Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Frankfurt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro?
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the financial and business hub of Germany. It houses the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange, and often plays host to trade shows and business fairs. It has the country's most modern skyline and the largest airport. It is also a transportation hub for Germany with many important train lines passing through. The city itself is situated on the River Main. Some of the most important sights are along the river near Romer Square and include museums and monuments. This area pulls in millions of tourists every year. Although many sights are clustered in this area, it's important to head into more off the beaten path areas that can be enjoyable to explore. These areas offer glimpses into daily life in Frankfurt.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, 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 dayFrankfurt €122Rio de Janeiro €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Frankfurt is €122, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is €98. 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 Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFrankfurt €58Rio de Janeiro €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFrankfurt €116Rio de Janeiro €124
Compare Hotels in Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Frankfurt 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.Frankfurt €25Rio de Janeiro €7.43
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Frankfurt
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Frankfurt:
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Car Rental€50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Frankfurt
Also for Frankfurt, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by business car: $54
- Arrival Private Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Arrival Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt in Car: $70
- Arrival Transfer: Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt in Van: $76
- BaronFleet Frankfurt- Arrival & Departure Airport Transfers: $132
- Departure Private Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Luxury Vehicle: $63
- Departure Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Van: $81
- Departure Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA in Car: $70
- Departure Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA in Van: $76
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Baden-Baden Thermal - Arrival Transfer: $142
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
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€2.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $66
- 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
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Rio de Janeiro HTL-APT (SDU): $25
- Transfers Rio (Copacabana / Buzios / Angra / Paraty and Arraial): $154
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $39
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $21
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $77
- Transfer in Rio: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (SDU): $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt 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 dayFrankfurt €41Rio de Janeiro €19
Typical Food Prices in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Soda€2.00
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Bagel Sandwich and Latte€7.00
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Ham & Cheese Sandwich and Coffee€6.00
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Sandwich and Cola€7.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sharing Plate Food Tour In Frankfurt: $65
- FOOD TOUR WITH 3-4 LOCAL INSIDER FOODSPOTS: $81
- FOOD TOUR TO 3-4 LOCAL FOODSPOTS: $81
- Eltz Castle Small-Group Tour from Frankfurt with Dinner: $282
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€0.55
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Corn on the Cob€0.73
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Hamburger€0.91
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.Frankfurt €36Rio de Janeiro €20
Tours and Activities in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Selfguided Audiotour "Frankfurt Old Town": $3.22
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.84
- Frankfurt Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $7.00
- Struwwelpeter Museum Entry Ticket w/Audio Guide: $7.53
- Old Town Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.99
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour by Smartphone: $7.99
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.07
- Historisches Museum Entry Ticket: $8.61
- Discover Frankfurt's Heritage: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
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
- 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: $276
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $177
- 21 - Guided Tour to the Imperial City of Petrópolis with Lunch: $80
- 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
- 27 -Guided Tour to Christ the Redeemer and City in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- 3 Hour Boat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFrankfurt €30Rio de Janeiro €11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Frankfurt
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Frankfurt:
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Becks Beer€2.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Frankfurt
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Frankfurt:
- Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $22
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $34
- Full Day Private Rhine Valley Wine Tour Experience from Frankfurt: $280
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $282
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $286
- Guided Walk Tour With Apple Wine Tasting: $336
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $404
- Private Premium Pub Crawl Tour: $517
- Private Rhine Valley tour with river cruise & wine tasting: $752
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 Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Frankfurt is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Frankfurt. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Frankfurt is cooler than Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Frankfurt usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 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 JanuaryFrankfurt 19°C (67°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Frankfurt is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Frankfurt in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 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 AprilFrankfurt 11°C (51°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Rio de Janeiro. Most visitors come to Frankfurt for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Frankfurt can be very cold during winter. In January, Frankfurt is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin July. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 1°C (34°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Frankfurt usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 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 JulyFrankfurt 1°C (34°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the activities around the city.
Frankfurt is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 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 OctoberFrankfurt 10°C (50°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt
| Frankfurt | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (34°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.