Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Dubrovnik?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro? 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: Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro?
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. 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 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubrovnik $103Rio de Janeiro $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $103, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $105. 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 Dubrovnik and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubrovnik $53Rio de Janeiro $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubrovnik $106Rio de Janeiro $132
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubrovnik $13Rio de Janeiro $7.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dubrovnik City Private Departure Transfer to Dubrovnik Airport : $33
- AirPort Transfers Dubrovnik by CRUISER TAXI: $33
- Airport Private Transfer Dubrovnik: $27
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik Town to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $250
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $261
- Arrival Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Minivan: $59
- Arrival Private Transfers: Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik in Luxury Van: $53
- Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $202
- Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $22
- Departure Private Transfer from Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Minivan: $54
- Departure Private Transfer: Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Business Car: $36
- Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) to Dubrovnik Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
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$2.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Private transfer to Ilha Grande.: $930
- From Private Transfer to São Paulo: $650
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer (Sector 7): $467
- Rio's 2025 Carnival Parade at Sapucaí + Transfer Sector 5: $467
- Rio: Sambadrome Carnival Parade + transfer 2025 Sector 7: $467
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $467
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer Sector 5: $467
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $467
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- Arrival Transfer: Rio GIG or SDU Airport to Angra dos Reis by Van: $246
- Arrival Private Transfer: GIG or SDU Airport to Arraial do Cabo by Sedan Car: $241
- From Private Transfer to Vila do Abraão: $240
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayDubrovnik $35Rio de Janeiro $20
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)$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $80
- Gastro Cruise | Dinner and Boat ride around Dubrovnik Old Town: $81
- Old Town Food Tour: $143
- Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $147
- Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $165
- Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region: $178
- 3 Hour Sites and Bites Food Tour in Dubrovnik: $192
- Traditional Dalmatian Cooking Class from Dubrovnik: $197
- Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside: $201
- Pelješac Full-Day Wine and Food Tour from Dubrovnik: $208
- Authentic Garden to Table Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside : $208
- Private Dinner with Wine and Homemade Tapas: $213
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$0.78
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Hamburger$0.98
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: $45
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $71
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $79
- Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off: $80
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $81
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- Copacabana Local Street Bars Food Tour: $88
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local - All Included: $99
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $103
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubrovnik $20Rio de Janeiro $22
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)$14
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)$56
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)$48
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Selfguided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik: $5.33
- Self-guided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik: $5.43
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.38
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.39
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.39
- Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.52
- Medieval Adventure City Game: $6.92
- Time Travel Adventure Outdoor Escape Game in Dubrovnik: $7.05
- Historic Center Self-Guided Audio Tour (ENG): $7.70
- Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $8.52
- Private Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Dubrovnik Old Town: $8.69
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Favelas do Vidigal or Rocinha's experience: $49
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 03 - Guided Tour to the Grande Rio Academics Barracão: $120
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $98
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $260
- 14 - Guided Tour to Quadra Do Salgueiro with Samba Show: $75
- 15 - Guided Tour to Santa Marta Favela: $150
- 16 - Guided Tour to Favela da Rocinha: $75
- 19 - Guided Tour to the Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard: $90
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $273
- 2 Hours Paradisiac Sailboat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $275
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubrovnik $15Rio de Janeiro $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $54
- Brewery Tour with Food included: $60
- From Korcula Island Tour with Wine Tasting: $66
- Half-Day Wine Tasting with Snacks and Ston Place Visit: $75
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $75
- Interactive Wine Tour: $80
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting: $84
- Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik with Train Ride and Wine Tasting: $84
- Interactive Wine Tour in Dubrovnik: $89
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting in Dubrovnik Old Town : $89
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting from Koločep: $93
- Dubrovnik Kayak Tour + Gourmet Snack + Wine Tasting (Small-Group): $97
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: $27
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $29
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $55
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $64
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $129
When comparing the travel costs between Dubrovnik and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rio de Janeiro is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Dubrovnik has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Dubrovnik as well as Rio de Janeiro. Many visitors come to Dubrovnik in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Dubrovnik is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Dubrovnik averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Dubrovnik usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Dubrovnik gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryDubrovnik 25°C (77°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Dubrovnik are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Dubrovnik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Dubrovnik is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dubrovnik in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. It's quite rainy in Dubrovnik. In October, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Dubrovnik gets 162 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilDubrovnik 18°C (64°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Dubrovnik during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Dubrovnik because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Dubrovnik is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin July. Daily temperatures in Dubrovnik average around 9°C (48°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik usually gets more rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Dubrovnik gets 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyDubrovnik 9°C (48°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubrovnik and Rio de Janeiro. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Dubrovnik this time of year.
Dubrovnik is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Dubrovnik averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
Dubrovnik gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Dubrovnik usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Dubrovnik gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberDubrovnik 14°C (57°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Dubrovnik
| Dubrovnik | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 178 mm (7 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.