Which place is cheaper, Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe?
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 Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe?
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.
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
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 $105Isla de Ometepe $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in Isla de Ometepe is $34. 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 Isla de Ometepe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Isla de Ometepe $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Isla de Ometepe $26
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Isla de Ometepe
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe? 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 $7.97Isla de Ometepe $11
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe?
Prices for flights to both Isla de Ometepe 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 $20Isla de Ometepe $13
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Isla de Ometepe $13
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
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Isla de Ometepe $8.85
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Isla de Ometepe, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rio de Janeiro is in South America and Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepe.
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 Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Isla de Ometepe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Isla de Ometepe. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.
Isla de Ometepe 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 Isla de Ometepein July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe 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)Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Isla de Ometepe. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.
In April, Rio de Janeiro is generally around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepein October. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 25°C (77°F), and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in April than Isla de Ometepein October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe 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)Isla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe in the Winter?
Both Isla de Ometepe and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Isla de Ometepe in the winter. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
In July, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Isla de Ometepein January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe 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)Isla de Ometepe 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Isla de Ometepe in the Spring?
Both Isla de Ometepe and Rio de Janeiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.
In the spring, Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in October than Isla de Ometepein April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe 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)Isla de Ometepe 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Isla de Ometepe and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Isla de Ometepe | |||
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| 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.