Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Accra?
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 Accra or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Accra or Rio de Janeiro, 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: Accra or Rio de Janeiro?
Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the most popular travel destination in Brazil. It is the second largest city in Brazil and the sixth largest in the Americas. A portion of the city has been designated a World Heritage Site. It's also famous for Carnival, it's gorgeous beaches, and world-famous landmarks. Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year round due to the great weather and plenty of fun activities. The city has a wonderful natural harbor that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Ghana, The Best Adventure Tours to Ghana, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
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Accra Prices
Ghana PricesRio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAccra $39Rio de Janeiro $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Accra is $39, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $103. 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 Accra and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAccra $17Rio de Janeiro $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAccra $34Rio de Janeiro $114
Compare Hotels in Accra and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Accra or Rio de Janeiro? 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: Accra Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Accra $14Rio de Janeiro $6.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
- Accra Airport Hotel City Transfers: $58
- Accra Airport to Hotel Transfer: $50
- Accra Hotel to Airport Transfer: $85
- City Highlights, Culture, History Tour with Transfers: $150
- Private Transfer in and out of Accra: $145
- Airport & City Transfers: $100
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $130
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $115
- Kotoka Airport Private Transfer within Accra City: $45
- Private Airport Transfer to from ACC Kotoka by Business Car: $150
- Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
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Taxi Ride$2.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU) - Rio City Center: $11
- Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Hotel zone to Airport (GIG): $13
- Rio Galeão Airport (GIG): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $13
- Rio Santos Dumont (SDU): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $13
- Shared Transfer From Rio De Janeiro Airport to Hotels: $15
- Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro SDU/GIG Airport to Rio de Janeiro: $17
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro City Center - Airport (GIG): $17
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro City Center -Airport (SDU): $18
- Private transfer Economico GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Zona Sul: $19
- One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $19
- Executive GIG Rio Galeao airport private transfer up to 3 pax to South Zone: $20
- Shuttle Transfer to/from Búzios: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Accra or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Accra 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 dayAccra $14Rio de Janeiro $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
- Accra Street Food Tour: Makola Market Tour With Full Lunch: $45
- Cooking Class: $75
- Accra Makola Market Food Tour With Full Lunch: $78
- Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Lessons: $80
- Culinary for social change-Cooking Class : $80
- Private Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra with Local Drinks: $80
- Home Cooking Class by Auntie K: $89
- Cooking Class with Auntie KK in Osu: $89
- Nighttime Food Tour with Local Guide: $90
- Flavors of Ghana: Food Tour Experience.: $97
- Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra: $100
- Ghanaian Cooking Class Authentic Tour: $100
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
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Popcorn$0.50
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Corn on the Cob$0.67
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Hamburger$0.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rio de Janeiro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
- Barra da Tijuca Walk & Food Tour with Drinks: $0.17
- Rio Cooking Class 5 meal course +caipirinhas: $46
- Rio Bar Food Tour: $56
- Waterfront Dinner & Live Music Experience: $59
- Rio's Walking Food Tour: $71
- The Best Food Tour: Taste the Most Authentic Flavours of Rio: $78
- Brazilian Meats and Snacks + South American Wines Guided Dinner: $79
- Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off: $80
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Brazilian Music at Rio Scenarium with Dinner: $89
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $92
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Accra $2.97Rio de Janeiro $19
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
- Makola Market Walking Tour: $41
- Accra, Ghana Guided Local Market Tour: $55
- Makola Market Walking Tour: $58
- Accra City Tour Experience: $63
- Half-Day Private Tour of Nima Market with Pick Up: $65
- Accra City:Accra city Tour for Culture Seekers (Private: $68
- Kwame Nkrumah Museum, Independence Square & More Tour: $70
- 1 Day Accra City Tour: $71
- Accra city Day Tour: $75
- Accra City Tour Experience: $75
- Walking Tour of Accra: $75
- Nightlife Tour in Accra: $80
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Rio Experience: Caipirinha Workshop (2 Caipis) + Funk Class: $7.68
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $8.15
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.15
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Rio de Janeiro Ferris Wheel Ticket - Yup Star: $10
- Ferris Wheel Ticket: $10
- Flamengo Museum Ticket Entrance: $14
- Private Tour with Local Guide to Favela da Rocinha: $17
- TOURS & TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: $17
- Yup Star Observation Wheel Ticket: $18
- 4 bis 5 stunden Citytour in Rio de Janeiro City: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAccra $4.25Rio de Janeiro $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rio de Janeiro:
- Pub Crawl Lapa: $23
- Rio: Lapa Pub Crawl with Live Samba, Shots, & Drinking Game: $26
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $31
- Rio de Janeiro - Wine Tasting of Brazilian Wines: $34
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $40
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $63
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $86
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Accra and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Accra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Accra is in Africa and Rio de Janeiro is in South 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 Accra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Accra 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 Rio de Janeiro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rio de Janeiro than you might in Accra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Accra Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Accra or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Accra. When comparing the sizes of Accra and Rio de Janeiro, 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 Accra or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Accra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Accra or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Accra and Rio de Janeiro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Accra year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Accra is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Accra in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Accra usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Accra gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAccra 25°C (77°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Accra or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Accra as well as Rio de Janeiro. Accra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Rio de Janeiro in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Accra is generally around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Accra average around 26°C (79°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Accra usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Accra gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, May to November in Rio de Janeiro is the dry season. December to April in Rio de Janeiro is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAccra 26°C (79°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Accra or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Accra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Accra throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Rio de Janeiro for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Accra is a little warmer than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Accra averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
In January, Accra usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Accra gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAccra 27°C (81°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Accra or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Accra during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Accra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Rio de Janeiro because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Accra is a little warmer than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Accra in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Accra. Accra usually gets more rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Accra gets 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year. May to November is the dry season in Rio de Janeiro. December to April is the rainy season in Rio de Janeiro.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAccra 28°C (82°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Accra
| Accra | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 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.