Which place is cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Wellington or Rio de Janeiro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington 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: Wellington or Rio de Janeiro?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Brazil, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Brazil.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWellington $104Rio de Janeiro $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $104, 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 Wellington and Rio de Janeiro in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $61Rio de Janeiro $67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $122Rio de Janeiro $134
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Rio de Janeiro
Looking for a hotel in Wellington 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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Rio de Janeiro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Rio de Janeiro $8.04
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13
- Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
- Private Airport Transfer: $78
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $72
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $75
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $61
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:
- 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 Wellington or Rio de Janeiro?
Prices for flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Wellington 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 dayWellington $30Rio de Janeiro $20
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner$9.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $151
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $185
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.Wellington $16Rio de Janeiro $22
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.61
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa: Gallipoli Early Entry Ticket: $9.02
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Mana Māori Tour: $12
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour: $14
- Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket: $16
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
- Wētā Workshop Experience and Guided Tour: $33
- Wētā Workshop Experience in Wellington: $33
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 dayWellington $12Rio de Janeiro $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour: $93
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $96
- 5 hour Martinborough shared Chefs Wine Tour with Gourmet lunch: $151
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $169
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $361
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 Wellington 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 Wellington is in Pacific 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 Wellington Expensive? and Is Rio de Janeiro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Wellington or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Wellington 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 Wellington or Rio de Janeiro?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Wellington or Rio de Janeiro in the Summer?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Wellington during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Wellington in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Wellington is cooler than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Wellington in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 26°C (79°F).
Rio de Janeiro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Wellington usually gets less rain in January than Rio de Janeiro. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryWellington 18°C (64°F)Rio de Janeiro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Rio de Janeiro in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Rio de Janeiro. Most visitors come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
In April, Wellington is generally much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 15°C (58°F), and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Rio de Janeiro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Wellington usually receives less rain than Rio de Janeiro. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 137 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures AprilWellington 15°C (58°F)Rio de Janeiro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Rio de Janeiro in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Rio de Janeiro. The winter months attract visitors to Wellington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Wellington is much colder than Rio de Janeiro in the winter. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 10°C (49°F) in July, and Rio de Janeiro fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Wellington receives a lot of rain in the winter. Wellington usually gets more rain in July than Rio de Janeiro. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JulyWellington 10°C (49°F)Rio de Janeiro 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Rio de Janeiro in the Spring?
Both Rio de Janeiro and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.
In the spring, Wellington is much colder than Rio de Janeiro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Wellington in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Rio de Janeiro averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In October, Wellington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rio de Janeiro. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Rio de Janeiro receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures OctoberWellington 13°C (55°F)Rio de Janeiro 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Rio de Janeiro and Wellington
| Wellington | Rio de Janeiro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.