A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Prague vs. Rio de Janeiro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Prague or Rio de Janeiro?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Prague and Rio de Janeiro. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Prague or Rio de Janeiro?

Prague

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is also the largest city in the country and one of the largest cities in Central Europe. Prague has long enticed travelers for its beautiful architecture, impressive bridges, detailed cathedrals, and fascinating history. Prague is unique in that is remained almost completely undamaged during World War II. The medieval city center still feels like you've stepped back in time. Despite this historic atmosphere, there is still a lot of vibrant energy and you'll find many different live music venues, art galleries, modern restaurants, and unique festivals throughout the year.

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 Budget Tours to Czech Republic, The Best Tours for Seniors to Czech Republic, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Prague?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Prague is $109, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $105. 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 Prague and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Prague $67
    Rio de Janeiro $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Prague $134
    Rio de Janeiro $132
Compare Hotels in Prague and Rio de Janeiro

Looking for a hotel in Prague 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.

Hotels in Prague


Hotels in Rio de Janeiro


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: Prague Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Prague $8.08
    Rio de Janeiro $7.97

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Prague

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Prague:

  • Luxury Private Prague Airport Transfer: $43
  • Private Prague Airport Arrival Transfer: $60
  • Airport Prague Private Transfers for up to 6 People: $98
  • Airport Transfer: Prague Airport PRG to Prague by Luxury Car: $67
  • Airport Transfer: Prague Airport PRG to Prague by Luxury Van: $55
  • Airport Transfer: Prague to Prague Airport PRG by Luxury Car: $67
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Prague Airport PRG to Prague City in Car/Van: $58
  • Arrival Transfer: Prague Airport PRG to Prague by Luxury Van: $55
  • Best Shooting Range Prague Old Town with Private Transfers: $240
  • Departure Private Transfer from Prague City to Prague Airport PRG in Car/Van: $58
  • Departure Transfer: Prague to Prague Airport PRG by Business Car: $49
  • Departure Transfer: Prague to Prague Airport PRG by Luxury Van: $55

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.93

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
  • Rio Santos Dumont (SDU): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
  • Rio Galeão Airport (GIG): 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 Airport (SDU) - Rio City Center: $19
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro City Center -Airport (SDU): $19
  • Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $19
  • One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $20
  • Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $21
  • Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) to Rio: $21
  • Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to Rio de Janeiro: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Prague or Rio de Janeiro?

Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Prague 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Prague $26
    Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Prague

Some typical examples of dining costs in Prague are as follows:


  • Fruit
    $4.20
  • Lunch for One
    $13
  • Bananas
    $0.59
  • Cookies
    $0.33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Prague

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Prague.

  • Anti Tour Prague - Self Guided Beer and Food Tour: $21
  • Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • Sightseeing Boat Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $40
  • Prague by Night: 2-Hour Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $47
  • Sightseeing Boat Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $52
  • Vltava River Evening Dinner Cruise: $53
  • Folkloric Dinner Show with Unlimited Drinks: $57
  • 2-Hour Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $57
  • River Cruise with Dinner and Live Music: $58
  • Folklore dinner: $58
  • Medieval Dinner with Unlimited Drinks: $59
  • Prague 5 Courses Medieval Dinner and Live Performances: $60

Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:


  • Popcorn
    $0.59
  • Corn on the Cob
    $0.78
  • Hamburger
    $0.98

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: $72
  • THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $79
  • Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off: $80
  • Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $82
  • Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
  • 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
  • Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
  • Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $105
  • Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
  • Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
  • Rio: Ginga Tropical Folkloric Show & Optional Dinner: $142

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Prague $16
    Rio de Janeiro $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Prague

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Prague are as follows:


  • Opera Tickets
    $4.20
  • Two Tickets for Charles Bridge Tower
    $5.88
  • Image Theatre for Two
    $40

Tours and Activities in Prague

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Prague are as follows:

  • Bachelorette / Bachelor Party - City sightseeing Trike Tour: $2.76
  • Royal Prague City sightseeing Electric Trike Tour: $2.98
  • Prague Historical & Viewpoints Retro E-Bike Group Tour: $3.02
  • Sunset View & Adventurous Retro E-Bike Tour: $3.02
  • Adventurous Sightseeing & Historical Live Guided Trike Tour: $3.06
  • Bachelorette/Bachelor Party - City sightseeing E-Bike Tour: $3.06
  • Prague City sightseeing in Night Trike Tour: $3.10
  • Royal Prague City sightseeing Retro E-Bike Live Guided Tour: $3.10
  • Gorgeous Prague Night Retro E-Bike Tour ( Live Guided ): $3.15
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Prague Essential Tour Old Town and Jewish Quarter: $3.26
  • Tour of the Castle and Malá Strana based on Tips: $3.26

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 (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
  • Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
  • Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $7.83
  • Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.83
  • Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
  • Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $9.97
  • 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
  • Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Prague $11
    Rio de Janeiro $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Prague

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Prague from other travelers:


  • A Bottle of Wine
    $6.68

Sample the Local Flavors in Prague

Also in Prague, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Staropramem Brewery Self-Guided Tour with Tasting: $13
  • Clock Tower Bar Crawl with Drinks and Shots: $23
  • Clock Tower Bar Crawl in Prague: $26
  • 1 Hour Exclusive Moravian Wine Tasting in an Art Gallery : $28
  • Pub Crawl in Prague: $32
  • Pub Crawl and International Party: $34
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Entry: $34
  • Pub Crawl with 2-Hour Open Bar at Drunken Monkey: $35
  • Drunken Monkey Pub Crawl: $36
  • Golden Burlesque Show & Live Music w/ Lady & The Devil: $36
  • Golden BURLESQUE: $42
  • Prague beer tour with brewery visit and tasting: $46

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: $28
  • Pub Crawl in Lapa: $29
  • Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
  • Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $64
  • 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: $131


When comparing the travel costs between Prague and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Prague is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Prague is in Europe and Rio de Janeiro is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Prague Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Prague or Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Prague. When comparing the sizes of Prague 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 Prague 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 Prague has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Prague or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Prague and Rio de Janeiro. Most visitors come to Prague for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Prague is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Prague in July average around 19°C (66°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, Prague usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Prague gets 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Prague 19°C (66°F) 
    Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Prague or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Prague as well as Rio de Janeiro. The autumn months attract visitors to Prague because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Prague is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Prague average around 11°C (52°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Prague usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Prague gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Prague 11°C (52°F) 
    Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Prague or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?

Both Rio de Janeiro and Prague are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Prague this time of year.

It's quite cold in Prague in the winter. Prague is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Prague averages around 1°C (33°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.

In January, Prague usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Prague gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Prague 1°C (33°F) 
    Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Prague or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?

Both Rio de Janeiro and Prague during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Prague for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Prague is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Prague in April average around 10°C (49°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.

Prague usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Prague gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Prague 10°C (49°F) 
    Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)

Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Prague

Prague Rio de Janeiro
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 1°C (33°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Feb 2°C (35°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Mar 6°C (42°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 26°C (79°F) 103 mm (4.1 in)
Apr 10°C (49°F) 51 mm (2 in) 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Jun 18°C (64°F) 76 mm (3 in) 22°C (72°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 70 mm (2.7 in) 21°C (70°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Aug 19°C (66°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Sep 16°C (60°F) 52 mm (2.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 11°C (52°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Dec 2°C (36°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 25°C (77°F) 169 mm (6.7 in)