Which place is cheaper, Copacabana or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Buzios or Copacabana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Copacabana? 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: Buzios or Copacabana?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
Copacabana
Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $77Copacabana $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, while the average daily cost in Copacabana is $42. 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 Buzios and Copacabana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37Copacabana $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74Copacabana $22
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Copacabana
Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Copacabana? 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: Copacabana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Copacabana $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $28
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
- Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $241
- Departure Transfer from Buzios or to Rio Airports by Minivan: $219
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $97
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $106
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $36
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $40
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Copacabana?
Prices for flights to both Copacabana and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $24Copacabana $17
Typical Food Prices in Copacabana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:
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Lunch$3.61
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Sandwich$1.16
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27Copacabana $19
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $24
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $29
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $31
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
- 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $34
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $37
- From Buzios To Arraial With Photos On A Private Tour!: $49
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $300
- From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
- Full Day Tour of Sun Island in Copacabana from La Paz: $100
- Full day tour of Copacabana and Sun Island: $90
- Titicaca Lake & Isla del Sol Catamaran Tour: $293
- Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Copacabana $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
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Wine$2.89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Copacabana, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Copacabana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Copacabana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copacabana 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios than you might in Copacabana.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Copacabana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Copacabana?
Buzios has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Copacabana. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Copacabana, 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.