Should you visit Asuncion or Rio de Janeiro?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Asuncion or Rio de Janeiro, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Asuncion
Asuncion is a vastly underrated city. It is the capital but also the administrative economic and cultural center of Paraguay. It is located in the south central part of the country, near the border with Argentina and it is one of the oldest cities in South America, with people living here since almost 500 years. The city has a beautiful and simple center, with a few unique colonial and beaux arts buildings, international cuisine, shady plazas and friendly people. Its handful of historic buildings around the Plaza de los Heroes, Plaza Uruguaya and Manzana de la Ribera, two or three small museums, old bars and cafes, but also smart suburbs, ritzy shopping malls and fashionable nightclubs will keep you entertained for a day or two. It is a very charming city for travellers and apart from the sights, the city boasts a good tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants.
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. The peak time to visit is during the city's famous Carnival festival, which is one of the most famous festivals in the world. However, Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year around. The city has a wonderful natural harbour that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting. And you can't miss the beach, either!
Which city is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Asuncion?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Asuncion is $59, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $81. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Asuncion and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Asuncion can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $19, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $38.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Rio de Janeiro is $102. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
In Asuncion travelers spend around $15 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The average traveler spends about $15 per day in Rio de Janeiro for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Asuncion $15
Rio de Janeiro $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Asunción Dinner and Show Experience:
$93
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Private Tour: Asuncion at Night with Dinner Show:
$103
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Dinner Show in Asuncion:
$149
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
$0.57
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Corn on the Cob
$0.77
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Hamburger
$0.96
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.
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Food Tour Rio de Janeiro:
$30
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Cooking Class for Cacao Lovers:
$51
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Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off:
$55
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Plant-based Brazilian Flavours Cooking Class:
$56
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Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer:
$60
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Private Tour in Rio Scenarium with Dinner:
$65
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Skip the line: Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option:
$70
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Dinner and Brazilian Music Show in Rio Scenarium:
$70
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Small-Group Boozy 7-Recipe Brazilian Cooking Class:
$75
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Brazilian Food And Caipirinhas Cooking Class:
$75
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Food Tour Experience in Rio de Janeiro (Small Groups or Private):
$80
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Secret Food Tours Rio de Janeiro:
$82
Local Transportation
To get around in Asuncion, the average visitor spends $7.62 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.24 per day to get around in Rio de Janeiro.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Asuncion
Also for Asuncion, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Asuncion to Silvio Pettirossi Int. Airport (ASU):
$26
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Private Arrival Transfer: Asunción Airport to Hotel:
$47
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Asunción Airport:
$47
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Round Trip Transfer Silvio Pettirossi Airport (ASU) to Asuncion City Center:
$46
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Transfer in private car from Asuncion City to Asuncion Silvio Pettirosi Airport:
$30
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Transfer in private minivan from Asuncion City to Silvio Pettirosi Airport:
$37
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
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Visit to an Original Historic Coffee Farm Guided Tour including Transfer:
$140
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Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer:
$66
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VIP Private Transfer Santos Dumond(SDU)-Rio de Janeiro:
$65
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Transfers:
$139
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Transfer in Rio:
$35
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport to City:
$23
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport to City:
$73
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro Galeao(GIG) Airport to City:
$73
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Transfer in Private Car from Galeao Airpor t(GIG) to Rio de Janeiro city center:
$23
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Transfer from South Zone/Downtown to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU):
$30
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Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to South Zone/Downtown hotels:
$47
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Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to Barra da Tijuca/São Conrado:
$71
Entertainment
In Asuncion, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $17 per person, per day in Rio de Janeiro. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Asuncion
For Asuncion, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Asunción Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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City Tour Asunción:
$48
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2 Hours Catamaran Tour from the Asunción Bay with Audio Guide:
$55
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Private Tour: Golden Circuit from Asuncion:
$64
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Asuncion Birding Tour:
$70
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Asunción City Market Tour:
$72
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Asunción Small-Group Art and Cultural Walking Tour:
$78
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Cultural City 3 Hour Tour in Asuncion by Bus:
$99
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Private Half day city tour in Asuncion, Paraguay:
$100
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Golden Triangle Tour:
$110
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Crystal Fall - day tour in a reduced group:
$110
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Shopping tour in Asuncion:
$115
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Days in Rio: Cultural & Ecologic Tours:
$284
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2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours:
$265
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2 Hour Vidigal Favela Tour Discovery the Most Laidback Favela:
$19
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3 Hour Sailing Experience in Rio:
$39
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3-Day Customizable Tour of Rio de Janeiro:
$365
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4 horas - Tour private: Corcovado e praias:
$154
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4 hours - Tour Private: Pão de Açúcar e Catedral Metropolitana:
$154
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4-Day Private Guided Tour from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo – Coastal Trip:
$990
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4-Days Ilha Grande Experience - Unlocking Brazil's 'Garden of Eden':
$1,025
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4-Hour Urban Arts Walking Tour:
$43
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4-hour Rio Downtown Sites & Bites Small Group Tour:
$62
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4-hour Sum-up Of Rio de Janeiro "Private Tour" – Optional Airport & Port Pick-up:
$92
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Asuncion spend on average $8.95 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rio de Janeiro may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.47 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Asuncion
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Asuncion are as follows:
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:
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Pub Crawl Rio de Janeiro:
$11
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Skip the line: Ipanema Pub Crawl:
$28
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Beautiful Imperial Petropolis City Tour Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery:
$34
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Rio By Night Tour: Pub Crawl Experiencing Music, Dancing, Drinks & Local Culture:
$105
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Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains:
$135
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Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour:
$160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asuncion and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Asuncion much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asuncion would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asuncion 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 Asuncion.
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