / Nicaragua /

How much does it cost to travel to Leon?

How much money will you need for your trip to Leon? You should plan to spend around C$1,737 ($50) per day on your vacation in Leon, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, C$355 ($10) on meals for one day and C$44 ($1.28) on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Leon for a couple is C$943 ($27). So, a trip to Leon for two people for one week costs on average C$24,314 ($705). All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    C$1,737
  • One Week Per person
    C$12,157
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    C$24,314
  • One Month Per person
    C$52,101
  • One Week For a couple
    C$24,314
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    C$48,627
  • One Month For a couple
    C$104,201
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - Learn more about these numbers.
Put these numbers on your website.

A vacation to Leon for one week usually costs around C$12,157 for one person. So, a trip to Leon for two people costs around C$24,314 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs C$48,627 in Leon. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Leon can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.



How expensive is Leon?

How much does a trip to Leon cost? Is Leon expensive? The average Leon trip cost is broken down by category here. All of these Leon prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

While meal prices in Leon can vary, the average cost of food in Leon is C$355 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Leon should cost around C$142 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Leon is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

The cost of a taxi ride in Leon is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent C$44 per person, per day, on local transportation in Leon.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    C$471
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    C$943
  • Food2 Meals for one day
    C$355
  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    C$19
  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    C$44
  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    C$171
  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    C$20
  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
    C$250
  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    C$104
Flights to Leon

How much does it cost to go to Leon? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend SkyScanner because they can find the best deals across all of the airlines.




Typical tour prices for Leon

How much do tours to Leon cost? Multi-day tours can often be an effecient way to see the highlights of a country or region.

  • Intrepid Small group tours for everyone
    10 days
    $ 750
    ($75/day)
  • Expedia Vacation options for all
    1 days
    $ 90
    ($90/day)
Find a hostel, guesthouse, or B&B in Leon
Leon


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Quiet, Safe, and Affordable Hostels in Leon, NicaraguaManaguaGranada
Leon On a Budget
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.
Sights
There are thirteen colonial churches around town, each of which has it's own feel and is worth visiting for different reasons. Leon Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Central America and is definitely a must see if you're in Leon. Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de Subtiava is one of the oldest colonial churches and has an interesting rustic wooden interior. Fundacion Ortiz has some great Latin American art on display, and Centro de Arte Fundacion Ortiz Gurdian is one of the best museums in Nicaragua.
Neighborhoods
Leon's city center is where you will find the majority of the sights and attractions. There are many beautiful churches and interesting architecture throughout this area. It is most convenient to stay within the city center, as prices are quite cheap and it is helpful to be able to walk to most destinations.

Activities
Leon has many activities that visitors can enjoy. There are many good beaches nearby that can be reached with a 20 or 30 minutes taxi ride. Las Penitas is a convenient option with a mellow vibe and good surfing. Also close by is Oneloya.

There are many organizations that offer volcano treks to the nearby Maribios volcanic chain. SONATI is an environmental education nonprofit group that organizes volcano boarding trips to Cerro Negro. They also offer tours to the mangrove forest and between September and February they offer trips to see the turtles that are nesting and hatching.

You can take Spanish, yoga, or salsa lessons through La Isla Foundation. This is a nonprofit organization that supports sugarcane workers that are affected by chronic kidney disease. It's a fun and unique experience that supports a cause that is prolific in the area.
Food and Dining
There are some good restaurant options around town for all budgets. You should definitely make a point of trying the oldest restaurant in town, "El Sesteo", which is in the heart of the city. The restaurant has a diverse menu with plenty of local food as well as fast food and refreshing drinks.

If you're on a particularly tight budget you can pick up some good food at the market and enjoy making your own meals. The local market is located behind the main cathedral and there is a large food court that has everything including prepared food, beans, eggs, rice, and fried cheese. There are also cheap, fresh juices available.

There are also some decent mid range restaurants if you're looking for a good sit down meal. Burgers, seafood tapas, and even Polish and Sri Lankan food is available.

For a fancy meal, you can try the fillet mignon or churrasco at Montezerino. The meal won't set you back much more than US$10.

Transportation
Managua is about an hour and a half drive from Leon, and it has the nearest commercial airport to the city. There is a private van service that offers direct transportation from the airport to Leon.

Leon's chicken bus terminal is found about one and half kilometers northeast of Parque Central on 6 Calle Norte. It can be reached on foot in twenty minutes and taxis are readily available through most hotels and hostels.

The easiest way to make your way around Leon is to walk, although the heat, particularly in the summer, may force you into a taxi or bus. Most of the city's residents travel by bicycle which is another fun way to explore. If you're planning to head outside of town to a nearby beach or sight, it's better to have access to a car or take a taxi. Ruletos are trucks that act as local buses and offer rides around town for about 3 cordobas.


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1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase.

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Travel Tips

Museo de Tradiciones y Leyendas

By backpackguru in Entertainment
Museo de Tradiciones y Leyendas is a unique museum that you should definitely pay a visit while you're in Nicaragua. The facility that holds the museum is a former prison from the Somoza regime. It was originally built in 1921 and was a functioning prison for sixty years. The museum brings to life the fables and tales that have been passed down through the generations. These stories are depicted with life sized paper mache figures. Four of the buildings five rooms tell the stories of that have long been passed down. On the walls, in sharp contrast, are paintings that tell the stories of the prisoners who were tortured when the facility was a prison. There is also a mango tree planted originally by a prisoner, and today watered from the same well that was historically used in the electrocuting of prisoners.





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