Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Dakar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dakar or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dakar or Rio de Janeiro, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Dakar or Rio de Janeiro?
Dakar
Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.
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 Adventure Tours to Senegal, The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDakar $61Rio de Janeiro $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Dakar is $61, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $106. 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 Dakar and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDakar $32Rio de Janeiro $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDakar $64Rio de Janeiro $134
Compare Hotels in Dakar and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Dakar 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: Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dakar $5.37Rio de Janeiro $8.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:
- AIBD-DAKAR transfer: $49
- Blaise Diagne Int Airport (DSS): Transfer to Dakar hotels: $211
- DSS Airport Transfer <-> Dakar (Return): $120
- Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $82
- Transfer - DSS Airport <-> Dakar (One way): $66
- Transfer - Dakar <-> Saint-Louis (One way): $197
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$2.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $471
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $471
- A transfer with safety and comfort in Rio: $45
- Airport Private Transfer - Premium Service: $65
- Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Luxury Van: $125
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $80
- Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $53
- AquaRio Small Group Guided Tour with entrance and transfer: $60
- Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $123
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $54
- Arrival Private Transfer GIG or SDU Airport to Rio City by Minivan: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Dakar or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Dakar 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 dayDakar $20Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Dakar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:
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Breakfast$4.11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dakar.
- Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115
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$0.59
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Corn on the Cob$0.79
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Hamburger$0.99
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 & Live Music Experience: $46
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $73
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $80
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Brazilian Meats and Snacks + South American Wines Guided Dinner: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $106
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $113
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dakar $14Rio de Janeiro $22
Tours and Activities in Dakar
Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $30
- Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Dakar: $31
- Accro Baobab Adventure Ticket Entry: $38
- Half Day Dakar City Tour: $105
- Private City Tour: $109
- Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $109
- Half-Day GOREE Island Tour:The Heritage Tour: $130
- Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island (Walking Tour): $130
- From Dakar or Saly: Half-Day Tour to Pink Lake: $138
- Full Day Goree Island And Dakar City Tour(Minimum 2 Participants): $142
- Full-Day Private Dakar City Tour : $142
- Day trip Goree island and Dakar city tour : $159
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.78
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.89
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $10
- Favela tour in copacabana with local guide!: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDakar $9.00Rio de Janeiro $12
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: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $33
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $34
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $60
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $65
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dakar and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Dakar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dakar 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 Dakar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dakar 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 Dakar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dakar Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dakar or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Dakar. When comparing the sizes of Dakar 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 Dakar or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dakar experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dakar or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Dakar are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dakar throughout the year.
In July, Dakar is generally around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiroin January. Daily temperatures in Dakar 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, Dakar usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Dakar gets 50 mm (2 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 JanuaryDakar 28°C (82°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Dakar or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Dakar during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dakar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Dakar is a little warmer than Rio de Janeiro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dakar averages around 28°C (82°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. Dakar usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Dakar gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilDakar 28°C (82°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Dakar or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dakar and Rio de Janeiro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dakar year-round.
In the winter, Dakar is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dakar in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 21°C (70°F)in July.
In January, Dakar usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Dakar gets 10 mm (0.4 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 JulyDakar 22°C (72°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Dakar or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Dakar as well as Rio de Janeiro. Dakar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Dakar is generally around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiroin October. Daily temperatures in Dakar average around 21°C (70°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Dakar usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Dakar gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberDakar 21°C (70°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Dakar
| Dakar | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.