Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?
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 Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?
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.
Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
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 in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105Puerto Viejo $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $145. 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 Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Puerto Viejo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo? 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 Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97Puerto Viejo $38
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:
- 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
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $40
- Transfer service from/to Rio de Janeiro-Embarkation for Ilha Grande: $87
- Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $99
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
- Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $19
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $22
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $78
- Transfer in Rio: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (GIG): $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo 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 $20Puerto Viejo $33
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: $46
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $72
- 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: $82
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $105
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Rio: Ginga Tropical Folkloric Show & Optional Dinner: $142
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Puerto Viejo $78
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
- 03 - Guided Tour to the Grande Rio Academics Barracão: $120
- 1 day tour Rio de Janeiro to Christ and Cable car and much more: $100
- 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 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $175
- 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
- 26 - Guided Tour to Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer: $120
- 27 -Guided Tour to Christ the Redeemer and City in Rio de Janeiro: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Puerto Viejo $13
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: $28
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $29
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- 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
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $131
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo is in Central 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Puerto Viejo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejoin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Viejo and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
Both Puerto Viejo and Rio de Janeiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejoin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.