Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix 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.
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Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix?
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 Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix?
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.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.
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Rio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $122Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $122, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $67Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $134Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $8.10Saint Croix $35
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$2.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Private Transfer to Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG): $18
- Private One Way Transfer to or from Rio: $19
- Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU): $20
- Private Transfer to Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU): $20
- Transfer from Santos Dumont Airport to Zona Sul Rio: $26
- Private Transfer Economic GIG / SDU up to 4 pax to South Zone: $26
- One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $27
- Transfer: Galeão Airport(GIG) to Rio de Janeiro City: $29
- Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Galeao International Airport: $31
- Round Trip Tom Jobim Airport Private Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $33
- Private One Way Airport Transfer Rio to Galeao Airport: $36
- Private One-way Airport Transfer From Galeao Airport To Rio: $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $165
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port: $86
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix: $177
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $86
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $173
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port: $173
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $83
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $90
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix 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 $35Saint Croix $97
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$0.60
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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.
- 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 Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22Saint Croix $58
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
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- St. Croix’s Forts, Freedom, and Beaches: A Self-Drive Audio Tour: $25
- Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- Sea Turtle Snorkel Tour: $59
- Island Chocolate Experience with Tasting: $62
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $84
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $125
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Saint Croix $27
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix
Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35
- Frederiksted Historical Tour with Rum Distillery: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint Croix experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and Saint Croix. Many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Rio de Janeiro is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croixin July. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Saint Croixin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as Saint Croix. Many visitors come to Rio de Janeiro in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Saint Croix. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Rio de Janeiro usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Saint Croixin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, May to November in Rio de Janeiro is the dry season. December to April in Rio de Janeiro is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix in the Winter?
Both Saint Croix and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Rio de Janeiro for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Rio de Janeiro is cooler than Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
In July, Rio de Janeiro usually receives more rain than Saint Croixin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or Saint Croix in the Spring?
Both Saint Croix and Rio de Janeiro during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Rio de Janeiro because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
In October, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than Saint Croixin April. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 23°C (73°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in October than Saint Croixin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to November is the dry season in Rio de Janeiro. December to April is the rainy season in Rio de Janeiro.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.