Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Valletta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Valletta 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 Valletta 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: Valletta or Rio de Janeiro?
Valletta
A harbor city and the capital city of the island of Malta, Valletta dates back to the 16th-century with a preserved architectural heritage that earned the city a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is best known for its museums, palaces, and churches.
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 Historical Tours in Malta, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Malta, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayValletta €116Rio de Janeiro €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Valletta is €116, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is €98. 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 Valletta and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personValletta €65Rio de Janeiro €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomValletta €130Rio de Janeiro €124
Compare Hotels in Valletta and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Valletta 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: Valletta Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Valletta €24Rio de Janeiro €7.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valletta
Also for Valletta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Malta Airport Private Transfers: $66
- Afternoon Harbours Cruise with Guide and Roundtrip Transfers: $39
- Airport Transfers (Private Group up to 15 people): $103
- Airport transfers to all locations in Malta (Private Groups or Families): $81
- Arrival Transfer: Malta Airport MLA to Malta Island by Van: $49
- Departure Transfer: Malta Island to Malta Airport MLA by Van: $47
- From Malta: Gozo Jeep Tour with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $88
- From Private Malta Highlights Tour with Transfer: $151
- Malta Airport (MLA) Departure Transfer (Saint Julian's Hotels to Malta Airport): $49
- Malta Airport Transfers : $38
- Malta Intl Airport (MLA) to Valletta Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $28
- Malta Private Airport Transfer - Arrival: $44
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€2.73
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): $56
- 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
- Transfers Rio (Copacabana / Buzios / Angra / Paraty and Arraial): $154
- Transfer to GIG or SDU International Airport in Rio de Janeiro: $39
- Transfer service from / to Rio - Barra da Tijuca Airports: $26
- Transfer service from / to International Airport (GIG) - Zona Sul: $21
- Transfer service from / to Buzios / Arraial do Cabo / Cabo Frio: $77
- Transfer in Rio: $35
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Rio de Janeiro City center - Airport (SDU): $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Valletta or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Valletta 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 dayValletta €32Rio de Janeiro €19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valletta
For Valletta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Valletta Food Tour - Eat like a local: $46
- Valletta Food Tour: $49
- Folklore Evening Dinner Show at a Traditional Maltese Restaurant Incl. Transfers: $67
- Maltese Traditional Dinner and Folklore Show with Transfers: $71
- Fireworks Festival Cruise Including Dinner, Drinks and Transport: $77
- The Ultimate Valletta Evening Food Tour: $81
- Fernandes Sunset Cruise including Dinner with Open Bar: $81
- Christmas Tour in Gozo (afternoon) inc. Dinner: $87
- Blue Lagoon & Sunset Quad Tour in Gozo/Dinner: $101
- From Blue Lagoon and Gozo Tour w/Quads and Dinner: $118
- The Valletta Food Tour Experience, a private tour: $150
- Private Valletta Food Tour: $175
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€0.91
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: $46
- Barra da Tijuca Food Tour with Drinks: $73
- THE BEST FOOD TOUR: $80
- Dinner & Rio Scenarium Nightclub Admission with Transfer: $85
- 9-Recipe Boozy Brazilian Cooking Class: $85
- Brazilian Meats and Snacks + South American Wines Guided Dinner: $89
- Food Tour Rio de Janeiro - The Best Typical Brazilian Dishes: $92
- Rio Scenarium Entrance, Dinner, and Open Bar: $106
- Rio Bar Food Tour with a Local: $113
- Rio Scenarium: Fast Track Entrance, Dinner & Open Bar: $115
- Brazilian Cooking Class: $129
- Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Valletta €27Rio de Janeiro €20
Tours and Activities in Valletta
For Valletta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- Reliving The Sacra Infermeria Augmented Reality Tour: $6.55
- 30-Minute Mdina Experience Audio-Visual Show Ticket (Open Ticket): $6.55
- Valletta Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $7.10
- The Knights of Malta Museum Entry Ticket: $7.10
- City Nobles App Tour + Malta5D Entry (optional): $7.53
- Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour (Audio Guide): $7.53
- City Nobles App Tour + Optional Malta 5D Show Ticket: $7.64
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $8.07
- Self-Guided Audio Tour, Map and Directions: $8.61
- Entry Ticket for The Limestone Heritage Park and Gardens : $9.85
Tours and Activities in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a few actual costs in Rio de Janeiro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ilha Grande Tour Full day - Rio de Janeiro by Rio Eco Trip: $105
- 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: $276
- 2 hours Hang Gliding Paragliding Full Package experience in Rio : $177
- 21 - Guided Tour to the Imperial City of Petrópolis with Lunch: $80
- 25 - Full Day Tour to Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande: $80
- 27 -Guided Tour to Christ the Redeemer and City in Rio de Janeiro: $75
- 3 Hour Boat Tour in Rio de Janeiro: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayValletta €16Rio de Janeiro €11
Sample the Local Flavors in Valletta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Valletta:
- Valletta Pub Crawl: $22
- Malta Pub Crawl: $22
- The Brewery Experience Self-Guided Tour with Tasting & Transport: $35
- The Brewery Experience & beer tasting including transport: $35
- Malta: The Three Cities and Wine Tasting Tour: $44
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: $33
- Pub Crawl in Lapa: $34
- Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district): $35
- Petropolis City Tour with Imperial Museum and Optional Lunch & Bohemia Brewery: $40
- Petropolis Bohemia: Historic tour and visit to the Bohemian Brewery: $60
- Walking tour + Pub crawl + Samba in Lapa: $65
- Petropolis City Tour + Bohemia Brewery + Lunch: $77
- Petrópolis City and Brewery Bohemia Tour - Best of Rio's Mountains: $110
- Brazilian Wine Tasting Evening: $110
- Rio: Sitio Burle Marx and Cachaça Distillery Private Tour: $132
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valletta and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Valletta is more expensive. And not only is Rio de Janeiro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Valletta 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 Valletta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valletta 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 Valletta Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Valletta or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 890 times larger than the population of Valletta. When comparing the sizes of Valletta 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 Valletta or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Valletta experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Valletta or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Valletta during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Valletta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Valletta is around the same temperature as Rio de Janeiro in the summer. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 26°C (79°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Valletta usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Valletta gets 10 mm (0.4 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 JanuaryValletta 26°C (79°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Valletta or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Valletta and Rio de Janeiro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Valletta year-round.
In the autumn, Valletta is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Valletta in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 25°C (77°F)in April.
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Valletta usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Valletta gets 80 mm (3.1 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 AprilValletta 21°C (70°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Valletta or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Valletta as well as Rio de Janeiro. Valletta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Valletta is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin July. Daily temperatures in Valletta average around 13°C (55°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Valletta usually gets more rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Valletta gets 90 mm (3.5 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 JulyValletta 13°C (55°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Valletta or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Valletta are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Valletta throughout the year.
Valletta is cooler than Rio de Janeiro in the spring. The daily temperature in Valletta averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Valletta usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Valletta gets 30 mm (1.2 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 OctoberValletta 16°C (61°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Valletta
| Valletta | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 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.