Should you visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
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 Dubrovnik?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $91, 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 Dubrovnik and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $94 in Dubrovnik For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities 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.
Food
Dubrovnik food costs typically run travelers around $30 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
The average traveler spends about $16 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dubrovnik $30
Rio de Janeiro $16
Typical Food prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)
$34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Unique Sunset and Dinner Cruise in the Magnificent Traditional Karaka boat:
$96
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Old Town Food Tour:
$130
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Flavours of Dubrovnik - Food Tour:
$131
-
Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson:
$149
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Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside:
$164
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Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region:
$166
-
Dubrovnik Food Tour with Friendly Local Guide:
$167
-
E-Bike Tour + Farm To Table Cooking Class:
$184
-
Dubrovnik Food Tour by Vidokrug:
$192
-
Rural Side of Cooking Class in Local Household:
$281
-
Croatian Cooking Class in a Local's Home in Rural Konavle:
$1,753
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
$0.58
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Corn on the Cob
$0.77
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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
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Plant-based Brazilian Flavours Cooking Class:
$56
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Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer:
$60
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Private Tour in Rio Scenarium with Dinner:
$65
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Skip the line: Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option:
$70
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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
Dubrovnik's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Dubrovnik.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.26 per day to get around in Rio de Janeiro.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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24 7 Airport transfer Dubrovnik:
$60
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Airport Private Transfer Dubrovnik:
$25
-
Arrival Private Transfer Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Business Car:
$36
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Cruiser Taxi Private group Airport transfers in Dubrovnik:
$25
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Departure Private Transfer Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Business Car:
$36
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Departure Private Transfer Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Minivan:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer Dubrovnik City to Split Airport SPU by Business Car:
$249
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Departure Private Transfer Dubrovnik City to Split Airport SPU by Minivan:
$290
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Departure Private Transfers: Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik Airport DBV in Business Car:
$31
-
Departure Private Transfers: Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik Airport DBV in Luxury Van:
$34
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Dubrovnik - Hvar : Private One-Way Transfer with Mercedes Vehicles:
$639
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Dubrovnik - Sarajevo Transfer with stop in Mostar:
$299
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:
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Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU):
$622
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Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to Rio de Janeiro:
$622
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Tandem Skydiving with Transfers:
$617
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Arrival Private Transfer: GIG or SDU Airport to Arraial do Cabo by Minivan:
$481
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Arrival Private Transfer: Rio GIG or SDU Airport to Angra dos Reis by Minivan:
$458
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Arrival Private Transfer Rio Airport to Buzios or Cabo Frio by Minivan:
$428
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ARMORED Airport Transfer - Rio de Janeiro (COVID-19 Prepared):
$387
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Rio de Janeiro Airport to Búzios Transfer:
$360
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Private Transfer to Paraty:
$341
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Buzios Day Trip from Rio de Janeiro Including Airport Transfer:
$310
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Rio de Janeiro & Angra Private Transfer Business Sedan:
$310
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Private Transfer from Rio to Búzios:
$300
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Dubrovnik 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dubrovnik can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)
$16
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)
$63
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)
$54
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
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Walls of Liberty: an audio tour of Dubrovnik's rich history along the city walls:
$5.99
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Gornji Ugao Tower Admission Ticket:
$7.66
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Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket:
$8.71
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Insider’s Virtual Tour of Dubrovnik:
$8.71
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Small-Group Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik:
$12
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Dubrovnik 1-Hour Discovery Walking Tour:
$15
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Discovery Dubrovnik walking tour:
$15
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Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour:
$16
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Dubrovnik Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$16
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'Up with the Chickens' or "Sunset chasing" Old Town Tour:
$16
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Dubrovnik Walking Tour:
$17
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Dubrovnik By Night Walking Tour:
$17
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Days in Rio: Cultural & Ecologic Tours:
$284
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2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours:
$265
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2 Hour Vidigal Favela Tour Discovery the Most Laidback Favela:
$19
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3 Hour Sailing Experience in Rio:
$39
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3-Day Customizable Tour of Rio de Janeiro:
$365
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4 horas - Tour private: Corcovado e praias:
$154
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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
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4-Days Ilha Grande Experience - Unlocking Brazil's 'Garden of Eden':
$1,025
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4-Hour Urban Arts Walking Tour:
$43
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4-hour Rio Downtown Sites & Bites Small Group Tour:
$62
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4-hour Sum-up Of Rio de Janeiro "Private Tour" – Optional Airport & Port Pick-up:
$92
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dubrovnik, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $13.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rio de Janeiro may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.50 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
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Sunset Sea Kayaking and Wine Tasting Tour Dubrovnik:
$44
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Wine tasting and visit to Ston- Group Tour:
$60
-
Peljesac Peninsula Wine Tour from Dubrovnik:
$61
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Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting:
$63
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FAMOUS LEGENDS OF PELJESAC and KORCULA with WINE TASTING:
$65
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Island of Korcula with Wine Tasting Day Trip from Dubrovnik:
$69
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Korčula tour with wine tasting from Dubrovnik:
$69
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Wine tasting and visit to Ston:
$72
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Wine Tasting Pelješac and a visit to Ston:
$72
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Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik with Train Ride and Wine Tasting:
$75
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Smiley wine tasting on peninsula Peljesac:
$76
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Smiley Hercegovina wine tour:
$77
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:
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Pub Crawl Rio de Janeiro:
$11
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Skip the line: Ipanema Pub Crawl:
$28
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Beautiful Imperial Petropolis City Tour Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery:
$34
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Rio By Night Tour: Pub Crawl Experiencing Music, Dancing, Drinks & Local Culture:
$105
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Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains:
$135
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Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour:
$160
When comparing the travel costs between Dubrovnik and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik 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.
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