Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Bordeaux?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro?
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is the place to go for fine wines. It's a very mellow, cultural city where you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a quaint cafe or restaurant without being rushed. The city is the capital of Gironde, and the entire metropolitan area has over one million residents. The city also has a rather large and vibrant university and the population is known to be very tolerant and liberal. There is a very strong artistic vibe in the city and, due to it's history of English rule, there is an English flair to the area. The large student population means that there is no shortage of opportunities to see shows, hear music, or visit a museum.
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 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, 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 dayBordeaux €118Rio de Janeiro €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Bordeaux is €118, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is €98. 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 Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBordeaux €63Rio de Janeiro €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBordeaux €126Rio de Janeiro €124
Compare Hotels in Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Bordeaux 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: Bordeaux Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bordeaux €15Rio de Janeiro €7.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bordeaux
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bordeaux:
- Airport Transfer: Bordeaux Airport BOD to Bordeaux by Luxury Van: $103
- Arrival Private Transfer Bordeaux Airport BOD to Bordeaux by Van: $115
- Arrival Private Transfers : Bordeaux Airport BOD to Bordeaux in Business Car: $103
- Bordeaux Airport Transfers: Bordeaux Airport BOD to Bordeaux in Business Car: $103
- Bordeaux Airport Transfers: Bordeaux Airport BOD to Bordeaux in Luxury Car: $137
- Bordeaux Airport Transfers: Bordeaux to Bordeaux Airport BOD in Luxury Car: $137
- Bordeaux Airport Transfers: Bordeaux to Bordeaux Airport BOD in Luxury Van: $108
- Bordeaux to Airport Private Transfer in Premium Class: $147
- Departure Private Transfers : Bordeaux to Bordeaux Airport BOD in Luxury Van: $108
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Bordeaux from Bordeaux Airport: $165
- Private Transfer Bordeaux City to Bordeaux Airport BOD by Car: $97
- Private Transfer from Airport to Bordeaux City: $165
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€2.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $471
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $471
- A transfer with safety and comfort in Rio: $45
- Airport Private Transfer - Premium Service: $65
- Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Luxury Van: $125
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $80
- Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $53
- AquaRio Small Group Guided Tour with entrance and transfer: $60
- Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $123
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $54
- Arrival Private Transfer GIG or SDU Airport to Rio City by Minivan: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Bordeaux 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 dayBordeaux €45Rio de Janeiro €19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bordeaux
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bordeaux.
- No Diet Club : Bordeaux Food Tour in Les Chartrons !: $64
- Bordeaux - sweet food tour of the old city: $64
- NO DIET CLUB - Unique food tour in Bordeaux !: $64
- 2-Hour River Dinner Cruise: $74
- Sweet Specialties Tasting Bakeries Food Tour: $82
- Bordeaux : Afternoon Food Tour by a local guide: $85
- Bordeaux Organic Food Tour - French Apéro Style: $93
- Bordeaux : unforgettable Food Tour by a local guide: $96
- Private Bakery, Chocolate & Patisserie Food Tour: $96
- Bordeaux Traditional Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $103
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $107
- Pastry Cooking Class: $107
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€0.91
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: $73
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $80
- 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
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $106
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $113
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bordeaux €7.89Rio de Janeiro €20
Tours and Activities in Bordeaux
Here are a few actual costs in Bordeaux for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bordeaux : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.14
- Free Walking City Tour: $2.15
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Bordeaux Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- The best of Find more than wine on this self-guided audio tour: $6.99
- City Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- City Highlights & Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Tour: $7.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $7.00
- Centre of Explore 2,000 years of history on a self-guided audio tour: $8.99
- Bordeaux Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Guided Walking Tour: $16
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 (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.78
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.89
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $10
- Favela tour in copacabana with local guide!: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBordeaux €26Rio de Janeiro €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Bordeaux
Also in Bordeaux, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine and Trade Museum Entry Ticket & Wine Tasting: $11
- Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum Admission Ticket with Wine Tasting: $11
- Distillery Tour in Bordeaux with Spirits Tasting: $16
- Wine Tasting Cruise: $23
- Cité du Vin Direct Ticket and Wine Tasting: $24
- Bordeaux Pub Crawl: $25
- Taillan-Médoc: Château Visit and Wine Tasting in Bordeaux: $27
- Wine Tour and Tasting: $29
- Unusual Wine Tasting Experience - Wood & Wine: $30
- Discover Bordeaux vineyard : special wine tasting with two cellar men brothers: $32
- Wine Country Vineyards Tour w/ Local Wine Tastings: $59
- Bordeaux Vineyards Wine Tasting Half-Day Trip: $62
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:
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $33
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $34
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $60
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $65
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Bordeaux is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bordeaux. When comparing the sizes of Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Bordeaux are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bordeaux in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Bordeaux is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bordeaux in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In July, Bordeaux usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Bordeaux gets 47 mm (1.9 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 JanuaryBordeaux 21°C (69°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Bordeaux during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bordeaux for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Bordeaux is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Bordeaux average around 14°C (58°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bordeaux usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Bordeaux gets 88 mm (3.5 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 AprilBordeaux 14°C (58°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bordeaux and Rio de Janeiro. The winter months attract visitors to Bordeaux because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Bordeaux is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Bordeaux averages around 6°C (43°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
Bordeaux gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Bordeaux usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Bordeaux gets 100 mm (3.9 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 JulyBordeaux 6°C (43°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Bordeaux or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Bordeaux as well as Rio de Janeiro. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Bordeaux this time of year.
In the spring, Bordeaux is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bordeaux in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
Bordeaux usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Bordeaux gets 72 mm (2.8 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 OctoberBordeaux 12°C (53°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Bordeaux
| Bordeaux | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (45°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (65°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (58°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 99 mm (3.9 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.