Which place is cheaper, Brasilia or Tokyo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tokyo or Brasilia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or Brasilia? 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: Tokyo or Brasilia?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
Brasilia
The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $157Brasilia $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $157, while the average daily cost in Brasilia is $83. 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 Tokyo and Brasilia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $77Brasilia $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $154Brasilia $70
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and Brasilia
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo or Brasilia? 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices and Brasilia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $17Brasilia $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tokyo to Narita Airport: $221
- Airport transfer between Haneda and Tokyo or Disney or Yokohama: $122
- Arrival Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan: $280
- Departure Private Transfer Tokyo to Haneda Airport (HND): $187
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $278
- Departure Transfer from Tokyo City to Haneda Airport HND by van: $75
- From Haneda Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Tokyo City: $92
- From Tokyo:Private tour to Kamakura with Round-way transfer: $599
- Fuji-Q Highland 1-Day Pass with Private Transfer: $239
- Hakuba: Private transfer from/to Tokyo/HND by minibus max 9: $843
- Haneda Airport (HND) Private Transfer to Central Tokyo: $110
- Haneda Airport (HND) to/from Tokyo 23 Ward Private Transfer: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Brasilia?
Prices for flights to both Brasilia and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $37Brasilia $32
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$5.23
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.23
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Meal at Airport$6.81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Takoyaki cooking experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $23
- Easy Ramen Cooking Experience in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: $26
- 2 Hours Japanese Style Pub and Food Tour in Ueno: $32
- Private Sushi Roll Cooking Class in Japan: $39
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $40
- Sushi Making Experience in Tsukiji 90-Minute cooking class: $54
- Tokyo Best Cooking Class！ Sushi making class in Tsukiji: $55
- Japanese Traditional Cooking Class: $58
- Wagyu and 7 Japanese Dishes Cooking Class: $61
- 【Contemporary Culture】Food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $65
- Japanese Home Cooking Class near Tokyo Disneyland: $66
- 【Contemporary Culture】food tour I Always Visit in Shibuya: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $69Brasilia $20
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Japan: Zen and Tea Ceremony Audio Guided Tour: $3.27
- Asakusa Walking Tour with an Experienced Japanese Comedian: $3.34
- Ancient Orient Museum Admission Ticket: $3.92
- Samurai and Bushido Audio Guided Tour: $4.71
- 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour Subway Ticket: $5.23
- Ueno: Self-Guided Tour of Ameyoko and Hidden Gems: $6.54
- Harajuku: Audio Guide Tour of Takeshita Street: $6.54
- Akihabara (Tokyo): English Audio Guide Tour: $6.54
- Audio Guide Tour: Deeper Experience of Shinjuku Sightseeing: $6.54
- Asakusa（Tokyo）: Smartphone Audio Guide Tour: $6.54
- Shibuya Sightseeing with an Audio Guide: $6.54
- Local Food and Bar Tour in Ginza: $6.54
Tours and Activities in Brasilia
Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Brasilia Tour: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $33Brasilia $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.92
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: $25
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Weekly Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $52
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $80
- Toshimaya Sake Brewery Tour with Sake Tasting: $92
- barhopping tour&bar crawl in Retro Town Shimokitazawa: $98
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo : $104
- Tokyo | 3 Hours Brewery Tour with Sake Sommelier: $105
- Sake Brewery and Spiritual Nature Tour in Okutama Tokyo: $137
- Private Local Craft Brewery Tour in Tokyo: $150
- Wooden Barrel Sake Brewery Tour and Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $167
- Private Walking Tour with Sake Brewery Visit in Chichibu: $190
- Private tour: Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and riverside walk.: $233
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Brasilia, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is Brasilia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia and Brasilia 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 Brasilia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Brasilia 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo than you might in Brasilia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tokyo Expensive? and Is Brasilia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Brasilia?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Brasilia. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo and Brasilia, 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.