Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cairo or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Rio de Janeiro can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Rio de Janeiro?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesRio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $33Rio de Janeiro $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $33, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $115. 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 Cairo and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $11Rio de Janeiro $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $22Rio de Janeiro $128
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.80Rio de Janeiro $7.65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- 2-Days Trip in Cairo & Giza (Including Free Transfer from the Airport): $143
- Private Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx With Camel Ride,Lunch and Hotels Transfers: $13
- Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to The Nile Ritz-Carlton Hotel: $12
- Private transfer from Sonesta Hotel, Tower& Casino Cairo to Cairo airport: $12
- Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx Half Day Tour With Private Guide & Transfers : $135
- Round-Trip Airport Transfer in Cairo or Giza: $50
- 01 way Private Transfer from your Hotel in Cairo to Cairo Airport: $13
- 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Ride At Giza Pyramids With Private Transfer : $30
- 1 Way Pick up transfer from Cairo to Hurghada by private Car: $60
- 2 Day Cairo Tour upon arrival day with airport transfer: $160
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$2.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Business Car: $113
- All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $85
- Angra dos Reis Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro : $122
- AquaRio Small Group Guided Tour with entrance and transfer: $90
- Arrival Transfer: Airport GIG to Rio de Janeiro by Business Van: $137
- Boat Party by Night in Rio de Janeiro Admission & Transfer : $68
- Buzios Private Transfer to and from Rio de Janeiro: $200
- Buzios Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $40
- Cabo Frio Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro : $124
- Cabo Frio Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $63
- Carnaval Party Tour and Samba Class in Rio with Transfer: $60
- Corcovado & Favela Tour with Transfer: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Cairo 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 dayCairo $18Rio de Janeiro $34
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Local Oriental Food Tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $9.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00
- Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
- Giza pyramids,Sphinx,ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise& shopping: $9.00
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$0.56
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Corn on the Cob$0.75
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Hamburger$0.94
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: $46
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Rio: Iconic Street Foods & Caipirinhas: $75
- Authentic Brazilian BBQ & Wine: A Guided Dinner Experience in Rio: $79
- Roxy Show - Brazilian Rhythms with optional Barbecue Dinner: $85
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Family Cooking Class in Rio Make 9 Brazilian Dishes Together: $95
- LGBTQ+ Cooking Class in Rio: Cook, Toast & Celebrate Together: $95
- Brazilian BBQ Cooking & Drinks Class + Patio Party in Copacabana: $95
- Dinner and Show at the Official Roxy Dinner Show - Rio de Janeiro: $122
- Brazilian Dinner Show: Cultural Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $126
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
- Flavors of Cooking Class and Caipirinhas: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $9.09Rio de Janeiro $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.47
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $1.00
- Egyptian Museum Tour Cave Church Old Cairo Saladin Citadel: $1.00
- Best Day TourTo Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Egyptian Museum, Bazar,Lunch: $1.75
- Cheap Day tour to Giza Pyramids Sphinx With Camel Rid : $2.00
- Best Egypt Tour Giza Pyramids Sphinx lunch fees camel 9rd pyramid: $3.50
- VIP privatr tour Giza pyramids sphins &Saqqara and Memphis : $3.50
- Explore Giza Pyramids on a Private ATV or Camel Tour: $4.00
- Chep Day Tour Pyramids Giza, Memphis, Saqqara and Camel: $4.00
- Private Half Day Pyramids Tour with Felucca: $4.50
- All inclusive Tour To Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel Ride, Lunch: $4.50
- Private Tour in Iconic Giza Pyramids From Cairo: $5.00
- Cairo Highlights Tours Visit Giza Pyramids and Sphinx: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.51
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $4.51
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Rocinha Local Tour: $19
- Rocinha favela walking tour with a local guide: $20
- Favelas do Vidigal or Rocinha's experience: $23
- Tour of the Heart of Historic Rio de Janeiro : $23
- Rio de Janeiro Tour with App – No Guide, Start When You Want: $24
- Carnival Backstage Tour - Visit a traditional Samba School : $25
- Carnaval Experience: Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail : $26
- Favela Tour Rio de Janeiro - Vidigal Walking Tour by Russo Guide: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.48Rio de Janeiro $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70
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:
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $40
- Rio Pub Crawl: Taste Caipirinhas & Local Bar Snacks: $95
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Rio de Janeiro?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Rio de Janeiro. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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 Cairo or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairo or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rio de Janeiro this time of year.
In July, Cairo is generally around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiroin January. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In July, Cairo usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 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 JanuaryCairo 28°C (82°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Cairo during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Cairo is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cairo usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year. May to November is the dry season in Rio de Janeiro. December to April is the rainy season in Rio de Janeiro.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCairo 23°C (73°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Rio de Janeiro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, many visitors come to Rio de Janeiro in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Cairo is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 21°C (70°F)in July.
In January, Cairo usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 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 JulyCairo 14°C (57°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Rio de Janeiro. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Rio de Janeiro for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Cairo is generally around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiroin October. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Cairo usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, May to November in Rio de Janeiro is the dry season. December to April in Rio de Janeiro is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCairo 21°C (70°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Cairo
| Cairo | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.