Rio de Janeiro is in one of the most stunning settings on earth, but sadly crime continues to be a major problem in the tourist districts. And as the local currency has strengthened quite a bit in the past years, Rio de Janeiro is now quite expensive as well. Hotels can be reasonably priced, especially in the 1 and 2-star range, but generally that means you won’t be too close to the beach.
The attractions are also very expensive by most standards, though admittedly the Corcovado statue and the Sugarloaf tram are still well worth it for the amazing views alone. Sitting on the beach is popular, and free of course, so you can have a good time on a budget if you need to.
| Population | 6,100,000 |
| Area | 14,400,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-3 |
| Currency | Brazilian real |
Food and drinks aren’t great bargains by South American standards either. Simple meals that the locals eat are easy to find and are reasonably priced, but the nicer tourist restaurants feel expensive. A cheap and cold can of beer on the beach is still quite cheap at least.
| Budget breakfast | As long as you leave your hotel you'll find little places all over where locals eat cheap meals all day. | $3.04 - $4.46 |
| Budget lunch | If you stick with the local specialties you can keep your food costs way down. Tourist restaurants and hotels will be much more. | $4.06 - $6.69 |
| Budget dinner | Assuming you want a sit-down meal at a restaurant, prices will vary wildly, but follow locals for authentic and cheap. | $6.49 - $10.14 |
| Beer (.33l can) | In casual bars and all along the beach you can buy cold cans of local lager. Night clubs will charge more. | $1.62 - $2.43 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 90 | 73 | 5.1 |
| February | 91 | 73 | 4.7 |
| March | 90 | 73 | 5.1 |
| April | 86 | 70 | 3.9 |
| May | 82 | 66 | 2.8 |
| June | 81 | 64 | 2.0 |
| July | 81 | 63 | 1.6 |
| August | 81 | 64 | 1.6 |
| September | 81 | 64 | 2.4 |
| October | 82 | 68 | 3.1 |
| November | 86 | 70 | 3.5 |
| December | 88 | 72 | 5.1 |
Rio de Janeiro is located just on the edge of the tropics, so it’s no surprise that it’s warm or hot every day of the year. It’s hottest and most humid during January and February, so if you are coming during this period then staying at a hotel very near the beach can really help since the breezes do help to moderate things, while the city center can be a steamy mess.
Rain storms during the summer are also common, which is less true during the winter months from May through September – the so-called dry season. It’s “beach weather” nearly every day of the year, so if you want to avoid the rain and sweltering humidity (plus the huge crowds) then visiting sometime other than December through February is wise.
| 21 Mar | 5:57am | 6:03pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:33am | 5:17pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:44am | 5:49pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:05am | 7:37pm |
Hotels in Rio de Janeiro are at their absolute peak in price and occupancy during the week of Carnival, which happens 7 weeks before Easter, and takes place in either February or March. In 2011 it’s March 4th until March 8th and in 2012 it’s February 17th until February 21st. Hotel prices during this period at least double and in some places triple or quadruple from their normal “high season” rates. If you are coming during Carnival, book as long in advance as you can, as every room in town will eventually fill up.
The general high season lasts from December through March, usually ending after Carnival itself. If you are coming anytime between April and November then you should be able to get a room when you arrive, and you’ll probably will get a pretty good deal too. Still, the better places do get booked up in advance so if you want to stay near one of the popular beaches it’s a good idea to book ahead regardless of the season.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 17.00 - 40.00 |
| 60.00 - 140.00 |
| 71.00 - 166.00 |
| 98.00 - 207.00 |
| 301.00 - 441.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 10.00 - 28.00 |