Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Agra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Agra 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 Agra 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: Agra or Rio de Janeiro?
Agra
In the north of India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the city of Agra. This land is home to great tales of emperors and majestic temples. It is the home to a magnificent past and the greatest symbol of love known to man, the Taj Mahal.
While this incredible structure is the main draw to this area, there is much more to see. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra can claim three different UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikiri.
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 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAgra $44Rio de Janeiro $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Agra is $44, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $106. 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 Agra and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAgra $16Rio de Janeiro $67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAgra $32Rio de Janeiro $134
Compare Hotels in Agra and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Agra 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: Agra Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Agra $10Rio de Janeiro $8.04
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Agra
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Agra:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Agra
Also for Agra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Agra to Delhi Airport.: $50
- A Taste of Agra for Foodies with Private Transfer: $130
- Affordable transfer from Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri: $33
- Affordable transfer from Agra to Lucknow: $60
- Agra : Transfer To Jaipur Via Chand Baori & Fatehpur Sikri: $50
- Agra Full Day City Sightseeing Guided Tour - Transfer Option: $31
- Agra Half-Day City Tour and Transfer to Delhi: $88
- Agra to Delhi (one-way shared transfer): $67
- Agra to Delhi Airport Transfers by Car: $102
- Agra to Delhi Private Luxury Transfer: $76
- Agra to Delhi airport transfer by air-conditioned car: $51
- Agra to Delhi airport transfer by air-conditioned car: $130
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Taxi Ride$2.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Private transfer to Ilha Grande.: $930
- From Private Transfer to São Paulo: $650
- Rio: Sambadrome Carnival Parade + transfer 2025 Sector 7: $471
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $471
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer Sector 5: $471
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $471
- Rio's 2025 Carnival Parade at Sapucaí + Transfer Sector 5: $471
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer (Sector 7): $471
- Helicopter Ride for 25 to 30min with Transfer service: $300
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- TRANSFER VAN Rio de Janeiro x Búzios/Arraial/Cabo Frio/Angra: $272
- From Private Transfer to Vila do Abraão: $246
Is it cheaper to fly into Agra or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Agra 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAgra $16Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Agra
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Agra:
-
Breakfast for Two$2.16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Agra
For Agra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agra best Cooking class after Taj Mahal: $6.00
- Street Food Tour with Spice Market on Tuk-Tuk: $12
- Home Hosted Luch or dinner by Indian local Family: $18
- Local Food Tour with Cooking Class in Home Agra Including Lunch or Dinner: $20
- Agra Heritage Walk with Food Tour: $20
- Indian Food Private Cooking Class: $22
- Cooking Class and Dine with a Local Family: $23
- Old City Food Tour with Local Guide and Tastings: $23
- Indian Home Visit Cooking Demo: $25
- The Spirit of Agra - Old Market Walking and Food Tour: $26
- Cooking classes Tour Including Pickup And Dropping To Hotel: $28
- Cooking Workshop and Vegetarian Dinner in Agra with Family: $30
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Popcorn$0.59
-
Corn on the Cob$0.79
-
Hamburger$0.99
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.
- Waterfront Dinner & Live Music Experience: $46
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $73
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $80
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Brazilian Meats and Snacks + South American Wines Guided Dinner: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $106
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $113
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Agra $20Rio de Janeiro $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Agra
For Agra, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Entry to the Red Fort for Two$7.20
-
Taj Mahal for Two$18
Tours and Activities in Agra
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Agra.
- Mughal Carpet Co. Agra :- Handmade Carpet Demonstration Tour: $0.84
- Handmade Marble Demonstration Tour: $1.02
- Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line Entry Guided Tour: $1.19
- Agra : Taj Mahal tour with guide: $1.20
- Skip-the-line entry ticket on Taj Mahal tour: $1.20
- Agra:Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Guided Tour with Free Breakfast: $1.20
- Private Taj Mahal Skip-The-Line Tour: $1.80
- Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Guided Tour with Multi Options: $1.86
- Sunset Taj Mahal Tour with Skip-The-Line & Lateral Entry: $2.04
- Private Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Tour with Options: $2.10
- Taj Mahal and Mausoleum Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry: $2.10
- From Delhi: Sunrise Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Baby Taj Tour: $2.10
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $260
- 14 - Guided Tour to Quadra Do Salgueiro with Samba Show: $75
- 15 - Guided Tour to Santa Marta Favela: $150
- 16 - Guided Tour to Favela da Rocinha: $75
- 19 - Guided Tour to the Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard: $90
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $276
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $177
- 21 - Guided Tour to the Imperial City of Petrópolis with Lunch: $80
- 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
- 27 -Guided Tour to Christ the Redeemer and City in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- 3 Hour Boat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $68
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAgra $9.65Rio de Janeiro $12
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:
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $33
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $34
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $60
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $65
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Agra and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Agra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Agra is in Asia 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 Agra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Agra 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 Agra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Agra Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Agra or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Agra. When comparing the sizes of Agra 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.
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.