Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Budapest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Budapest or Rio de Janeiro?
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 Budapest and Rio de Janeiro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Budapest or Rio de Janeiro?
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
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 Budapest, The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, and The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBudapest $93Rio de Janeiro $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $93, 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 Budapest and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBudapest $51Rio de Janeiro $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBudapest $102Rio de Janeiro $124
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Budapest 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: Budapest Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Budapest $11Rio de Janeiro $7.50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$7.17
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Metro Pass$3.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,213
- Budapest - Bük Transfer: $157
- Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $173
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,323
- Budapest - Pécs Transfer: $154
- Budapest - Szeged Transfer: $138
- Budapest - Vienna Private Car Transfer: $241
- Budapest - Vienna Transfer: $236
- Budapest - Vienna Transfer with Bratislava stop: $265
- Budapest Airport BUD Arrival Private Transfer to Budapest City: $92
- Budapest Airport Transfer: $53
- Budapest Airport Transfer - return (arrival & departure) with discount: $52
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$2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Rio: Premium Carnival Seating with Food, Drinks, & Transfers: $972
- From Private Transfer to São Paulo: $650
- Helicopter Tour with Hotel Transfer: $572
- 45-Min Helicopter Tour with Transfer: $401
- Private Transfer to/from Paraty: $355
- Private transfer for up to 15 passengers.: $343
- Helicopter Ride for 25 to 30min with Transfer service: $300
- 30-Min Helicopter Ride with Transfers: $280
- TRANSFER VAN Rio de Janeiro x Búzios/Arraial/Cabo Frio/Angra: $272
- TRANSFER 4 PASSENGERS GIG/SDU X Búzios/Arraial Do Cabo/Cabo Frio: $267
- Private Transfer to/from Buzios/Cabo Frio: $249
- Rio 2025 Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer (Peer Sectors): $246
Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Budapest 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 dayBudapest $24Rio de Janeiro $19
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Central Market Hall Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $27
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Tipsy Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $43
- Budapest Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included: $43
- Guided Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $43
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $44
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $46
- Bistro Boat Cruise with Dinner: $48
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Food Tour with Wine tasting By Foodapest 2024: $53
- Guided Food Tour with Wine, Beer, and Shots: $54
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $54
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$0.74
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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 and Live Music in Rio de Janeiro: $41
- Waterfront Dinner & Live Music Experience: $50
- The Best Food Tour: Taste the Most Authentic Flavours of Rio: $57
- Rio Bar Food Tour: $63
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $68
- Rio's Walking Food Tour: $79
- Carioca Cooking Class with 5-Course Meal: $80
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Brazilian Meats and Snacks + South American Wines Guided Dinner: $89
- Brazilian Music at Rio Scenarium with Dinner: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Bar Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Budapest $22Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$7.03
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Gems of the Budapest Castle District: Free Walking Tour!: $0.11
- Jewish Quarter of Budapest Walking Tour: $2.20
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.29
- Castle District Walking Tour: $3.29
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.36
- Self Guided Tour In Budapest With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.36
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.37
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.37
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.37
- Budapest Eye Tickets with Digital Audioguide: $3.37
- Budapest Castle District Walking Tour: $3.37
- Budapest (Jewish Quarter) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $4.20
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day Tour from Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado and Arraial do Cabo: $214
- A Day in Arraial do Cabo Guided Tour: $87
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- One Day Guided Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- #ClimbVidigal - Favela Day Tour with photos and videos: $420
- 03 - Guided Tour to the Grande Rio Academics Barracão: $120
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $113
- 1 hour Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $165
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $260
- 16 - Guided Tour to Favela da Rocinha: $75
- 19 - Guided Tour to the Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard: $90
- 2 Days Private Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $324
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBudapest $19Rio de Janeiro $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- Halloween Pub Crawl Budapest: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Guided Bar Crawl through the Party District: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $26
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $26
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $26
- Private, Personalized Pub Crawl, 5 drinks included: $27
- Hungarian pálinka distillery visit and tasting: $34
- Pub Crawl Budapest - with challanges and games: $37
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- Budapest - Opera Gin Distillery Tour: $41
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: Lapa Pub Crawl with Live Samba, Shots, & Drinking Game: $21
- Pub Crawl Lapa: $23
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $24
- Rio de Janeiro - Wine Tasting of Brazilian Wines: $38
- 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: $56
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $66
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $69
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $123
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $125
When comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Budapest is in Europe and Rio de Janeiro is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Budapest Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Budapest or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Budapest 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 Budapest 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 Budapest has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Budapest or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Rio de Janeiro. Many travelers come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Budapest is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Budapest in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Budapest usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryBudapest 21°C (70°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Budapest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Budapest is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around 12°C (53°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In October, Budapest usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 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 AprilBudapest 12°C (53°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Budapest during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Budapest can be very cold during winter. Budapest is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around -1°C (31°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
Budapest usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 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 JulyBudapest -1°C (31°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Rio de Janeiro. The spring months attract visitors to Budapest because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Budapest is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Budapest in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Budapest usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 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 OctoberBudapest 12°C (53°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Budapest
| Budapest | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.