Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Beijing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beijing or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Beijing 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.
Where Should I go: Beijing or Rio de Janeiro?
Beijing
Beijing is the capital of China and, with 21.5 million people, it is the second most populated city in the world after Shanghai. It is a city that keeps pockets of its history hidden in old neighborhoods or back alleys, despite the constant change and modernization that goes on around it. As the capital city of China, there is plenty of history and culture. You can still get yourself lost in one of the last remaining hutongs, which are old neighborhoods that remain untouched by the city's modernization. The alleys that weave between the old homes are lined with drying clothes, corner markets, and people going about their daily lives the way they have for centuries. Surrounding these hutongs you'll find modern buildings and a booming economy, all threatening to destroying these last bits of Beijing's history. Beijing offers a glimpse into a microcosm that represents the entire country of China. Make sure you give yourself enough time in China to truly experience Beijing. You can pass a lot of time soaking up life in the city, which remains as diverse as the country it resides within.
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 Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeijing $75Rio de Janeiro $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Beijing is $75, 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 Beijing and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeijing $39Rio de Janeiro $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeijing $78Rio de Janeiro $124
Compare Hotels in Beijing and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Beijing 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: Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beijing $7.68Rio de Janeiro $7.47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Beijing
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Beijing:
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Taxi$4.69
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Train from Airport for Two$6.88
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Taxi to Hotel$8.25
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2 Metro Passes$2.20
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Metro$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beijing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Beijing:
- Private One-Way Transfer Between Beijing Railway Station and Hotel: $30
- Private Transfer to Daxing International Airport : $35
- 1 Day Pass for Universal Beijing and Private Transfer Package: $265
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall with Round Airport Transfers: $208
- 1-Day Bejing Layover Tour:Mutianyu Great Wall,Forbidden City & Airport Transfers: $250
- 1-Way Private Transfer between Beijing Airport and City Hotels: $35
- 4-Hour Huanghuacheng Great Wall Sunset Tour with Airport Transfer: $160
- 5 Hours Round Trip Transfer Service to Mutianyu Great Wall: $70
- Acrobatic Show at Red Theater With Private Transfer: $45
- Acrobatics Show with Private Driver Service and Hotel Round Transfer: $75
- Arrival Private Transfer: Capital Airport PEK to Beijing in Business Car: $73
- transfer from the airport to the hotel: $65
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$2.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- From GIG Airport to Hotels in Barra da Tijuca - private transfer: $40
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer: $477
- A transfer with safety and comfort in Rio: $45
- Airport Private Transfer - Premium Service: $65
- All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $80
- AquaRio Small Group Guided Tour with entrance and transfer: $70
- Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $123
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $54
- Arrival Private Transfers from Rio de Janeiro Airport GIG to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Arrival Private Transfers from Rio de Janeiro Airport GIG to Rio de Janeiro: $113
- Bilingual Private Transfer- Angra, Búzios, Cabo Frio, Paraty, etc: $128
- BioParque do Rio Guided Tour with Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Beijing or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Beijing 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 dayBeijing $19Rio de Janeiro $19
Typical Food Prices in Beijing
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Beijing:
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Popcorn$0.83
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Hot Pot Dinner$6.88
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Dumpling Breakfast for Two$2.75
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Watermelon$1.93
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Peking Duck Dinner for 2$16
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Two Popsicles$0.83
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beijing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Beijing.
- Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef : $20
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Kungpao Chicken: $20
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li: $20
- Beijing Acrobatic Show Tickets w/ Optional Dinner or Transfer: $48
- 3.5-Hour Walking Food Tour: A Bite of History at Beijing Niujie Street: $49
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Beijing Hutong Breakfast Food Tour: $55
- Temple of Heaven Private Tour w/Option Show &Dinner: $60
- Beijing Gulou Night Market Food Tour: $75
- discovery more Beijing back street evening food tour with locals : $79
- Old Beijing Dinner Tour: $80
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$0.55
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Corn on the Cob$0.73
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Hamburger$0.92
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: $50
- Waterfront Dinner and Live Music in Rio de Janeiro: $52
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $61
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $66
- Rio's Walking Food Tour: $77
- Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off: $80
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $81
- On the Beach Seafood BBQ 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 Bar Food Tour: $99
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beijing $24Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Beijing
Here are a few typical costs in Beijing for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Summer Palace for Two$8.25
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Two Opera Tickets$58
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Temple of Heaven Park Entrance (for 2)$9.63
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Forbidden City (for 2)$17
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Forbidden City Tickets$17
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Audio Guides at Forbidden City$11
Tours and Activities in Beijing
Here are a few actual costs in Beijing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tiananmen Square - Agent ticket booking service: $1.00
- Beijing's Old Hutongs: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.99
- Temple of Heaven Group Walking Tour: $5.00
- Beijing's Old Hutongs: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Confucius Temple and the Impercial College E-ticket: $6.48
- Temple of Heaven Tickets Booking: $6.50
- Temple of Heaven Ticket: $6.50
- Beijing Lama Temple Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided Service: $7.00
- Beijing：Jingshan Park (Palace Museum Garden) Ticket: $7.15
- Panda House+City Attractions or Mutianyu Day Tour: $7.15
- Beijing Summer Palace Entrance Ticket (with Optional Guided Service): $7.88
- Temple of Heaven Tickets Booking: $8.00
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 de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.88
- Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.88
- Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $8.05
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.05
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $8.05
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Rio Experience: Caipirinha Workshop (2 Caipis) + Funk Class: $9.29
- Favela tour in copacabana with local guide!: $9.29
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeijing $11Rio de Janeiro $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Beijing
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Beijing:
- Beijing Brewery Bike Tour: $99
- Evening Food Private Tour with Brewery Taproom Hopping at Slow Boat in Beijing: $110
- Private Tour-Drum Tower, Hutong Food Taste and Local Brewery Beer: $120
- Full Day Private Chateau Changyu Wine Tour from Beijing: $165
- 5-Hour Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour from Beijing: $178
- Private Changyu Chateau Wine Tasting Tour and Mutianyu Great Wall Visit: $238
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: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $23
- Rio: Lapa Pub Crawl with Live Samba, Shots, & Drinking Game: $24
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $33
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $40
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $55
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $119
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beijing and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Beijing much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beijing 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 Beijing would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beijing 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 Beijing.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beijing Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beijing or Rio de Janeiro?
Beijing has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Rio de Janeiro. When comparing the sizes of Beijing 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 Beijing or Rio de Janeiro?
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 Beijing has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Beijing or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Beijing are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Beijing because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Beijing is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 27°C (80°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. It's quite rainy in Beijing. In July, Beijing usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Beijing gets 176 mm (6.9 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 JanuaryBeijing 27°C (80°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Beijing during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Beijing this time of year.
In the autumn, Beijing is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beijing in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Beijing usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Beijing gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBeijing 14°C (56°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. Many travelers come to Beijing for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Beijing. In January, Beijing is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin July. Daily temperatures in Beijing average around -4°C (26°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In January, Beijing usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Beijing gets 3 mm (0.1 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 JulyBeijing -4°C (26°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Beijing or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Beijing as well as Rio de Janeiro. Many visitors come to Beijing in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Beijing is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Beijing averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
Beijing usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Beijing gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBeijing 14°C (57°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Beijing
| Beijing | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -4°C (26°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (76°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (80°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (29°F) | 2 mm (0.1 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.