Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Rome?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rome or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rome and Rio de Janeiro 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: Rome or Rio de Janeiro?
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome €170Rio de Janeiro €99
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €170, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is €99. 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 Rome and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €89Rio de Janeiro €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €178Rio de Janeiro €124
Compare Hotels in Rome and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Rome or Rio de Janeiro? 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Rio de Janeiro €7.48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Civitavecchia Cruise Port: $207
- Rome Private Transfer To Civitavecchia Sea port: $96
- Transfer from Civitavecchia port to Fco Rome airport or Rome : $249
- Transfer from and to Airport - from and to Port - from and to hotel: $163
- Airport to Rome Private Transfer: $229
- Airport transfer: $120
- All Italy: Private Premium Transfers in Rome: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer: Ciampino Airport CIA to Rome City in Luxury Van: $102
- Arrival Private Transfer: Fiumicino Airport FCO to Rome in Business Car: $114
- Catacombs Guided Tour and Capuchin Crypt with Dedicated Transfer: $86
- Catacombs guided tour and Capuchin Crypt with Transfer: $84
- Catacombs in Rome Tour with Private Transfer : $218
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€2.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $467
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $467
- A transfer with safety and comfort in Rio: $45
- Airport Private Transfer - Premium Service: $65
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- Angra dos Reis Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro : $107
- Angra dos Reis Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $53
- Arraial do Cabo Private Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $123
- Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer From Rio de Janeiro: $54
- Arrival Private Transfer GIG or SDU Airport to Rio City by Minivan: $91
- Arrival Private Transfer from Rio Airports to Buzios by Minivan: $205
- Arrival Private Transfer from Rio Airports to Buzios by Sedan Car: $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Rome 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 dayRome €47Rio de Janeiro €19
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $15
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $16
- Rome Food Tour with Wine Tasting and Farmers Market in Prati Area: $32
- Food Tour of the Vatican with Farmers Market and Wine Tasting: $32
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Guided Food Tour with Food and Drink Tastings: $32
- Cooking Class with Wine - Become a Roman Master Chef: $36
- Painting & Pizza Party with Unlimited Wine: $40
- Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $41
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Leonardo Da Vini, Wine and Pizza Painting Class: $42
- Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $42
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€0.55
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Corn on the Cob€0.73
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Hamburger€0.92
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rome €36Rio de Janeiro €20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome: $2.61
- Bergamo Old Town: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Cambridge: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- From 1-Way Bus Ticket to Naples or Vice Versa: $5.30
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.32
- Bergamo Old Town: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.33
- Vatican Night Tour - Rome: $5.43
- Rome Walking Tour Including the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain: $5.43
- Civitavecchia's Stories and Secrets: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $5.54
- An insider's look at A Self-Guided Audio Tour : $5.61
- PANTHEON Rome Audio Tour Experience: $5.99
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 (Ipanema & Copacabana) Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $7.68
- Salvador Sights Self Guided Tour (Pelourinho): $7.87
- Rio de Janeiro(Ipanema-Copacabana)Scavenger Hunt Self-Guided Tour: $7.87
- Rio de Janeiro (Urca) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.87
- Rio de Janeiro Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hiking Experience to Pedra do Telégrafo: $9.81
- A Self-Guided Black History Audio Tour of Rio de Janeiro’s Little Africa: $9.99
- Favela tour in copacabana with local guide!: $10
- Ticket to the match at maracanã of Flamengo: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Story of Bossanova: Rhythm and soul of Rio: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRome €18Rio de Janeiro €11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Trionfale and Prati Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $31
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $37
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $52
- Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $52
- Tipsy Tour: Fun Bar Crawl In Rome With Local Guide : $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $53
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $53
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $54
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $67
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $68
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome is in Europe and Rio de Janeiro is in South 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Rome and Rio de Janeiro, 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 Rome or Rio de Janeiro?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Rio de Janeiro is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Rome has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Rome or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Rome is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In July, Rome usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin January. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryRome 25°C (77°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Rome or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Rome during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
In the autumn, Rome is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rome in October average around 17°C (63°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Rome usually gets less rain in October than Rio de Janeiroin April. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilRome 17°C (63°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Rome or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and Rio de Janeiro. Many travelers come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Rome is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin July. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 8°C (47°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In January, Rome usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiroin July. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyRome 8°C (47°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Rome or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Rome as well as Rio de Janeiro. Many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Rome is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 14°C (57°F) in April, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
Rome usually gets less rain in April than Rio de Janeiroin October. Rome gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberRome 14°C (57°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Rome
| Rome | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 169 mm (6.7 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.