Which place is cheaper, San Pedro or Rio de Janeiro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro?
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 San Pedro 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 San Pedro?
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.
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
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 Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $105San Pedro $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $105, while the average daily cost in San Pedro is $135. 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 San Pedro in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $66San Pedro $66
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $132San Pedro $132
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and San Pedro
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.97San Pedro $34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Taxi Ride$2.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (GIG): $13
- Rio Santos Dumont (SDU): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
- Rio Galeão Airport (GIG): Shuttle Transfer to/from Hotels: $15
- Private transfer Economico GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Zona Sul: $18
- Shared Transfer From or To Airport: $19
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro Airport (SDU) - Rio City Center: $19
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Rio de Janeiro City Center -Airport (SDU): $19
- Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $19
- One Way Shared Transfer from Airport to hotels in Rio de Janeiro: $20
- Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $21
- Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) to Rio: $21
- Private Transfer: Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to Rio de Janeiro: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure (Boat Transfer): $205
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro 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
-
Food Meals for one dayRio de Janeiro $20San Pedro $40
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Popcorn$0.59
-
Corn on the Cob$0.78
-
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Pedro.
- Belizean Sunset and Cultural Dinner Cruise: $120
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $22San Pedro $33
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Santa Teresa: the staircase: $6.99
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $7.83
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.83
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $9.97
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Sunset Tiki Bar Cruise in Caye Caulker, Belize: $45
- Shark & Ray Afternoon Swim Tiki Bar Cruise: $45
- 3 Hours Barrier Reef Tour in Caye Caulker, Belize: $54
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $75
- SAN PEDRO; Belizean Food Experience: $86
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $89
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $93
- Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkeling and Marine Life Tour: $95
- Hol Chan, Shark Ray Full-Day Snorkeling Tour From San Pedro Belize: $110
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour : $120
- Mexico Rocks Day Sail Shared Guided Tour: $129
- Exclusive All-in-1 Full Day Shared Guided Tour: $139
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12San Pedro $16
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 San Pedro, we can see that San Pedro 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 San Pedro 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 San Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro 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 San Pedro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 720 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and San Pedro, 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 San Pedro?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Pedro experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rio de Janeiro and San Pedro. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Rio de Janeiro is generally around the same temperature as San Pedroin July. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 26°C (79°F), and San Pedro fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the summer. Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than San Pedroin July. Rio de Janeiro gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyRio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)San Pedro 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rio de Janeiro as well as San Pedro. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year.
Rio de Janeiro is around the same temperature as San Pedro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rio de Janeiro averages around 25°C (77°F) in April, and San Pedro fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in San Pedro. Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Rio de Janeiro usually gets less rain in April than San Pedroin October. Rio de Janeiro gets 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberRio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)San Pedro 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro in the Winter?
Both San Pedro and Rio de Janeiro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Rio de Janeiro is cooler than San Pedro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rio de Janeiro in July average around 21°C (70°F), and San Pedro averages at about 24°C (74°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. In July, Rio de Janeiro usually receives less rain than San Pedroin January. Rio de Janeiro gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)San Pedro 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Rio de Janeiro or San Pedro in the Spring?
Both San Pedro and Rio de Janeiro during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round.
In October, Rio de Janeiro is generally cooler than San Pedroin April. Daily temperatures in Rio de Janeiro average around 23°C (73°F), and San Pedro fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
Rio de Janeiro usually gets more rain in October than San Pedroin April. Rio de Janeiro gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilRio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)San Pedro 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for San Pedro and Rio de Janeiro
| Rio de Janeiro | San Pedro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.