Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro?
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.
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 Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Rio de Janeiro $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $105. 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 Saint Petersburg and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Rio de Janeiro $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Rio de Janeiro $132
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg 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: Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Rio de Janeiro $7.97
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
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Metro Passes$1.34
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:
- Visit to Madureira Park in Rio de Janeiro with Transfer: $66
- Two Brothers Trail- one of the best views of Rio (transfer is included): $55
- 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
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Rio de Janeiro HTL-APT (SDU): $25
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $39
- Transfer service from / to Rio de Janeiro / Paraty: $97
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $25
- Transfer service from / to Porto Maravilha - Zona Sul: $18
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $21
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $76
- Transfer in Rio: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Saint Petersburg 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 daySaint Petersburg $18Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.61
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: $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.Saint Petersburg $18Rio de Janeiro $22
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Favelas do Vidigal or Rocinha's experience: $49
- 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: $98
- 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 Days in Rio: Tijuca Forest & Two Brothers Hiking Tours: $273
- 2 Hours Paradisiac Sailboat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $275
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Rio de Janeiro $12
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 Saint Petersburg and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Petersburg Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 49% larger than the population of Saint Petersburg. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Saint Petersburg during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Rio de Janeiro.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin April. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Rio de Janeiro.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in July.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.