Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Rio de Janeiro. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is €99. 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 Athens and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Athens 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rio de Janeiro:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe 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 Rio de Janeiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rio de Janeiro 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Rio de Janeiro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rio de Janeiro is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Athens has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Rio de Janeiro. Most visitors come to Athens for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Athens is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Athens usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Rio de Janeiro and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Athens because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Rio de Janeiro and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Athens this time of year.
In January, Athens is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin July. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Athens usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Rio de Janeiro. Many travelers come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Athens is cooler than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Athens | Rio de Janeiro | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |