Which place is cheaper, Cali or Rio de Janeiro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Cali?
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 Cali 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 Cali?
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.
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia.
-
Rio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil PricesCali Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $122Cali $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $122, while the average daily cost in Cali is $33. 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 Cali in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $67Cali $6.37
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $134Cali $13
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Cali
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Cali? 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 Cali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $8.10Cali $5.95
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$2.98
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): $75
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (GIG): $75
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Rio de Janeiro HTL-APT (SDU): $75
- Transfer: Galeão Airport(GIG) to Rio de Janeiro City: $29
- Transfer service to/from Rio and Angra dos Reis / Conceição de J.: $208
- Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $244
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $183
- Transfer in Rio: $45
- Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport to Zona Sul Rio: $26
- Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport: $31
- Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airports to Hotels and Destinations: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
- Alfonso Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by Minivan: $174
- Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by car: $131
- Cali Tour Privado x3 horas con Transfers: $182
- Cali Tour Privado x5 horas con Transfers: $250
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to Popayan Private Transfer: $272
- Cali to or from Coffee Region Private Transfer: $136
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $46
- Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $20
- City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $183
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Cali?
Prices for flights to both Cali 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 dayRio de Janeiro $35Cali $16
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$0.60
-
Corn on the Cob$0.79
-
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.
- Vegan Rio Cooking Class: Hands-On Moqueca & Caipirinhas: $55
- Rio Roots Food Tour with 12 Tastings: $62
- Guided Dinner in Rio at a Restaurant of Your Choice: $70
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $79
- Rio: Copacabana Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Local Flavors: $81
- Brazilian Churrascaria Guided Dinner in Rio with Wine Pairing: $89
- Family Cooking Class in Rio Make 9 Brazilian Dishes Together: $95
- Rio Food Tour: Local Favorites, Hidden Gems & Brazilian Flavors: $96
- Rio Night Food Tour: Street Food, Local Drinks & Hidden Gems: $96
- Folklore show Ginga Tropical with Optional Dinner: $97
- Brazilian Dinner Show: Cultural Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $115
- Flavors of Cooking Class and Caipirinhas: $130
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $24
- Street Food Tour: $29
- Cali tastes good! Authentic street food tour through the salsa capital: $53
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Traditional Colombian Meal Cooking Class: $67
- Traditional Colombian Cooking Class in Cali: $71
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $73
- Food Tour San Antonio: $75
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Cali $11
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Discovery Tour NO Rio DE Janeiro: $65
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $121
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $229
- 12 Beaches Easy Bike Tour Rio de Janeiro: $62
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $282
- 3 Hour Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $44
- 4 horas - Tour private: Corcovado e praias: $220
- 4-Hour Guided Kayak Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- 4-Hour Private Guided Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $95
- 4-hour Sum-up Of Rio de Janeiro "Private Tour" – Optional Airport & Port Pick-up: $149
- 5-Hour Rio's Essential Sights: Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups: $154
- 6-Hour Private Guided Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $125
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Tour Cali's Local Food at Alameda Market: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Historical Downtown: $12
- Shared Tour Cali's Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance Experience: $12
- Historical Shared Tour Salsa, Graffiti & Resistance in Cali: $14
- Shared Gastronomic Tour in the Alameda Cali Market: $15
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $15
- Cali Zoo Access Ticket: $15
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $18
- Cali Food Market Tour Galería Alameda with Exotic Tastings: $29
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali: $29
- Comuna 20 Siloé Street Art Tour: $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Cali $8.98
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:
- Lapa by Night: Samba, Cachaça & The Ultimate Rio Pub Crawl: $30
- More than a Pub Crawl: An Authentic Night Experience in Rio: $33
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
- Botafogo Bar Crawl Eat and Drink Like a Local: $50
- Rio Pub Crawl with Caipirinhas & Bar Bites: $95
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $123
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $134
Sample the Local Flavors in Cali
Also in Cali, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $28
- Friday Night Street Salsa and Bar Crawl in Cali, Colombia: $30
- Friday Salsa Bar Crawl in Cali - Culture Nightlife Experience: $32
- Craft Beer Pub Crawl in Cali: $40
- Salsa Pub Crawl in Cali: $45
- Paragliding + Wine tasting + Hacienda El Paraiso + Saint Helena: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Cali, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Cali.
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 Cali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Cali?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cali. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Cali, 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.
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.