Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Foz do Iguacu?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguacu can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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. The peak time to visit is during the city's famous Carnival festival, which is one of the most famous festivals in the world. However, Rio's appeal as a travel destination is apparent year around. The city has a wonderful natural harbour that is surrounded by Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Peak, and the hills of Tijuca, creating an absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring setting. And you can't miss the beach, either!
Foz do Iguacu
Foz do Iguacu is a larger city in Brazil that is most famous for the Iguacu Falls. The city serves as an entry point for Paraguay and Argentina as well. The obvious reason to visit the city is to see the beautiful falls, and together with Ciudad del Este, Paraguay and Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, it makes up one of the largest tourism sights in South America.
Which city is cheaper, Foz do Iguacu 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 $81, while the average daily cost in Foz do Iguacu is $51. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguacu in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Rio de Janeiro is $100. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Foz do Iguacu is $44. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The average traveler spends about $15 per day in Rio de Janeiro for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Food in Foz do Iguacu costs travelers about $17 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Rio de Janeiro $15
Foz do Iguacu $17
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
$0.57
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Corn on the Cob
$0.76
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Hamburger
$0.95
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.
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Food Tour Rio de Janeiro:
$30
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Cooking Class for Cacao Lovers:
$51
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Feijoada Food Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Hotel pick-up and drop-off:
$55
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Plant-based Brazilian Flavours Cooking Class:
$56
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Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer:
$60
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Private Tour in Rio Scenarium with Dinner:
$65
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Skip the line: Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option:
$70
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Dinner and Brazilian Music Show in Rio Scenarium:
$70
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Small-Group Boozy 7-Recipe Brazilian Cooking Class:
$75
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Brazilian Food And Caipirinhas Cooking Class:
$75
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Food Tour Experience in Rio de Janeiro (Small Groups or Private):
$80
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Secret Food Tours Rio de Janeiro:
$82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Foz do Iguacu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Foz do Iguacu.
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Churrascaria Rafain - Show And Dinner:
$50
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Dinner and Show at Rafain Churrascaria with round trip transfer included:
$52
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Argentinian Ice Bar, Wine and Dinner Experience:
$79
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Dinner Show at Rafain in Foz do Iguaçu:
$88
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Dinner Show - Rafain Steakhouse:
$110
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.22 per day to get around in Rio de Janeiro.
The average price of local transportation around Foz do Iguacu is $10 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
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ARMORED Airport Transfer - Rio de Janeiro (COVID-19 Prepared):
$387
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Airport transfer: Rio de Janeiro - Buzios / Ilha Grande:
$242
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All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer:
$55
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Angra dos Reis Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro:
$115
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Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro:
$61
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Angra dos Reis to Daily Transfer:
$54
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AquaRio Aquarium Guided Tour, Admission & Transfer:
$58
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Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro:
$115
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Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro:
$52
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Arrival Private Transfer GIG or SDU Airport to Rio City by Minivan:
$144
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Arrival Private Transfer Galeão Airport GIG to Rio City by Business Car:
$135
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Arrival Private Transfer Galeão Airport GIG to Rio City by Luxury Van:
$98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Foz do Iguacu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Foz do Iguacu:
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Bird Park Tickets with Round Trip Transfer Included:
$45
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Foz do Iguaçu Airport Private Transfer:
$23
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Foz do Iguaçu Airport Shared Transfer:
$14
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Foz do Iguaçu Round-Trip Airport Transfer:
$35
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Iguazu Falls Panoramic Helicopter Flight With Optional Transfers:
$225
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Iguazu: Transfer from Brazil Side:
$59
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Private Airport Transfer: Cataratas International Airport (IGU) to Iguazu:
$42
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Private Transfer: Foz do Iguacu to Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU):
$56
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Private Transfer: Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU) to Foz do Iguacu:
$56
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Shared Roundtrip Transfers with Brazilian and Argentinian sides:
$90
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Transfer Paraguay Shopping (CDE):
$9.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Foz do Iguacu?
Prices for flights to both Foz do Iguacu 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $17 per person, per day in Rio de Janeiro. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Foz do Iguacu's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $19 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Rio Line Panoramic City Tour - Boulevard Route:
$10
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Inside Rio Photography Walking Tour:
$10
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Hiking Tour to Pedra do Telégrafo (Telegraph Stone):
$12
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Carnival Backstage Tour - Visit a traditional Samba School:
$16
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Rocinha Lucky Tour:
$16
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Rio Street Art Experience 2 Hours:
$19
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Half-Day Downtown Walking Tour:
$19
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2 Hour Vidigal Favela Tour Discovery the Most Laidback Favela:
$19
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Favela Tour -The path of Michael Jackson in Rio:
$20
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Historical Downtown and Lapa - Walking Tour:
$20
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Private Walking and Cultural Tour Rocinha-Rio de Janeiro:
$25
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Boat Tour Guanabara Bay - Rio de Janeiro - Sightseeing:
$25
Tours and Activities in Foz do Iguacu
Here are a few actual costs in Foz do Iguacu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Shopping Tour In Ciudad Del Este:
$9.00
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Iguazú Casino Tour:
$10
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Foz Do Iguaçu City Tour:
$14
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By Night Puerto Iguazu - Small Group or Private tour:
$14
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Small-Group Walking Tour of Iguazu Falls in Brazil:
$16
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Tour to Iguassu Falls Brazilian side:
$18
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Bird Park Admission Ticket:
$20
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Dreams Ice Bar Tickets:
$21
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Bird Park Tour:
$21
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Iguassu Falls Shopping Tour:
$23
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Small-Group Walking Tour of Iguazu Falls in Argentina:
$24
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Itaipu Dam Half-Day Sightseeing Panoramic Tour from Foz do Iguaçu:
$25
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rio de Janeiro may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.43 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Foz do Iguacu may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.31 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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:
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Pub Crawl Rio de Janeiro:
$11
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Skip the line: Ipanema Pub Crawl:
$28
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Beautiful Imperial Petropolis City Tour Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery:
$34
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Rio By Night Tour: Pub Crawl Experiencing Music, Dancing, Drinks & Local Culture:
$105
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Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains:
$135
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Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour:
$160
Typical Alcohol prices in Foz do Iguacu
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Foz do Iguacu from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguacu, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Foz do Iguacu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Foz do Iguacu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Foz do Iguacu 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 Foz do Iguacu.
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