Which place is cheaper, Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
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 Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas?
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.
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105Punta Arenas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in Punta Arenas is $63. 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 Punta Arenas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Punta Arenas $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Punta Arenas $64
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Punta Arenas
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas? 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 Punta Arenas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97Punta Arenas $1.80
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:
- Private transfer to Ilha Grande.: $930
- From Private Transfer to São Paulo: $650
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer (Sector 7): $467
- Rio's 2025 Carnival Parade at Sapucaí + Transfer Sector 5: $467
- Rio: Sambadrome Carnival Parade + transfer 2025 Sector 7: $467
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $467
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer Sector 5: $467
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $467
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- Arrival Transfer: Rio GIG or SDU Airport to Angra dos Reis by Van: $246
- Arrival Private Transfer: GIG or SDU Airport to Arraial do Cabo by Sedan Car: $241
- From Private Transfer to Vila do Abraão: $240
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Arenas
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Punta Arenas Airport to/from Punta Arenas: $33
- Private Transfer from Punta Arenas Port to Punta Arenas hotels: $64
- Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) to Punta Arenas - Arrival Transfer: $49
- Transfer from Punta Arenas (city or airport) to Puerto Natales: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas?
Prices for flights to both Punta Arenas 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 $20Punta Arenas $21
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 Punta Arenas
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
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Donut$1.05
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Dinner$25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Punta Arenas $6.44
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
Tours and Activities in Punta Arenas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
- City Sightseeing and Monuments Guided Tour: $52
- Regular city cruise tour: $65
- Fort Bulnes cruises: $70
- Bike Tour in Punta Arenas, 100% local tour.: $70
- Punta Arenas Sightseeing Tour: $72
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $138
- King Penguin & Tierra del Fuego Tour: $145
- Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas: $153
- Punta Arenas Private City Tour Shore Excursion: $155
- Magallanes Reserva and City Tour. Private Shore Excursion.: $158
- Full day Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas ,Regular tours: $180
- Mountain Bike Adventure in Punta Arenas: $192
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Punta Arenas $4.86
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Punta Arenas
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
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Alcohol$7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Punta Arenas, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.
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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas in the Summer?
Both Punta Arenas and Rio de Janeiro during the summer are popular places to visit.
Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in January than Punta Arenas. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Punta Arenas 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Punta Arenas.
In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Punta Arenas.
The weather in Punta Arenas can be very cold. In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally much warmer than Punta Arenas. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F).
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in July than Punta Arenas. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Punta Arenas 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Punta Arenas in the Spring?
Both Punta Arenas and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Rio de Janeiro is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Punta Arenas. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Punta Arenas 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Punta Arenas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 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.