Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 La Plata and Rio de Janeiro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
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 Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $8.75, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $108. 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 La Plata and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in La Plata 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and La Plata 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rio de Janeiro.
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rio de Janeiro:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is La Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Plata 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 La Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Plata Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of La Plata. When comparing the sizes of La Plata 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.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
The summer brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Rio de Janeiro.
In the summer, La Plata is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Plata in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. La Plata usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiro. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Rio de Janeiro and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, La Plata is generally cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (65°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In April, La Plata usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiro. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Rio de Janeiro and La Plata during the winter are popular places to visit.
La Plata is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
La Plata usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Rio de Janeiro. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Rio de Janeiro.
In the spring, La Plata is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Plata in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F).
La Plata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiro. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
La Plata | Rio de Janeiro | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Jun | 12°C (53°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |