A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Rio de Janeiro vs. Oranjestad for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Oranjestad?

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 Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad?

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Oranjestad 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.

  • Rio de Janeiro Prices
    Brazil Prices
    Oranjestad Prices
    Aruba Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Rio de Janeiro $122
    Oranjestad $337

The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $122, while the average daily cost in Oranjestad is $337. 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 Oranjestad in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rio de Janeiro $67
    Oranjestad $188
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rio de Janeiro $134
    Oranjestad $376
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Oranjestad

Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Oranjestad? 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.

Hotels in Rio de Janeiro


Hotels in Oranjestad


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 Oranjestad Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rio de Janeiro $8.10
    Oranjestad $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:

  • Airport Private Transfer - Premium Service: $65
  • Airport Transfer: Airport GIG to Rio de Janeiro by Business Car: $111
  • Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Business Car: $111
  • Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Luxury Van: $134
  • Angra dos Reis Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro: $122
  • Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $73
  • AquaRio Small Group Guided Tour with entrance and transfer: $90
  • Armored Car Airport Transfer Service: $190
  • Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $127
  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $67
  • Arrival Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro Cruise Port to Zona Sul: $64
  • Arrival Transfer Rio Santos Dumont Airport SDU to Costa do Sol: $157

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Oranjestad

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Oranjestad:


  • Round-trip Bus Ticket
    $2.22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad:

  • Aruba (AUA) : Airport Private Transfer to Aruba City: $38
  • Aruba Oranjestad Queen Airport (AUA): Transfer to island: $131
  • Aruba: Round-Trip Airport Transfer: $22
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer from Aruba Airport to Hotel: $68
  • Reina Beatrix Airport: Round-Trip Shared Transfer: $22

Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Oranjestad?

Prices for flights to both Oranjestad 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Rio de Janeiro $35
    Oranjestad $109
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:


  • Popcorn
    $0.60
  • Corn on the Cob
    $0.79
  • 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
  • Rio Roots Food Tour with 12 Tastings: $62
  • 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
  • Brazilian Churrascaria Guided Dinner in Rio with Wine Pairing: $89
  • Family Cooking Class in Rio Make 9 Brazilian Dishes Together: $95
  • Rio Food Tour: Local Favorites, Hidden Gems & Brazilian Flavors: $96
  • Rio Night Food Tour: Street Food, Local Drinks & Hidden Gems: $96
  • Folklore show Ginga Tropical with Optional Dinner: $97
  • Brazilian Dinner Show: Cultural Experience in Rio de Janeiro: $115
  • Flavors of Cooking Class and Caipirinhas: $130

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Oranjestad

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Oranjestad.

  • Aruba: Sip and Savor Local Food Tour: $95
  • Oranjesta: Sunset Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rio de Janeiro $22
    Oranjestad $91

Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro

Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
  • Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $4.48
  • Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.48
  • Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.49
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $6.72
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $6.72
  • Rio de Janeiro Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h00 and 24 reviews: $7.37
  • Discover A Guided Tour: $8.24
  • A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $12
  • Electric Bike Tour: $16
  • Self-Guided Tour of Rio's Journey from Colonialism to Democracy: $20

Typical Entertainment Prices in Oranjestad

Here are a few typical costs in Oranjestad for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Full Day Bike Rental
    $25
  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $70
  • Golf
    $124
  • Kayak & Snorkeling Tour
    $98

Tours and Activities in Oranjestad

Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Aruba: Guided Countryside Exploration Tour: $45
  • 3-Hour Aruba Highlights Guided Tour: $49
  • Half-Day Aruba Island Tour with Top Attractions: $55
  • Meet the Animals of Aruba Tour: $57
  • Aruba: Beach Hopping Snorkeling Tour: $57
  • Aruba Arikok National Park Hiking Tour: $57
  • Discover the Island of Aruba: 4-Hour Bus Tour & Snorkel: $59
  • Full-Day Aruba History and Landmarks Tour: $69
  • Aruba Downtown Historic And Cultural Walking Tour: $75
  • Latin/Caribbean Party Bus Night Tour & Karaoke: $85
  • Aruba: Natural Pool, Caves & Baby Beach Jeep Adventure: $89
  • Aruba: Northcoast UTV Afternoon Adventure: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rio de Janeiro $12
    Oranjestad $31

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
  • Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
  • Botafogo Bar Crawl Eat and Drink Like a Local: $50
  • Rio Pub Crawl with Caipirinhas & Bar Bites: $95
  • Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $123
  • Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $134


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Oranjestad, we can see that Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Oranjestad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oranjestad 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 Oranjestad Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Oranjestad?

Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Oranjestad. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Oranjestad, 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.