Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, or simply Santa Cruz, is a larger city in the middle of Bolivia. It is also one of the most wealthy cities in the country. The city is also one of the fastest growing in the world. It is famous for its nightlife and it makes an excellent base for exploring many of the tourist attractions in the nearby areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Bolivia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia.
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Rio de Janeiro Prices
Brazil PricesSanta Cruz de la Sierra Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRio de Janeiro $118Santa Cruz de la Sierra $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Rio de Janeiro is $118, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is $39. 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRio de Janeiro $65Santa Cruz de la Sierra $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRio de Janeiro $130Santa Cruz de la Sierra $26
Compare Hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Looking for a hotel in Rio de Janeiro or Santa Cruz de la Sierra? 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rio de Janeiro $7.83Santa Cruz de la Sierra $5.72
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$2.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Airport Transfer: Airport GIG to Rio de Janeiro by Business Car: $108
- Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Business Car: $108
- Airport Transfer: Rio de Janeiro to Airport GIG by Luxury Van: $131
- All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Churrascaria in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $85
- Angra dos Reis Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro: $145
- Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $73
- AquaRio Small Group Guided Tour with entrance and transfer: $90
- Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $145
- Arrival Private Transfer Rio de Janeiro Cruise Port to Zona Sul: $64
- Arrival Private Transfer from Rio GIG or SDU Airport to Paraty: $232
- Arrival Transfer Rio Santos Dumont Airport SDU to Costa do Sol: $157
- Arrival Transfer: Airport GIG to Rio de Janeiro by Business Car: $108
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Taxi Ride$2.50
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Mini Bus$0.33
Is it cheaper to fly into Rio de Janeiro or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 $34Santa Cruz de la Sierra $20
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$0.58
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Corn on the Cob$0.77
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Hamburger$0.96
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.
- Rio de Janeiro Market Food Tour and Local Tasting Experience: $69
- Guided Dinner in Rio at a Restaurant of Your Choice: $70
- Brazilian Breakfast Cooking Class in Rio: Bake and Blend: $75
- Roxy Dinner Show: That Embrace Show: $78
- Rio de Janeiro Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $79
- Rio: Copacabana Food Tour with 7 Tastings and Local Flavors: $81
- Hands-On Cooking Class in Rio: Iconic Street Foods & Caipirinhas: $85
- Rio Roots Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
- Brazilian Churrascaria Guided Dinner in Rio with Wine Pairing: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Cooking Class in Rio with 9 Recipes & Unlimited Caipirinhas: $95
- Roxy Show - Brazilian Rhythms with optional Barbecue Dinner: $100
Typical Food Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra:
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Snacks$1.84
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Chips$0.17
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Banana$0.08
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Cookies$0.75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rio de Janeiro $21Santa Cruz de la Sierra $11
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover A Guided Tour: $3.43
- Rio de Janeiro Urca Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.91
- Ipanema Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.93
- Self Guided Podcast Tour The Soul of Rio: $5.49
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $6.72
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Imperial Rio: $6.72
- Rio de Janeiro Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h00 and 24 reviews: $7.22
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $12
- Self-Guided Tour of Rio's Journey from Colonialism to Democracy: $20
- Authentic Rocinha Favela Walking Experience with a Local Guide: $20
- Skip the Line Maracana Stadium Entrance Ticket: $23
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking tour - A journey through the History of Santa Cruz: $11
- Private Tour of Santa Cruz: We visit the city center, Porongo, markets, and the river: $40
- Lomas de Arena Sandboarding Sightseeing Tour: $42
- Santa Cruz: Wildlife Sanctuary and Preservation Park Tour: $85
- Santa Cruz: Buena Vista Coffee Tour with Biopark Visit: $99
- Amboro Day Tour: Garden of Delights: $129
- Day Tour /El Fuerte & Samaipata: $129
- From Santa Cruz: Jesuit Missions and Hot Springs Tour: $399
- Santa Cruz: 2-day tour of the Che Guevara route in Bolivia: $513
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRio de Janeiro $12Santa Cruz de la Sierra $7.88
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
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $47
- Rio Pub Crawl with Caipirinhas & Bar Bites: $95
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $123
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $174
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Cruz de la Sierra from other travelers:
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Beer$0.92
Sample the Local Flavors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Also in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bolivia: Bolivian Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Board: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rio de Janeiro and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de la Sierra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz de la Sierra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
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 Santa Cruz de la Sierra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rio de Janeiro or Santa Cruz de la Sierra?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. When comparing the sizes of Rio de Janeiro and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 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.
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.