Which place is cheaper, Colonia del Sacramento or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Recife or Colonia del Sacramento?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Colonia del Sacramento 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: Recife or Colonia del Sacramento?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $166Colonia del Sacramento $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $166, while the average daily cost in Colonia del Sacramento is $68. 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 Recife and Colonia del Sacramento in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $88Colonia del Sacramento $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $176Colonia del Sacramento $68
Compare Hotels in Recife and Colonia del Sacramento
Looking for a hotel in Recife or Colonia del Sacramento? 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Colonia del Sacramento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.47Colonia del Sacramento $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Shared Transfer from Recife to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $33
- Airport to Porto de Galinhas Transfer: $65
- Airport to Maragogi Hotels Private Transfer: $85
- Recife Boat Tour with Transfers: $72
- Private Transfer from Recife to Tamandare Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Recife to Serrambi Beach: $101
- Private Transfer from Recife to Olinda: $46
- Private Transfer from Recife to Carneiros Beach: $114
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport : $101
- Instituto Ricardo Brennand with transfers from Recife: $41
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer : $15
- Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer : $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Colonia del Sacramento?
Prices for flights to both Colonia del Sacramento and Recife 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 dayRecife $70Colonia del Sacramento $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sensory Experience - Blind dinner in Colonia Del Sacramento: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Colonia del Sacramento $24
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- City Tour Recife with Catamaran included: $150
- Colonial North Coast beaches - Full-Day Tour: $35
- Olinda City Tour and Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $94
- Olinda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.86
- Recife (Historic Centre) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- City Tour Recife & Olinda: $27
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking tour around Colonia del Sacramento Old Town: $15
- Goup Walking Tour - Spanish Only: $18
- Shared City Tour at sunset in Historic Neighborhood: $20
- Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
- Hike at promenade + entry ticket to bullring (Walk 5.5km): $28
- Winery tour with shared transport and tasting included: $38
- Shared Boat Tour Experience - Colonia del Sacramento: $43
- Adventure Sightseeing Bike Tour: $53
- Full gastronomic experience: Uruguayan meat,cheese and wine: $55
- Historical Walking Tour with Snack: $58
- Colonia del Sacramento City Tour : $58
- From Horse Ride Experience: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Colonia del Sacramento $5.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Colonia del Sacramento, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Colonia del Sacramento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Colonia del Sacramento?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Colonia del Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Colonia del Sacramento, 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 Recife or Colonia del Sacramento?
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 Recife or Colonia del Sacramento in the Summer?
Both Colonia del Sacramento and Recife during the summer are popular places to visit.
In January, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Colonia del Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Colonia del Sacramento fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In Colonia del Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the summer, Recife often gets less sunshine than Colonia del Sacramento. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 285 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in January than Colonia del Sacramento. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRecife 26°C (79°F)Colonia del Sacramento 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Recife or Colonia del Sacramento in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Colonia del Sacramento.
Recife is a little warmer than Colonia del Sacramento in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Colonia del Sacramento fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Colonia del Sacramento during autumn. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 183 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Colonia del Sacramento receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Colonia del Sacramento. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRecife 26°C (79°F)Colonia del Sacramento 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Recife or Colonia del Sacramento in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Recife as well as Colonia del Sacramento.
In the winter, Recife is much warmer than Colonia del Sacramento. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Colonia del Sacramento averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In the winter, Recife often gets more sunshine than Colonia del Sacramento. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 143 hours of full sun.
Recife receives a lot of rain in the winter. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Colonia del Sacramento. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRecife 24°C (76°F)Colonia del Sacramento 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Recife or Colonia del Sacramento in the Spring?
Both Colonia del Sacramento and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In October, Recife is generally a little warmer than Colonia del Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°F), and Colonia del Sacramento fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Colonia del Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Colonia del Sacramento during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 233 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Colonia del Sacramento. In October, Recife usually receives less rain than Colonia del Sacramento. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Colonia del Sacramento receives 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRecife 25°C (77°F)Colonia del Sacramento 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Colonia del Sacramento and Recife
| Recife | Colonia del Sacramento | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 89 mm (3.5 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.