Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro?
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEdinburgh £142Rio de Janeiro £84
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £142, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is £84. 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 Edinburgh and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEdinburgh £74Rio de Janeiro £53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEdinburgh £148Rio de Janeiro £106
Compare Hotels in Edinburgh and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Edinburgh £17Rio de Janeiro £6.38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus£3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to/from Edinburgh City, St'Andrews etc.: $111
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $129
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $153
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $129
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Car: $163
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $153
- Arrival Transfer Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Minivan: $95
- Central Edinburgh Hotels to Edinburgh Airport Transfers 1-3: $252
- Departure Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $129
- Edinburgh Accommodation to Edinburgh Airport Departure Transfer: $59
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Edinburgh Luxury Taxi Transfer: $152
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
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£2.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Two Brothers Trail- one of the best views of Rio (transfer is included): $56
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (SDU): $25
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (GIG): $52
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $40
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $22
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $78
- Transfer in Rio: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU) - Rio City Center: $19
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro City Center - Airport (GIG): $26
- Transfer Rio x Búzios, ARRAIAL DO CABO AND ANGRA DOS REIS: $233
- Transfer Rio to Búzios, Arraial Do Cabo, Cabo Frio, Angra dos Reis: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Edinburgh 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 dayEdinburgh £39Rio de Janeiro £16
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast£8.50
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Dinner at Filling Station£10
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Lunch for Two£15
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Sandwich£1.85
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Cheese & bread£7.23
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)£25
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2 Coffees and Scones£5.80
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Turkish Delight£1.40
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Soup at the Pub£5.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $87
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $114
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $120
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh Private Food Tour: $148
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $167
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£0.47
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Corn on the Cob£0.63
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Hamburger£0.78
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
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $103
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Rio: Ginga Tropical Folkloric Show & Optional Dinner: $142
- Samba Show Ginga Tropical with Optional Dinner : $143
- Brazilian Cooking Class in Rio de Janeiro: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Edinburgh £20Rio de Janeiro £17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets£32
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Movie Tickets for Two£12
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Donation for Storytellers£6.00
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.73
- Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour: $4.36
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.32
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.33
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.54
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.38
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.20
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $7.99
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $100
- 14 - Guided Tour to Quadra Do Salgueiro with Samba Show: $75
- 15 - Guided Tour to Santa Marta Favela: $150
- 19 - Guided Tour to the Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard: $90
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $175
- 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
- 26 - Guided Tour to Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer: $120
- 3 Hour Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with a Local Guide : $36
- 3 Hour Sailing Experience in Rio: $47
- 3 Hours Snorkel and Swim with Turtles Tour at Tijuca Islands : $122
- 3-Hour Urban Arts Walking Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEdinburgh £15Rio de Janeiro £9.68
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine£14
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern£1.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
- Port of Leith Distillery Tour & Tasting: $32
- Haggis paired with whisky & gins in 56 North distillery!: $33
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
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $64
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edinburgh and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Edinburgh is in Europe 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 Rio de Janeiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rio de Janeiro 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh than you might in Rio de Janeiro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Edinburgh during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Edinburgh is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Edinburgh in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Edinburgh usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 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 JanuaryEdinburgh 14°C (58°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Rio de Janeiro. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
In October, Edinburgh is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 10°C (49°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 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 AprilEdinburgh 10°C (49°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Rio de Janeiro. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
Edinburgh usually gets more rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JulyEdinburgh 3°C (38°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Edinburgh is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Edinburgh in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 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 OctoberEdinburgh 7°C (45°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Edinburgh
| Edinburgh | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.