Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Mar del 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 Mar del Plata and Rio de Janeiro can help you decide which place is right for you.
Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.
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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, 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 Mar del Plata is $9.01, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $109. 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 Mar del Plata and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Mar del 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 Mar del 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.
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.
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 Mar del Plata and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mar del Plata would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mar del 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 Mar del Plata.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mar del Plata. When comparing the sizes of Mar del 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 Mar del Plata as well as Rio de Janeiro.
In January, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiro. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 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 Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Mar del Plata is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, 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, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiro. Mar del Plata 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.
Both Rio de Janeiro and Mar del Plata during the winter are popular places to visit.
In the winter, Mar del Plata is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 21°C (70°F).
Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Rio de Janeiro. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 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 Mar del Plata and Rio de Janeiro.
In October, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In October, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiro. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Mar del Plata | Rio de Janeiro | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 20°C (69°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
Mar | 18°C (65°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
May | 12°C (53°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Jun | 9°C (48°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 9°C (47°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Aug | 9°C (49°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |