Which place is cheaper, Leon or Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios or Leon?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios or Leon?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesLeon Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $85Leon $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $85, 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 Ocho Rios and Leon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $51Leon $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $102Leon $32
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Leon
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.32Leon $1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer [VIP LUXURY Vehicles]: $158
- Private Airport Transfer to Bahia Principe Grand Hotel : $100
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Ocho Rios: $90
- Airport Transfer - From MBJ to Ocho Rios Hotels: $80
- Airport Transfer To Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & Negril: $140
- Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica Private Airport transfer : $61
- Bahia Principe Grand and Luxury Airport Transfer: $80
- Blue Hole Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting Tour Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $100
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $117
- Dunn's River Falls And Shopping Tour From Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $60
- Grand Bahia Jamaica Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $300
- Grand Bahia Principe Hotel Airport Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leon:
- From San Jorge: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- San Juan del Sur: One way shared transfer to Leon: $57
- One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $57
- From Granada: One way shared transfer to San Jorge: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Leon?
Prices for flights to both Leon and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $28Leon $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.Ocho Rios $15Leon $5.80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.27
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$17
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour : $21
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Skip-The-Line: Dunn's River Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Transportation to Horse Back Ride & Swim Adventure from Ocho Rios: $45
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios: $50
- Jamaican Escapade Experience Dunn's River's Natural Majesty: $50
- Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
- Private Ocho Rios highlights and beach day tour: $51
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: $448
- 6 Hours Sunset Private Guided Tour of Telica Volcano in León: $227
- A Stroll Through León’s Enchanting Streets: Romantic Walking Tour: $246
- Half Day Tour of Cerro Negro's Volcano Boarding: $49
- Half-Day Leon City Tour: $135
- Hike El Hoyo Volcano "Private Tour" : $67
- Horseback Riding Private Tour : $120
- Kayak Private tour at Juan Venado Island: $92
- Leon City Walking Private Tour : $48
- Leon Colonial City Tour: $39
- Leon Nicaragua City Tour: $122
- Leon city: Walking tour by our landmarks.: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.43Leon $3.52
Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
- Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Leon, we can see that Ocho Rios is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Leon?
Leon has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios or Leon?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Leon in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Leon. Ocho Rios 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. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in July than Leon. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the summer, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than Leon. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocho Rios in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Leon averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Leon in the Autumn?
Both Leon and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. It's quite rainy in Ocho Rios. In October, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Leon. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives more sunshine than Leon during autumn. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Ocho Rios is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 28°C (82°F), and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)Leon 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Leon in the Winter?
Both Leon and Ocho Rios during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.
Ocho Rios usually gets more rain in January than Leon. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 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 Ocho Rios. In the winter, Ocho Rios often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as Leon in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Leon fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)Leon 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Leon in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Leon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than Leon. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leon during spring. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Ocho Rios is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocho Rios in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Leon averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)Leon 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Leon and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | Leon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.