Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Rio de Janeiro?
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 Colonia del Sacramento and Rio de Janeiro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
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. The peak time to visit is during the city's famous Carnival festival, which is one of the most famous festivals in the world. However, Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year around. The city has a wonderful natural harbour that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting. And you can't miss the beach, either!
Which city is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $48, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $81. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Colonia del Sacramento and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $48 in Colonia del Sacramento For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Rio de Janeiro is $102. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Colonia del Sacramento $24
Rio de Janeiro $51
-
Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Colonia del Sacramento
$48
Rio de Janeiro
$102
Food
While meal prices in Colonia del Sacramento can vary, the average travelers spends about $13 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Colonia del Sacramento should cost around $5.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Colonia del Sacramento is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The average traveler spends about $15 per day in Rio de Janeiro for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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
$0.57
-
Corn on the Cob
$0.77
-
Hamburger
$0.96
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.
-
Food Tour Rio de Janeiro:
$30
-
Cooking Class for Cacao Lovers:
$51
-
Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off:
$55
-
Plant-based Brazilian Flavours Cooking Class:
$56
-
Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer:
$60
-
Private Tour in Rio Scenarium with Dinner:
$65
-
Skip the line: Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option:
$70
-
Dinner and Brazilian Music Show in Rio Scenarium:
$70
-
Small-Group Boozy 7-Recipe Brazilian Cooking Class:
$75
-
Brazilian Food And Caipirinhas Cooking Class:
$75
-
Food Tour Experience in Rio de Janeiro (Small Groups or Private):
$80
-
Secret Food Tours Rio de Janeiro:
$82
Local Transportation
To get around in Colonia del Sacramento, the average visitor spends $12 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.24 per day to get around in Rio de Janeiro.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Colonia del Sacramento $12
Rio de Janeiro $6.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer:
$15
-
Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer:
$15
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Visit to an Original Historic Coffee Farm Guided Tour including Transfer:
$140
-
Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer:
$66
-
VIP Private Transfer Santos Dumond(SDU)-Rio de Janeiro:
$65
-
Transfers:
$139
-
Transfer in Rio:
$35
-
Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport to City:
$23
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport to City:
$73
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro Galeao(GIG) Airport to City:
$73
-
Transfer in Private Car from Galeao Airpor t(GIG) to Rio de Janeiro city center:
$23
-
Transfer from South Zone/Downtown to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU):
$30
-
Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to South Zone/Downtown hotels:
$47
-
Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to Barra da Tijuca/São Conrado:
$71
Entertainment
In Colonia del Sacramento, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $17 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $17 per person, per day in Rio de Janeiro. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
-
Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Colonia del Sacramento $17
Rio de Janeiro $17
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Colonia Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour:
$26
-
Half day city tour in Montevideo:
$52
-
Colonia del Sacramento City Tour:
$63
-
Half day city tour in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay:
$65
-
Full Day Birdwatching and Nature Tour:
$200
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 Days in Rio: Cultural & Ecologic Tours:
$284
-
2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours:
$265
-
2 Hour Vidigal Favela Tour Discovery the Most Laidback Favela:
$19
-
3 Hour Sailing Experience in Rio:
$39
-
3-Day Customizable Tour of Rio de Janeiro:
$365
-
4 horas - Tour private: Corcovado e praias:
$154
-
4 hours - Tour Private: Pão de Açúcar e Catedral Metropolitana:
$154
-
4-Day Private Guided Tour from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo – Coastal Trip:
$990
-
4-Days Ilha Grande Experience - Unlocking Brazil's 'Garden of Eden':
$1,025
-
4-Hour Urban Arts Walking Tour:
$43
-
4-hour Rio Downtown Sites & Bites Small Group Tour:
$62
-
4-hour Sum-up Of Rio de Janeiro "Private Tour" – Optional Airport & Port Pick-up:
$92
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Colonia del Sacramento spend on average $4.12 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rio de Janeiro may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.47 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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:
-
Pub Crawl Rio de Janeiro:
$11
-
Skip the line: Ipanema Pub Crawl:
$28
-
Beautiful Imperial Petropolis City Tour Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery:
$34
-
Rio By Night Tour: Pub Crawl Experiencing Music, Dancing, Drinks & Local Culture:
$105
-
Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains:
$135
-
Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour:
$160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento.
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