Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
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.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top 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 from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $106Philadelphia $188
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $106, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $188. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $67Philadelphia $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $134Philadelphia $238
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Philadelphia
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $8.04Philadelphia $28
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$2.96
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): $56
- 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
- Transfers Rio (Copacabana / Buzios / Angra / Paraty and Arraial): $154
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $39
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $21
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $77
- Transfer in Rio: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (SDU): $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Philadelphia
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL) to Philadelphia - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $131
- Philadelphia Airport (PHL): Private Transfer to Philadelphia: $355
- Philadelphia City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $135
- Philadelphia to Philadelphia Airport (PHL) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Transfer: Philadelphia Airport PHL to Philadelphia in Business Car: $95
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia?
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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 $20Philadelphia $49
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$0.79
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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.
- Waterfront Dinner & Live Music Experience: $46
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $73
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $80
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Brazilian Meats and Snacks + South American Wines Guided Dinner: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $106
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $113
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
Typical Food Prices in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for 3)$27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Locals' Favorites Food Tour: $52
- Best of Philly Food Tour: $55
- Best of Philadelphia Food Tour-Small Group Walking Tour: $59
- 9th Street Italian Market Walking Food Tour: $61
- Bites and Booze: Walking Food Tour in Philadelphia : $65
- Flavors of Philly Food Tour: $65
- Philadelphia's Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
- Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $66
- Secret Food Tour: $84
- Highlights of East Passyunk Food Tour: $85
- Chef-Led Taste of the Italian Market Food Tour: $90
- Spirit of Philadelphia Signature Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Philadelphia $28
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 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: $276
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $177
- 21 - Guided Tour to the Imperial City of Petrópolis with Lunch: $80
- 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
- 27 -Guided Tour to Christ the Redeemer and City in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- 3 Hour Boat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $68
Typical Entertainment Prices in Philadelphia
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Big Bus Tour (family of 3)$99
Tours and Activities in Philadelphia
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- Art and Controversy: An audio tour of Philadelphia's most infamous art scandals: $5.40
- Road to Revolution GPS Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Road to Revolution: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Philadelphia: $8.99
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour : $9.00
- Philadelphia In App Walking Audio Tour: $9.00
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Philadelphia by Operation City Quest: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- National Liberty Museum Entrance Ticket: $12
- Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $13
- Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $13
- Fantastic Philadelphia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Philadelphia $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:
- Rio: Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba: $33
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $34
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $60
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $65
- 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: $132
Sample the Local Flavors in Philadelphia
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl: $45
- Guided Tour with Pub Crawl: $45
- Half-Day Philadelphia's Brewery Bike Tour with Tastings: $100
- Philly Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Philadelphia. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Philadelphia. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In January, Rio de Janeiro is generally around the same temperature as Philadelphiain July. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 26°C (79°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It's quite rainy in Philadelphia. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in January than Philadelphiain July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Philadelphia 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia in the Autumn?
Both Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Philadelphia in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 56°F (14°C)in October.
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Philadelphiain October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Philadelphia 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia in the Winter?
Both Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Philadelphia. In the winter, Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 30°F (-1°C)in January.
Rio de Janeiro usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Philadelphiain January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Philadelphia 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Philadelphia in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Philadelphia. Also, many visitors come to Philadelphia in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In October, Rio de Janeiro is generally much warmer than Philadelphiain April. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 23°C (73°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Philadelphiain April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Philadelphia 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Philadelphia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 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.