Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beirut or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut 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.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Rio de Janeiro?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.26Rio de Janeiro $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.26, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $105. 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 Beirut and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Rio de Janeiro $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Rio de Janeiro $132
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Rio de Janeiro $7.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Private Transfer from Beirut to Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport: $46
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$2.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $66
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (SDU): $25
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (GIG): $52
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Rio de Janeiro HTL-APT (SDU): $25
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $40
- Transfer service from/to Rio de Janeiro-Embarkation for Ilha Grande: $88
- Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $99
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
- Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $19
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $22
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $79
- Transfer in Rio: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $0.71Rio de Janeiro $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal and Hotel Transfers: $142
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$0.59
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Corn on the Cob$0.78
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Hamburger$0.98
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: $72
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $79
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $82
- 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
- Copacabana Local Street Bars Food Tour: $90
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $105
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Rio de Janeiro $22
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discovering Lebanon: Jeita Grotto, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $15
- Small Group Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harisa & Byblos with Hotel pickup: $15
- City Sightseeing Beirut Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Beirut Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Half-Day Private Tour to Jeita Grotto and Harissa: $35
- Small Daily Tours in Beirut City: $40
- Small-Group Beirut Historical Tour: $40
- Beirut Full Day Walking Tour: $41
- Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $48
- From Jeita, Harissa, and Byblos Tour: $50
- Full-Day Private Tour to Jeita Grotto, Harissa And Baatara Waterfall: $50
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Favelas do Vidigal or Rocinha's experience: $50
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 03 - Guided Tour to the Grande Rio Academics Barracão: $120
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $101
- 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: $281
- 2 Hours Paradisiac Sailboat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $283
- 2 Hours Tour with Parasailing in Rio de Janeiro: $110
- 21 - Guided Tour to the Imperial City of Petrópolis with Lunch: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Rio de Janeiro $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Byblos & Chateau Musar: History and Wine Tour: $65
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $150
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $150
- Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch from Beirut: $150
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $150
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 in Lapa: $29
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $33
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $56
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $57
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Beirut. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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 Beirut or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Beirut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Beirut or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Beirut during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Beirut is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Beirut in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Beirut usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBeirut 27°C (81°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Rio de Janeiro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round.
In October, Beirut is generally around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 25°C (77°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Beirut usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBeirut 25°C (77°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Rio de Janeiro. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Beirut is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
Beirut receives a lot of rain in the winter. Beirut usually gets more rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBeirut 13°C (55°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year.
In the spring, Beirut is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Beirut in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Beirut usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBeirut 17°C (63°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Beirut
| Beirut | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.