Which place is cheaper, New York City 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 New York City?
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 New York City 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 New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105New York City $326
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or New York City? 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 New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97New York City $49
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 10-Minute Helicopter Transfer from Manhattan to JFK : $245
- Airport Limousine Transfer one-way - LaGuardia Airport - Lincoln MKT: $275
- Arrival Private Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York in Business Car: $151
- Arrival Transfer from LaGuardia Airport LGA to Manhattan by Car: $130
- Arrival Transfer: Newark Airport EWR to New York by Luxury SUV: $162
- Bronx - LGA: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $100
- Brooklyn - JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $100
- Central Park Private Walking Tour with Transfers : $171
- Central Park Zoo Skip the line Tickets and Private Transfers : $291
- Central Park Zoo Skip-the-line Tickets & Private Transfers: $291
- Departure Private Transfer from Manhattan to LaGuardia Airport LGA by Luxury Car: $105
- Departure Private Transfer: New York to J.F. Kennedy Airport JFK in Luxury Car: $217
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $20New York City $50
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
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $23
- New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $37
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- Shared Food Tour Bohemian Greenwichvillage: $45
- East Village Food Tour: $60
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Greenwich Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22New York City $180
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.20
- Marvel Universe in New York In-app Audio Tour in English: $5.00
- Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.41
- Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.53
- Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
- NYC: Central Park Exploration Game and Tour: $6.93
- Self-Guided Tour of the Museum at Eldridge Street: $7.50
- Docent-Led Tour of the Museum at Eldridge Street: $7.50
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12New York City $29
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
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $19
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $21
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $35
- NYC: Boos & Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
- Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- East Village Gangster Ghost Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rio de Janeiro is in South America and New York City is in North 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 Rio de Janeiro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rio de Janeiro 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Rio de Janeiro.
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 New York City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or New York City?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Rio de Janeiro. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and New York City, 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 New York City?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rio de Janeiro is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but New York City has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or New York City in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as New York City. Additionally, many travelers come to New York City for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as New York City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in January average around 26°C (79°F), and New York City averages at about 77°F (25°C)in July.
It's quite rainy in New York City. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as New York Cityin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or New York City in the Autumn?
Both New York City and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to New York City in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In April, Rio de Janeiro is generally much warmer than New York Cityin October. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 25°C (77°F), and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than New York Cityin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or New York City in the Winter?
Both New York City and Rio de Janeiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
New York City can be very cold during winter. Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than New York City in the winter. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C)in January.
Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in July than New York Cityin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or New York City in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and New York City. Also, the spring months attract visitors to New York City because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in October average around 23°C (73°F), and New York City averages at about 52°F (11°C)in April.
In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than New York Cityin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |
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.