Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Nice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nice 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 Nice 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: Nice or Rio de Janeiro?
Nice
Nice, in the French Riviera, is one of the most popular destinations in France. It's located on the southeast coast along the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean. It is an energetic city that attracts all types of vacationers from every age group and demographic. It's the 5th largest city in the country and is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes departement. The metropolitan area has a population of about 1 million.
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 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, 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 dayNice €131Rio de Janeiro €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Nice is €131, 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 Nice and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNice €59Rio de Janeiro €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNice €118Rio de Janeiro €124
Compare Hotels in Nice and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Nice 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: Nice Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nice €25Rio de Janeiro €7.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:
- Arrival Transfer from Côte d'Azur Airport NCE to Nice City in Private Car: $44
- Arrival Transfer from Nice Airport NCE to Nice city by Sedan: $59
- Arrival Transfer: Nice Airport NCE to Cannes in Luxury Van: $116
- Cruise Port Hercule to Monaco hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- Day Trip / transfer to and from aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur: $93
- Departure Transfer: Monaco to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car: $110
- Departure Transfer: Monaco to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van: $131
- Departure Transfer: Nice to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car: $68
- Departure Transfer: Villefranche Port to Nice Airport: $53
- Ferry Transfer to Sainte Marguerite Island from Nice: $57
- From Nice Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Monaco: $151
- From Nice Airport: Private Transfer to Cannes: $129
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:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (GIG): $13
- Private transfer from Airport GIG to Rio City center-Copacabana: $15
- Rio Galeão Airport (GIG): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
- Rio Santos Dumont (SDU): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
- Private transfer Economico GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Zona Sul: $18
- Shared Transfer From or To Airport: $19
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (SDU): $19
- 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 (SDU): $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer (Galeao Airport To Rio): $20
- One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $20
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Nice or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Nice 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 dayNice €49Rio de Janeiro €19
Typical Food Prices in Nice
Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:
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Slushee€2.50
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Strawberries€4.00
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Loaf of Bread€3.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.
- Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $84
- Viator Exclusive: Organic French Dinner in the Garden of Nice: $95
- Old Nice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Viator Exclusive: Local Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $107
- 3.5-Hour Original Old Town Food Tour: $108
- Private French Cooking Class with a Fun Local Noel: $108
- Half-Day Walking Food Tour in Nice with Lunch: $115
- Half Day Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $147
- Dinner in the vineyard French Riviera: $193
- Dinner in the Vineyard French Riviera: $206
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.Nice €12Rio de Janeiro €20
Tours and Activities in Nice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:
- Nice : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.14
- Vieux Nice : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Ticket to Musée National du Sport: $6.46
- Nice Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Monaco Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.58
- Navigating A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Nice's Old Town Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $7.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $7.00
- Nice city tour: audio guide app in your smartphone: $7.53
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.73
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.78
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.89
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $10
- Favela tour in copacabana with local guide!: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNice €17Rio de Janeiro €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Nice
Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Nice Bar Crawl | Best Bars In 1 Night! VIP + FREE SHOTS: $6.03
- Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entry and Free Shots: $16
- Nice : International Party Pub / Bar Crawl Unlimited Ticket: $17
- Pub Crawl Nice with Drinking Games and Optional Drink special: $22
- Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $25
- Nice Bar Crawl | Infamous International Party!: $27
- Nice Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $45
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $53
- New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl Nice France: $54
- Provence Organic Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Nice: $66
- Half-Day Saint Paul de Vence and Wine Tasting Tour: $83
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Saint Paul de Vence Tour from Nice: $84
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 Nice and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Nice is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nice 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 Nice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nice 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 Nice Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nice or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Nice. When comparing the sizes of Nice 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 Nice 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 Nice has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Nice or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nice and Rio de Janeiro. The summer months attract visitors to Nice because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Nice is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nice in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Nice usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Nice gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryNice 23°C (73°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Nice or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nice as well as Rio de Janeiro. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Nice this time of year.
In October, Nice is generally cooler than Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Nice average around 17°C (63°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Nice receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nice usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Nice gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilNice 17°C (63°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Nice or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Nice are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Nice for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Nice is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Nice averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
In January, Nice usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Nice gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyNice 9°C (48°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Nice or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Nice during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Nice in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Nice is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nice in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
Nice usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Nice gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberNice 13°C (56°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Nice
| Nice | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 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.