Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Salto?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Salto or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salto or Rio de Janeiro, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Salto or Rio de Janeiro?
Salto
Salto is in the citrus growing region of Northern Interior Uruguay, on the east bank of the Rio Uruguay. It is closely connected to the neighboring Argentinian city of Concordia that lies across the river on the western bank. Salto is Uruguay's second-largest city and the most northerly crossing point to Argentina. Salto is a very picturesque city that has a relaxing feel the entire year. However, people mostly come here for the nearby hot springs and the recreation area above the enormous Salto Grande hydroelectric dam.
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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalto $71Rio de Janeiro $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Salto is $71, 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 Salto and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalto $30Rio de Janeiro $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalto $60Rio de Janeiro $132
Compare Hotels in Salto and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Salto 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: Salto Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salto $22Rio de Janeiro $7.97
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:
- 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 Salto or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Salto 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 daySalto $25Rio de Janeiro $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$0.59
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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.Salto $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:
- 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 daySalto $13Rio 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 Salto and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. And not only is Salto much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salto would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salto 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 Salto.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salto Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salto or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Salto. When comparing the sizes of Salto 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 Salto or Rio de Janeiro?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Salto or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Salto are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Salto is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. It's quite rainy in Salto. In January, Salto usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rio de Janeiro. Salto gets 116 mm (4.6 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 JanuarySalto 25°C (77°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Salto or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Salto during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Salto is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Salto in April average around 19°C (65°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Salto. Salto usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Rio de Janeiro. Salto gets 131 mm (5.2 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 AprilSalto 19°C (65°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Salto or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Salto and Rio de Janeiro.
In July, Salto is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Daily temperatures in Salto average around 12°C (54°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In July, Salto usually receives more rain than Rio de Janeiro. Salto gets 68 mm (2.7 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 JulySalto 12°C (54°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Salto or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Salto as well as Rio de Janeiro.
Salto is cooler than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Salto averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Salto receives a lot of rain in the spring. Salto usually gets more rain in October than Rio de Janeiro. Salto gets 117 mm (4.6 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 OctoberSalto 18°C (64°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Salto
| Salto | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (71°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 12°C (54°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (54°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (69°F) | 127 mm (5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (74°F) | 119 mm (4.7 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.