Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos?
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 Quepos 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105Quepos $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $117. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66Quepos $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132Quepos $154
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97Quepos $9.56
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 Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $20Quepos $30
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
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Quepos $17
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
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
- Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
- Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
- Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
- Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Quepos $15
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 comparing the travel costs between Rio de Janeiro and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Rio de Janeiro is in South America and Quepos is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Quepos?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 770 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Quepos. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.
It's quite rainy in Quepos. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in January than Queposin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Quepos in the Autumn?
Both Quepos and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in April average around 25°C (77°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. In April, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than Queposin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos and Rio de Janeiro during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
In July, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than Queposin January. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 21°C (70°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in July than Queposin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Quepos in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Quepos. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.
In October, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Queposin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.