Which place is cheaper, Mendoza 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 Mendoza?
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 Mendoza 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 Mendoza?
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.
Mendoza
Mendoza is a city in western Argentina and more precisely in the desertic Cuyo region. Mendoza is the center of the Argentinian wine industry and is famed around the world for its vineyards and wine production. Spread across the valley of the Rio Mendoza and in the foothills of the Andean mountain range, Mendoza is also near the Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas. The bustling and scenic city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes spoils visitors with unique natural attractions and historical landmarks. If you can, visit Mendoza during the harvest festival at the end of February. There are many events and festivals in Mendoza and they are usually free. Each has a different theme, and they usually have a stage with singing and dancing and booths that sell food around a plaza. Seventy percent of Argentina's wines are produced here, and Mendoza is especially known for its world-famous malbecs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina.
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Rio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil PricesMendoza Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $122Mendoza $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $122, while the average daily cost in Mendoza is $59. 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 Mendoza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $67Mendoza $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $134Mendoza $88
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Mendoza
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Mendoza? 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 Mendoza Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $8.10Mendoza $4.37
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:
- Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $66
- Two Brothers Trail- one of the best views of Rio (transfer is included): $57
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (SDU): $75
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Rio de Janeiro APT-HTL (GIG): $75
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Rio de Janeiro HTL-APT (SDU): $75
- Transfers Rio X Buzios: $191
- Transfer:Rio de Janeiro City Center -Galeão Airport (GIG): $29
- Transfer: Galeão Airport(GIG) to Rio de Janeiro City: $28
- Transfer service to/from Rio and Angra dos Reis / Conceição de J.: $207
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $185
- Transfer in Rio: $45
- Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport to Zona Sul Rio: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mendoza
Also for Mendoza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- "High Mountain Private Tour - Snow, Aconcagua and Transfer Included": $260
- Departure Private Transfer Valle de Uco to Mendoza Airport MDZ: $114
- Huarpe Winery Experience & Lunch at Lagarde. Private Transfer: $240
- MDZ Airport Private Transfer to Mendoza City Center: $22
- Mendoza Airport (MDZ) Private Transfer to Mendoza City: $18
- Mendoza Airport (MDZ) to Las Leñas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $284
- Mendoza Airport (MDZ) to Mendoza - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $66
- Mendoza Private Airport Transfers: $35
- One-Way Private Transfer from Airport: $25
- Private 1-Way or Round-Trip MDZ Airport Transfer: $42
- Round Trip Private Transfer to the Uco Valley: $313
- Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MDZ Airport Transfer: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Mendoza?
Prices for flights to both Mendoza 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 $35Mendoza $6.11
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
- Guided Dinner in Rio at a Restaurant of Your Choice: $70
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $79
- Rio: Copacabana Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Local Flavors: $81
- 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: Street Food, Local Drinks & Hidden Gems: $95
- Rio Food Tour: Local Favorites, Hidden Gems & Brazilian Flavors: $96
- Folklore show Ginga Tropical with Optional Dinner: $97
- Roxy Show - Brazilian Rhythms with optional Barbecue Dinner: $102
- Brazilian Dinner Show: Cultural Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $115
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mendoza Meals Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $69
- Argentine Hands-On Cooking & Wine Experience in Mendoza: $95
- 3h Cooking Class in Mendoza with 7 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $110
- 4-Hour Argentine Cooking Class at Grazie Mille Winery: $125
- Bar Safari: 4 Best Mendoza’s Bars in 1 night. + Full Dinner: $180
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner at an Estancia in Mendoza: $185
- Horseback Riding at Sunset and Dinner in Mendoza: $185
- Tango Show with Dinner at Hualta Winery Hotel: $190
- Full-Day Small-Group Mendoza Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $196
- City Tour with Dinner at a Local Restaurant: $200
- Winery & Michelin-Star Dinner Saffron barrels. Private Transport: $260
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Mendoza $25
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 tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $120
- 10-hour Private Tour Rio In One Day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Selarón, Downtown: $229
- 12 Beaches Easy Bike Tour Rio de Janeiro: $63
- 2 Day Tour from Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado and Arraial do Cabo: $211
- 2 Days Tour in City Tour Express and Arraial do Cabo: $200
- 2 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $281
- 3 Hour Rocinha Favela Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $44
- 4 horas - Tour private: Corcovado e praias: $220
- 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: $149
- 4x4 Jeep Jungle Tour Rio de Janeiro: $52
- 5-Hour Rio's Essential Sights: Private Tour – Optional Airport & Port Pick-ups: $154
Tours and Activities in Mendoza
For Mendoza, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Malbec Experience in Bodega Tierras Altas: $22
- Self-Guided Bike Tour in Luján de Cuyo Wine Region (Mendoza): $23
- City tour with visit to General San Martin Park: $24
- City Tour: $25
- City Tour: $25
- Mendoza Highlights: Half-Day City Tour: $28
- Mendoza City tour with visit to General San Martin Park: $29
- Renacer Winery Experience: $30
- Bike Tour with Winery and Olivicola Tastings: $30
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $34
- Wine and Olive Oil Tasting Half-Day Tour: $34
- Half-Day Sightseeing City Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Mendoza $6.21
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: $33
- Dance the Night Away at a Pedra do Sal Bar Crawl: $38
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
- Rio Pub Crawl with Caipirinhas & Bar Bites: $95
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $123
Sample the Local Flavors in Mendoza
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mendoza:
- Mendoza Wine Tasting at Bodega Ciclo Andino with Snacks: $39
- Classic Wine Tasting: $44
- Premium Wine Tasting: $66
- Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $80
- El Enemigo and Casa Vigil Wine Tour: $93
- In Mendoza Wine Tours, Empanadas, and Olive Oil: $99
- Make an Argentine Asado BBQ w/ Local Host & Wine Tasting: $99
- Classic Wine Tour on a Budget. Lunch. Private Driver: $120
- Mendoza Private Wine Tour Paired Lunch and Olive Oil Tasting: $121
- wine tours in wine country mendoza Argentina: $160
- Full Day Wine Tour with 3 Course Lunch: $164
- Bike Tour at Zuccardi: Olive Oil, Wine Tasting & Lunch: $182
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Mendoza, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Mendoza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mendoza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mendoza 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 Mendoza.
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 Mendoza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Mendoza?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Mendoza. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Mendoza, 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.