Which place is cheaper, Granada 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 Granada?
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 Granada 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 Granada?
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.
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105Granada $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in Granada is $40. 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 Granada in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Granada $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Granada $34
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Granada
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Granada? 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 Granada Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97Granada $8.57
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$2.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (GIG): $13
- Rio Santos Dumont (SDU): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
- Rio Galeão Airport (GIG): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
- Private transfer Economico GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Zona Sul: $18
- Shared Transfer From or To Airport: $19
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU) - Rio City Center: $19
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro City Center -Airport (SDU): $19
- Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $19
- One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $20
- Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $21
- Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) to Rio: $21
- Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to Rio de Janeiro: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Granada?
Prices for flights to both Granada 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 $20Granada $14
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$0.78
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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
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Granada $10
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $7.83
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.83
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $9.97
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.17
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- Granada Kayak Tour: $30
- Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
- Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $39
- Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
- Granada City Tour: $40
- Granada's City Tour: $40
- Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
- Masaya Night Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
- Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
- City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Granada $7.50
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Granada, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rio de Janeiro is in South America and Granada 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Granada.
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 Granada Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Granada?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Granada, 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 Granada?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Granada experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Granada in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Granada. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Granada in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Granada fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.
Granada receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Granadain July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Granada receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Granada 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Granada in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Granada. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year.
In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Granada. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Granada averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Granada. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in April than Granadain October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Granada receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Granada 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Granada in the Winter?
Both Granada and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than Granadain January. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Granada fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In July, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Granadain January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Granada receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Granada 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Granada in the Spring?
Both Granada and Rio de Janeiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Granada in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Granada fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in October than Granadain April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Granada receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Granada 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Granada and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Granada | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.