Which place is cheaper, Washington or Brasilia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Brasilia or Washington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brasilia and Washington can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Brasilia or Washington?
Brasilia
The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.
Washington
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Brazil, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrasilia $78Washington $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Brasilia is $78, while the average daily cost in Washington is $198. 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 Brasilia and Washington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrasilia $33Washington $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrasilia $66Washington $226
Compare Hotels in Brasilia and Washington
Looking for a hotel in Brasilia or Washington? 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: Brasilia Hotel Prices and Washington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brasilia $21Washington $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
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Metro Day Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer DCA to/from Washington DC Downtown Area only: $147
- Arrival Private Transfer: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Car: $192
- Arrival Private Transfer: National Airport DCA to Washington in Luxury Van: $178
- Arrival Transfer Dulles Airport IAD to Washington DC by Sedan: $106
- DCA Airport Private Transfer to Washington D.C (downtown): $65
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Baltimore Airport BWI in Luxury Van: $196
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury Car: $220
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury SUV: $164
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to Dulles Airport IAD in Luxury Van: $164
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Business Car: $147
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury Car: $192
- Departure Private Transfer: Washington to National Airport DCA in Luxury SUV: $178
Is it cheaper to fly into Brasilia or Washington?
Prices for flights to both Washington and Brasilia 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 dayBrasilia $30Washington $38
Typical Food Prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
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Water$2.00
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Snacks on Monuments Tour$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- DC: Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise on the Spirit: $61
- Little Ethiopia Food Tour: $67
- Adams Morgan Food Tour: $74
- DC: Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise on the Odyssey: $74
- Small-Group Capitol Hill Walking Food Tour: $75
- Washington D.C: Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $85
- Eastern Market Eats Food Tour (5 Food Stops + Dessert): $89
- Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $95
- Washington D.C.: Georgetown Guided Secret Food Tour: $104
- Washington D.C.: Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour: $129
- Washington DC Premier Dinner Cruise: $145
- Private Traditional Filipino Cooking Class Near Washington DC : $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brasilia $18Washington $24
Tours and Activities in Brasilia
Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Brasilia : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $61
- Brasilia Tour: $42
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Washington: $5.68
- House of Cards Quest Experience in Washington DC: $5.91
- Washington DC: National Mall Self Guided App Walking Tour: $6.50
- DC Mall: Lincoln Memorial to Cap Hill App Audio GPS Walking Tour: $6.75
- Secrets on Embassy Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Washington DC: $6.99
- The Kennedy Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- FBI vs. Bank Robbers Quest Experience in Washington DC Quest: $7.39
- Private DC Civil Rights Audio Guide App Walking Tour: $8.00
- The National Mall's Monuments: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Virtual Tour of Martin Luther King Memorial: $10
- Washington DC Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Washington DC: Monuments Self-Guided Walking Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrasilia $14Washington $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
- LGBTQ Bar Crawl with a Local DC Bartender: $25
- Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $28
- Washington, D.C.: History Tour Pub Crawl: $59
- DC Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- DC: Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $105
- Cyber Wine Tours: $125
- From Washington DC: Seneca Creek Region Wine Tour with Lunch: $175
- Private Washington DC Virginia Winery Wine Tasting Tour -Spirited: $255
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brasilia and Washington, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Brasilia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brasilia is in South America and Washington is in North 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 Brasilia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Brasilia 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington than you might in Brasilia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Brasilia Expensive? and Is Washington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brasilia or Washington?
Brasilia has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Washington. When comparing the sizes of Brasilia and Washington, 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.
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.