Which place is cheaper, La Serena 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 La Serena?
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 La Serena 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or La Serena? 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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97La Serena $20
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:
- Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $66
- Two Brothers Trail- one of the best views of Rio (transfer is included): $55
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (SDU): $25
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (GIG): $52
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Rio de Janeiro HTL-APT (SDU): $25
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $39
- Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $97
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $25
- Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $18
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $21
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $76
- Transfer in Rio: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 $20La Serena $27
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: $45
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $71
- 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: $81
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- Copacabana Local Street Bars Food Tour: $88
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local - All Included: $99
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $103
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Favelas do Vidigal or Rocinha's experience: $49
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 03 - Guided Tour to the Grande Rio Academics Barracão: $120
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $98
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $260
- 14 - Guided Tour to Quadra Do Salgueiro with Samba Show: $75
- 15 - Guided Tour to Santa Marta Favela: $150
- 16 - Guided Tour to Favela da Rocinha: $75
- 19 - Guided Tour to the Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard: $90
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $273
- 2 Hours Paradisiac Sailboat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $275
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $173
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12La Serena $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:
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $27
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $29
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $55
- 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
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and La Serena, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to La Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 La Serena.
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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or La Serena?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and La Serena, 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 La Serena?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as La Serena.
In the summer, Rio de Janeiro is a little warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in January average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in January than La Serena. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Rio de Janeiro is generally much warmer than La Serena. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 25°C (77°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than La Serena. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Rio de Janeiro during the winter are popular places to visit.
Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in July than La Serena. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and La Serena.
In the spring, Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in October average around 23°C (73°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F).
In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than La Serena. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.