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

Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Belize City?

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 Belize City 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 Belize City?

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.

Belize City

Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.

This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.

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 G Adventures Tours to Belize, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, Belize City or Rio de Janeiro?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in Belize City is $88. 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 Belize City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rio de Janeiro $66
    Belize City $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rio de Janeiro $132
    Belize City $98
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Belize City

Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Belize City? 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 Rio de Janeiro


Hotels in Belize City


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 Belize City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rio de Janeiro $7.97
    Belize City $5.82
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:

  • 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
  • Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $40
  • Transfer service from/to Rio de Janeiro-Embarkation for Ilha Grande: $87
  • Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $99
  • Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
  • Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $19
  • Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $22
  • Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $78
  • Transfer in Rio: $35
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (GIG): $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
  • Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
  • Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
  • Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
  • Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
  • Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
  • We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Belize City?

Prices for flights to both Belize City 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Rio de Janeiro $20
    Belize City $27
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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City

For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rio de Janeiro $22
    Belize City $29

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
  • 03 - Guided Tour to the Grande Rio Academics Barracão: $120
  • 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $100
  • 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 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $175
  • 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
  • 26 - Guided Tour to Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer: $120
  • 27 -Guided Tour to Christ the Redeemer and City in Rio de Janeiro: $75

Tours and Activities in Belize City

For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Belize City Tour: $40
  • Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $50
  • Hassle free Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City with Lunch: $55
  • Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $65
  • Second largest Barrier Reef Adventure Snorkeling: $70
  • Guided Cave Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $77
  • Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
  • Cave Tubing Experience from Belize City: $85
  • Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
  • Half-Day Altun Ha Temple & Belize City Tour: $86
  • Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
  • Howler Monkey Sanctuary Tour from Belize City: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rio de Janeiro $12
    Belize City $12

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Belize City

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belize City:

  • Belize: City Highlights Tour with Rum Distillery Visit: $49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Belize City, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Belize City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rio de Janeiro is in South America and Belize City is in Central 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 Belize City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belize City 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 Rio de Janeiro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rio de Janeiro than you might in Belize City.

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 Belize City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Belize City?

Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Belize City, 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 Belize City?

Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Belize City experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Belize City in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Belize City. The warm climate attracts visitors to Belize City throughout the year.

Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Belize City in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Belize City fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in Belize City. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in January than Belize Cityin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F) 
    Belize City 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Belize City in the Autumn?

Both Belize City and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Belize City because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Belize City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Belize City averages at about 26°C (80°F)in October.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Belize City. It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Belize Cityin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F) 
    Belize City 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Belize City in the Winter?

Both Belize City and Rio de Janeiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Belize City year-round.

In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than Belize Cityin January. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Belize City fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

Belize City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in July than Belize Cityin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F) 
    Belize City 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Belize City in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Belize City. Belize City attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Belize City in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Belize City fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in April.

In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Belize Cityin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Belize City receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F) 
    Belize City 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for Belize City and Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro Belize City
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 24°C (74°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 105 mm (4.1 in) 24°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 26°C (79°F) 103 mm (4.1 in) 26°C (78°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Apr 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 27°C (80°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 23°C (73°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)
Aug 22°C (72°F) 51 mm (2 in) 28°C (82°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Sep 22°C (72°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 88 mm (3.5 in) 26°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Nov 24°C (75°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 25°C (77°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 169 mm (6.7 in) 25°C (76°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)