Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Melbourne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Melbourne 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: Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro?
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
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 Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia, 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 dayMelbourne $179Rio de Janeiro $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Melbourne is $179, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $106. 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 Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMelbourne $120Rio de Janeiro $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMelbourne $240Rio de Janeiro $134
Compare Hotels in Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Melbourne 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: Melbourne Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Melbourne $20Rio de Janeiro $8.04
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$11
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Tram Ride$2.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport Arrival Or Departure Luxury Car Transfers : $110
- Airport Transfers: $143
- Arrival Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Sedan: $115
- Arrival Transfer from Melbourne Airport MEL to Melbourne in Van: $163
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $167
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $178
- Departure Transfer Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Sedan: $115
- Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van: $163
- From Melbourne Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Melbourne: $79
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $958
- GoBlu-EV: 100% Electric Cabs for Airport & City Transfer in MEL: $33
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $208
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$2.96
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 Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne 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 dayMelbourne $31Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.64
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Pizza$4.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $87
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $98
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $120
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $124
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $130
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $132
- Great Ocean Road Sunset Tour with Dinner and Wildlife Park: $144
- Phillip Island Penguins, Wine Tasting and Dinner from Melbourne: $147
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$0.79
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Hamburger$0.99
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.Melbourne $28Rio de Janeiro $22
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Melbourne:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- MoPA Children's Museum Admission Ticket: $9.25
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.91
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.91
- Explore Melbourne's Pulse: A CBD In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided 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 dayMelbourne $17Rio de Janeiro $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $87
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $104
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $117
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $129
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $140
- Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $181
- Champion Racehorse Tour with Beer and Wine Tasting: $194
- Pour Decisions | Wine Tour in Yarra Valley (Private Tour): $260
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 Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Melbourne is in Pacific 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Melbourne. When comparing the sizes of Melbourne 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 Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro?
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.
Should I visit Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Melbourne in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Melbourne is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Melbourne in January average around 20°C (68°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Melbourne usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiro. Melbourne gets 45 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryMelbourne 20°C (68°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro. Most visitors come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
In April, Melbourne is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Daily temperatures in Melbourne average around 15°C (60°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiro. Melbourne gets 50 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 AprilMelbourne 15°C (60°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Melbourne as well as Rio de Janeiro. The winter months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Melbourne is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Melbourne averages around 9°C (49°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Melbourne usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiro. Melbourne gets 43 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 JulyMelbourne 9°C (49°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Melbourne or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In the spring, Melbourne is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Melbourne in October average around 14°C (57°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In October, Melbourne usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiro. Melbourne gets 62 mm (2.4 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 OctoberMelbourne 14°C (57°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne
| Melbourne | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.