Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Warsaw?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Warsaw 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 Warsaw 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: Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro?
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. It has a population of 1.7 million, making it the country's largest city. Located on the Vistula River, it is a popular tourist destination for its interesting architecture and culture. The right bank of the river was the first area to become populated in the 9th or 10 century. Today, however, the city's central district is on the left bank of the river. The Old Town, where you will find many sights and attractions, is fully contained within the city center.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWarsaw $94Rio de Janeiro $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Warsaw is $94, while the average daily cost in Rio de Janeiro is $106. 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 Warsaw and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWarsaw $52Rio de Janeiro $67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWarsaw $104Rio de Janeiro $134
Compare Hotels in Warsaw and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Warsaw 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: Warsaw Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Warsaw $4.68Rio de Janeiro $8.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Warsaw
Also for Warsaw, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer (Warsaw ⇄ Krakow): $142
- Airport Transfer: Warsaw Airport WAW to Warsaw by Business Car: $66
- Arrival Transfer: Warsaw Airport WAW to Warsaw by Luxury Van: $73
- Axe Throwing with Hotel Transfers: $82
- Chopin Airport One–Way Limousine Transfer: $249
- Departure Transfer: Warsaw to Warsaw Airport WAW by Business Car: $66
- Extreme Shooting Range with Transfers Warsaw: $92
- Indoor Paintball with Hotel Transfers: $55
- Luxury Warsaw Chopin Airport Transfer by private Minivan car: $90
- Modlin-Warsaw WMI Airport Round-Trip Transfer: $197
- ONEWAY Private Warsaw Chopin Airport(WAW) to/from Warsaw Transfer: $24
- Premium Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI) Private Transfer: $87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Taxi Ride$2.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rio de Janeiro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rio de Janeiro:
- Private transfer to Ilha Grande.: $930
- From Private Transfer to São Paulo: $650
- Rio: Sambadrome Carnival Parade + transfer 2025 Sector 7: $471
- 2025: Rio Carnival Parade at Sapucaí with Transfer Sector 7: $471
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer Sector 5: $471
- 2025 Sambadrome Carnival Parade: Transfer Included Sector 5: $471
- Rio's 2025 Carnival Parade at Sapucaí + Transfer Sector 5: $471
- Rio Carnival 2025: Sambadrome Parade + Transfer (Sector 7): $471
- Helicopter Ride for 25 to 30min with Transfer service: $300
- All Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande: $275
- TRANSFER VAN Rio de Janeiro x Búzios/Arraial/Cabo Frio/Angra: $272
- From Private Transfer to Vila do Abraão: $246
Is it cheaper to fly into Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Warsaw 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
-
Food Meals for one dayWarsaw $27Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Warsaw
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Warsaw:
-
Dinner for Two$13
-
Lunch for Two$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Warsaw
For Warsaw, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunch or Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe with Skip-the-Line: $19
- Breakfast Market Food Tour in Warsaw: $56
- Warsaw's No 1 cooking class-Polish dumplings with liqueur tasting: $61
- Polish Dumplings Cooking Class: $62
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class in Warsaw: $79
- Traditional Polish Cooking Class with liquor tasting in Warsaw: $89
- Polish Food Tour: $93
- Taste of Poland - Old Town food tour and guided walk in one: $95
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $110
- The 10 Tastings of Warsaw With Locals: Private Food Tour : $117
- EVERYDAY Warsaw Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
- Traditional Food Tour with Old Town Sightseeing: $156
Typical Food Prices in Rio de Janeiro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rio de Janeiro:
-
Popcorn$0.59
-
Corn on the Cob$0.79
-
Hamburger$0.99
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Warsaw $7.02Rio de Janeiro $22
Tours and Activities in Warsaw
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Warsaw.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $4.31
- Walking Audio Tour of Wilanów Palace Grounds: $5.20
- Uncover Historic Marvels of In-App Audio Tour: $5.32
- Warsaw at War 1939-1945: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Warsaw's Old Town A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Old Town Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Smartphone Escape Game and Tour: $6.46
- Museum POLIN "(post)JEWISH..." - Exhibition Ticket: $7.47
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Ticket: $11
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayWarsaw $10Rio de Janeiro $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Warsaw
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Warsaw:
- The Original Pub Crawl: $16
- #1 Pub Crawl Warsaw with Premium Open Bar: $20
- Pub Crawl with 1-Hour Open Bar: $20
- Warsaw Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $177
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 comparing the travel costs between Warsaw and Rio de Janeiro, we can see that Rio de Janeiro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Warsaw is in Europe and Rio de Janeiro is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Warsaw Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Warsaw. When comparing the sizes of Warsaw 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 Warsaw 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 Warsaw has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Warsaw as well as Rio de Janeiro. The summer months attract visitors to Warsaw because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Warsaw is generally cooler than Rio de Janeiroin January. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around 19°C (65°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite rainy in Rio de Janeiro. Warsaw usually gets less rain in July than Rio de Janeiroin January. Warsaw gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryWarsaw 19°C (65°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Warsaw are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Warsaw this time of year.
Warsaw is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in April.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Rio de Janeiro. In October, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin April. Warsaw gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilWarsaw 9°C (49°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Warsaw during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Warsaw for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Warsaw. In the winter, Warsaw is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Warsaw in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 21°C (70°F)in July.
Warsaw usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiroin July. Warsaw gets 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyWarsaw -3°C (27°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Warsaw and Rio de Janeiro. Many visitors come to Warsaw in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Warsaw is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiroin October. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around 9°C (47°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In April, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiroin October. Warsaw gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberWarsaw 9°C (47°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Warsaw
| Warsaw | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 3°C (37°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (47°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (65°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (49°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (31°F) | 32 mm (1.3 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.