Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Barcelona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.
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 Contiki Tours to Spain, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Barcelona is €156, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is €100. 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 Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Barcelona 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
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 Barcelona 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
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.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
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 Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Barcelona is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Barcelona 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 Barcelona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Barcelona 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 Barcelona Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Barcelona. When comparing the sizes of Barcelona 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 Barcelona has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro. The summer months attract visitors to Barcelona because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Barcelona is generally cooler than Rio de Janeiroin January. Daily temperatures in Barcelona average around 23°C (73°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Barcelona usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Barcelona gets 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Barcelona as well as Rio de Janeiro. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Barcelona this time of year.
Barcelona is cooler than Rio de Janeiro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Barcelona averages around 17°C (63°F) in October, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Barcelona usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Barcelona gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Barcelona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Barcelona is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Barcelona in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 21°C (70°F)in July.
In January, Barcelona usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Barcelona gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Barcelona in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Barcelona is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin October. Daily temperatures in Barcelona average around 13°C (55°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Barcelona usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Barcelona gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Barcelona | Rio de Janeiro | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
May | 16°C (61°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |