Which place is cheaper, Atlanta or Rio de Janeiro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta 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: Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta?
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.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a city rich in history but modern in its development and industry. It has a population of just under 500,000 with more than five million people living in the metropolitan area. It is also the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States The city is rich in culture and was at the center of the civil rights movement. It is the capital of the state of Georgia, and was home to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. It has the world's busiest airport and arguably some of the country's worst traffic, but the residents are recognized for their friendly and welcoming nature and the city is lush with green trees and wonderful parks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $106Atlanta $173
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $106, while the average daily cost in Atlanta is $173. 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 Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $67Atlanta $90
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $134Atlanta $180
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta? 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: Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices and Atlanta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $8.04Atlanta $44
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:
- Private transfer to Ilha Grande.: $930
- From Private Transfer to São Paulo: $650
- Rio: Sambadrome Carnival Parade + transfer 2025 Sector 7: $471
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $471
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer Sector 5: $471
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $471
- Rio's 2025 Carnival Parade at Sapucaí + Transfer Sector 5: $471
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer (Sector 7): $471
- Helicopter Ride for 25 to 30min with Transfer service: $300
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- TRANSFER VAN Rio de Janeiro x Búzios/Arraial/Cabo Frio/Angra: $272
- From Private Transfer to Vila do Abraão: $246
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Atlanta:
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MARTA Subway Ticket$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atlanta
Also for Atlanta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Atlanta Airport ATL to Atlanta in Luxury SUV: $133
- Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs -Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Atlanta to Atlanta Airport (ATL) Departure Private Transfer: $97
- Departure Transfer: Atlanta to Atlanta Airport ATL by Luxury SUV: $127
- Departure Transfer: Atlanta to Atlanta Airport ATL in Luxury SUV: $133
- Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Hartsfield Jackson Airport (ATL) to Lithia Springs - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL) to Atlanta - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $194
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL):Transfer to Atlanta: $280
- Private Arrival Transfer from Atlanta Airport (ATL): $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta?
Prices for flights to both Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro 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 dayRio de Janeiro $20Atlanta $43
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
Typical Food Prices in Atlanta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Atlanta:
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Fast Food Lunch (for 2)$15
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Lunch$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Atlanta
For Atlanta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Guided Wood Fired Pizza Class in Atlanta: $55
- City Lights Atlanta Night-Time Tour with Photos & Dinner Stop: $65
- City Lights Night Tour with Photos & Dinner Stop: $65
- 2 Hour Historic Market Food Tour and Hands-On Biscuit Class: $70
- Historic Market Food Tour and Biscuit Cooking Class: $70
- Ponce City Market 2.5-Hour Weekend Food Tour: $99
- Food Tour of Inman Park and the Atlanta Beltline: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Atlanta $56
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
Tours and Activities in Atlanta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Atlanta.
- Civil Rights Self-Guided Audio App Walking Tour: $6.75
- Atlanta Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.00
- Olympic Park & Pemberton Place: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Civil Rights Movement in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Atlanta Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Atlanta Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- SkyView Ferris Wheel Ticket: $16
- Atlanta Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $18
- Skip the Ticket Line: World of Coca-Cola Admission in Atlanta: $23
- World of Coca-Cola Skip-the-Ticket-Line Entry: $23
- LEGO® Discovery Center Admission Ticket: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Atlanta $17
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Atlanta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Atlanta:
- Drag Queen Guided Pub Crawl and Cabaret Show: $36
- ATLANTA Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl : $40
- Half-Day Wine Tastings in the North Georgia Mountains : $115
- North Georgia Mountains Two Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $137
- Bartram Trail Hike plus Wine Tasting: $159
- North Georgia Mountains Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $165
- North Georgia Mountains Private Three Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta, we can see that Atlanta is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rio de Janeiro is in South America and Atlanta is in North 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 Atlanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atlanta 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 Rio de Janeiro Expensive? and Is Atlanta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Atlanta. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta, 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 Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta?
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 Atlanta has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta in the Summer?
Both Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Atlanta because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Atlanta in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Atlanta fluctuates around 82°F (28°C)in July.
Atlanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in January than Atlantain July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Atlanta 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Atlanta this time of year.
In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is a little warmer than Atlanta. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Atlanta averages at about 66°F (19°C)in October.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Atlantain October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Atlanta 66°F (19°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Atlanta. Also, many travelers come to Atlanta for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally much warmer than Atlantain January. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Atlanta fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
It's quite rainy in Atlanta. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in July than Atlantain January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Atlanta 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Atlanta in the Spring?
Both Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Atlanta in the spring for the activities around the city.
Rio de Janeiro is a little warmer than Atlanta in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Atlanta fluctuates around 65°F (18°C)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Atlanta. In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Atlantain April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Atlanta receives 4.1 inches (104 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Atlanta 65°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Atlanta | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 49°F (9°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 65°F (18°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 4.2 inches (107 mm) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 48°F (9°C) | 4.4 inches (111 mm) |
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.