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 G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine 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 $120Iquique $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $120, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $125. 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 $66Iquique $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Iquique $88
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 and Iquique Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.93Iquique $24
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$2.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Private Bilingual Transfer Rio de Janeiro x Paraty: $298
- Sugarloaf Mountain Sunrise Experience with Breakfast & Transfer: $253
- Rio Art Museum | Round Trip Transfer + 2 Tickets: $250
- Museum of Tomorrow - | Round Trip Transfer + 2 Tickets: $250
- Private Transfer | Round Trip: $250
- Private transfer from Rio de Janeiro x Angra dos Reis (4 max): $239
- Original Historic Coffee Farm Guided Tour with Transfer: $220
- Buzios Private Transfer to and from Rio de Janeiro: $200
- Transfer Rio de Janeiro to Buzios 04 people: $189
- SDU Airport Private Transfer to Rio De Janeiro City Armored Car: $185
- Corcovado Train and Sugarloaf Mountain Guided Tour with Transfer: $185
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $171
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 $61
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$0.58
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Corn on the Cob$0.78
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Hamburger$0.97
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.
- Rio de Janeiro Market Food Tour and Local Tasting Experience: $71
- Brazilian Breakfast Cooking Class in Rio: Bake and Blend: $75
- Rio Historic Downtown and Lapa Street Food Tour Full Meal: $81
- Rio: Copacabana Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Local Flavors: $81
- Rio de Janeiro Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Rio: Iconic Street Foods & Caipirinhas: $85
- Brazilian Churrascaria Guided Dinner in Rio with Wine Pairing: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Brazilian Dinner Show: Cultural Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $115
- Roxy Dinner Show - Dinner & Show: $137
- Brazilian Cooking Class in Copacabana with Hotel Pickup: $140
- Guided Tour to the River Scenarium with Dinner: $165
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Iquique $28
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: $119
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $229
- 12 Beaches Easy Bike Tour Rio de Janeiro: $78
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $278
- 3 Hour Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $47
- 4-Hour Guided Kayak Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- 6-Hour Private Guided Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $125
- 8-Hour Private Guided Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $134
- 9-hour Private Full Day Tour of Rio - by Alan Denis: $214
- A Day in Arraial do Cabo Guided Tour: $101
- A Day in Rio Tour - City Tour with Tickets and Lunch Included: $118
Tours and Activities in Iquique
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.
- Guided tour of heroic Iquique: $23
- Experience sandboarding in the Iquique dunes: $52
- City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $55
- Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $85
- City Tour in Iquique: $89
- Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $145
- Isluga National Park Tour: $180
- Red Lagoon Tour: $225
- Red Lagoon Tour: $639
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Iquique $21
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: $40
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
- Rio Pub Crawl with Caipirinhas & Bar Bites: $95
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $177
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.