Which place is cheaper, Iquique 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.
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Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Iquique?
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 Iquique 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 Iquique?
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.
Iquique
Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.
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Rio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil PricesIquique Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $122Iquique $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $122, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $130. 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 Iquique in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $67Iquique $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $134Iquique $92
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Iquique
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Iquique? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $8.10Iquique $25
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$2.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- TRANSFER 4 Passengers: Búzios/Angra dos Reis/Arraial do Cabo/Cabo Frio.: $270
- Private Airport Transfers | Round Trip: $260
- Sugarloaf Mountain Sunrise Experience with Breakfast & Transfer: $253
- Rio Art Museum | Round Trip Transfer + 2 Tickets: $250
- Private Transfer | Round Trip: $250
- Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $246
- Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro and Airports x Angra dos Reis (4 max): $244
- Private transfer Rio de Janeiro x Búzios: $226
- TRANSFER - CLUB MED Rio: $225
- Original Historic Coffee Farm Guided Tour with Transfer: $220
- Private transfer Rio de Janeiro x Nova Friburgo: $220
- Transfer service to/from Rio and Angra dos Reis / Conceição de J.: $209
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique
Also for Iquique, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Iquique?
Prices for flights to both Iquique 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 $35Iquique $63
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$0.60
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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.
- Vegan Rio Cooking Class: Hands-On Moqueca & Caipirinhas: $55
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $79
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Rio: Iconic Street Foods & Caipirinhas: $85
- Brazilian Churrascaria Guided Dinner in Rio with Wine Pairing: $89
- Family Cooking Class in Rio Make 9 Brazilian Dishes Together: $95
- Rio Night Food Tour Lapa Street Food and Caipirinha Experience: $96
- Rio de Janeiro Food Tour: Downtown Tastes & Local Drinks: $96
- Folklore show Ginga Tropical with Optional Dinner: $97
- Roxy Show - Brazilian Rhythms with optional Barbecue Dinner: $104
- Brazilian Dinner Show: Cultural Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $115
- Flavors of Cooking Class and Caipirinhas: $130
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Iquique $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:
- 1 Day Discovery Tour NO Rio DE Janeiro: $65
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $122
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $264
- 2 Days Tour in City Tour Express and Arraial do Cabo: $202
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $284
- 3 Hour Boat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $69
- 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: $173
- 4x4 Jeep Jungle Tour Rio de Janeiro: $52
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
- Red Lagoon Tour: $639
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Iquique $22
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:
- More than a Pub Crawl: An Authentic Night Experience in Rio: $33
- Dance the Night Away at a Pedra do Sal Bar Crawl: $39
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
When comparing the travel costs between Rio de Janeiro and Iquique, we can see that Iquique is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Iquique Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Iquique?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Iquique. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Iquique, 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.