Here’s the total breakdown of what I spent for a 9-day trip to Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval as a budget traveler.
I went on this trip with my best friend, and since it was Carnival and a once in a lifetime trip, I definitely spent more than I normally would. That said, I still tried to keep costs low while making sure we had an unforgettable experience. After all, money returns; time and experiences don’t.
If you’re wondering, “Is Rio expensive?” or “How much should I budget for Carnival?” — here’s exactly what I spent.
Flights
I flew from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic to São Paulo, Brazil for $280 USD round trip.
Flights into São Paulo were significantly cheaper than flying directly into Rio de Janeiro, which is why we chose that route. From there, we took a long-distance bus to Rio.
If you’re flexible, flying into a nearby major city can save you hundreds. And if you want even more tips and tricks on how to book cheap flights, check out my more in-depth blog post to make sure you’re getting the best deals!
Total Flights – $280 USD
Hotel
Sao Paulo- 2 nights
For our first two nights in São Paulo, we booked a two-person room on Booking.com. It cost $25 USD total per person — just $13 USD per night. It included a 1 full bed, a mini fridge, a flat screen TV, and a microwave, but no extra amenities like a kitchen or common area.
It was perfect for a short stay!
Rio- 6 nights
I booked our Rio hotel about three months in advance. Even then, most hotels in the area were already sold out because of Carnival.
We stayed at Copacabana Mar Hotel and paid $1,320 total for six nights, which came out to $660 per person.
While it was more expensive than we would’ve liked for our budget, it was the cheapest option in Copacabana at the time of booking. Even the hostels were more expensive! The price of the hotel ended up being absolutely worth it. The hotel included:
- Two full beds
- Daily cleaning service
- Breakfast included
- Rooftop pool
- Sauna
- Gym (which I never found, but honestly… walking in Rio was more than enough exercise)
Booking earlier would have saved money, but for Carnival week, prices rose fast.
We also saved money by taking an overnight bus one night, which eliminated the need for one additional hotel stay.
Total Accommodations- $685 USD
Transportation
Intercity bus
We took two long-haul buses between São Paulo and Rio. Each ticket cost $26 and we booked through Omio. The ride was about 7 hours with one food stop.
I will say the bus food stop was pretty confusing for a first-timer. It wasn’t a quick grab-and-go spot like we expected — it was actually a sit-down buffet-style restaurant with a small grocery area for snacks. We had no idea how long the stop was or how much time we had to eat, and we were nervous about missing the bus. The payment process was also very unclear at first. Luckily, we figured it out, with help from locals.
The buses were surprisingly very comfortable:
- Reclining seats up to 145°
- Footrests
- Power outlets
- WiFi
We did the half-sleeper both ways. It was absolutely perfect for Sao Paulo to Rio during the day as you could see the beautiful mountain views but also take naps during the long trip. However, in retrospect, I probably would’ve booked the full sleeper for the way back when we did the overnight bus. I think the full 160* recline is worth the few bucks more — especially if you’re trying to sleep the whole ride.
Intracity Busses- Metro & Bus
To save money on Ubers, we decided to buy a metro card. The metro was $7.90 Reals ($1.50 USD) and ran 24/7 during Carnival week. We mostly used the metro to go back and forth between Copacabana to Ipanema. While it is technically walkable (and we did once), it’s at least 30 minutes depending which part of the city you’re coming and going to. I would say I spent about $50 reals ($10 USD) in total.
We also used the bus. It was $5 reals ($1 USD) each way and they accepted cash. While slower, it had beautiful views, felt more immersive, and overall was a more enjoyable ride to me. I would say I spent about $25 ($5 USD) reals on the bus.
Uber
While my least preferred method of transport as budget traveler, I did use it as soon as I got into Rio because it was late and I wasn’t sure about using the metro for the first time at night. And also, when we were totally exhausted from walking. I’d say we spent about $50 on ubers, or $25 a person split between two.
Total Transport- $65 USD
Food & Drinks
It’s hard to say how much I spent on food. Food in Rio was honestly more expensive than I was expecting. Not because it was unreasonably priced, but because I’m used to the affordability of the Dominican Republic. Since breakfast was included at my hotel, we only bought 1 or 2 meals a day plus snacks. Drinks were reasonably priced. I didn’t drink much throughout the week so probably spent around $20 USD total on alcohol for the week. In total, I spent about $200 USD.
Here are some example prices of food and drink items:
- 16 oz water — $5 Reals ($1 USD)
- Juice/ Smoothie — $20 Reals ($4 USD)
- Caipirinha on the Beach — $20 Reals ($4 USD)
- Pao de Queijo — $10 – $15 Reals ($2 – $2.50 USD)
- Tapioca — $15 Reals ($3 USD)
- 1 meal at fast-dining restaurant — $40-50 Reals ($8- $10 USD)
Total Food- $200 USD
Clothing
Brazil is specific known for having the cutest, most stylish, affordable clothing — and I definitely took full advantage.
I spent about $800 Reals or $150 USD on:
- 4 bikinis — $60- $80 Reals each
- 2 dresses — $100 & $140 Reals
- 2 necklaces — $20 & $40 Reals
- A Brazil tank and shorts set — $100 Reals
- 1 pair of shorts — $40 Reals
- 1 pair of sunglasses — $50 Reals
I bought everything at the markets or the beach so the prices were really reasonable! I honestly would go back to the country just for the shopping!
If you’re going for carnival, you’ll want to buy some party pieces.
For Carnival specifically, I spent about $50 USD on:
- Basic costume two-piece set — $40 Reals
- Glitter Skirt — $50 Reals
- Glitter Top — $50 Reals
- Wings — $100 Reals
- Glitter — $25 Reals
I did probably overspend as it was my first carnival but that’s okay. I ended up leaving those carnival items in Rio to be reused or donated.
Total Clothing $150 USD (+$50 USD for carnival)
Miscellaneous
Other expenses included:
- Carnaval ticket: $30
- Christ the Redeemer ticket: $27
- Rio tattoo: $80
- 3GB eSIM for 15 days: $10
Total Miscellaneous – $150 USD
Grand Total: $1575 USD
All in, I spent about $1,575 USD for 9 days in Brazil (3 days in Sao Paulo + 6 days in Rio) during Carnival. That averages to about $175 USD per day (excluding flights).
Considering that our Rio hotel alone was over $100 per night, I’m honestly happy with how much I spent. I wasn’t hardcore budgeting, nor unnecessarily splurging — I just tried to be intentional.
For Carnival week in one of the most iconic cities in the world, I think that’s a fair price.
Ways I Could’ve Saved money
While I enjoyed every second of being in Rio, I definitely went over the number in my head of how much I wanted to spend. Here are some things I would’ve done differently and will do on my future trips.
- Create an educated budget: This seems obvious, but when you’re on vacation it can feel like you’re in another world. You end up buying things you wouldn’t normally buy at home because you’re in a happy, “you only live once” mindset. It’s important to research prices beforehand (which is why I wrote this post). Once you have a realistic idea of costs, decide if it fits within what you’re willing to spend. If not, you may need to shorten your trip. Break your budget into categories so you know exactly how much you can spend in each area.
- Stay within your budget: Creating a budget is the easy part, while sticking to it is much harder. If I could go back, I would’ve taken out cash or used a card with a set limit to create a physical cap on my spending. I also would’ve written down what I spent each day, especially on things like clothes, and tracked my total daily to keep myself accountable.
- Cook some of my own meals: I thought I wasn’t able to do this one because I didn’t have a kitchen. However, I still could’ve saved money by grabbing simple groceries. I could’ve bought microwave noodles, or made a simple sandwich out of bread, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. There were definitely options if I had been more intentional and creative.
- Book in advance: This is especially important during Carnival. When I booked in November for a February trip, most affordable options were already gone. I ended up having to choose a more expensive hotel than I had planned. I originally wanted to stay in a hostel to save money and meet people, but even those were surprisingly expensive by the time I looked.
- Consider visiting outside of Carnival season: If your goal is to save money, visiting outside of Carnival would make a big difference. Accommodation prices would be significantly lower, and likely food and transportation as well. That said, Carnival was an incredible experience and I’m very glad I went at least once during peak season. Next time, I’d probably return outside of Carnival to compare.
Is Rio Expensive Compared to Other Places?
Brazil has one of the largest economies in the world, and after São Paulo, Rio is one of the biggest cities in the Americas. At the time of my trip, $1 USD was about 5 reals.
While I found Rio to be slightly cheaper than São Paulo, it was still more expensive than I expected. A 16 oz bottle of water cost around $5, and a meal at a local restaurant ranged from 40–60 reals.
The only other countries I’ve traveled to are the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Compared to the Dominican Republic, where I currently live, Rio is significantly more expensive. It’s also moderately more expensive than Mexico.
Coming from a very inexpensive country, the price difference was a bit of a shock. However, Rio is still cheaper than the United States overall. I’d assume Carnaval also drives the prices up, so visiting outside of peak season would likely lower overall costs.
Final Thoughts
Spending around $1,500 for 9 days in Brazil during Carnival wasn’t cheap, but for me, it was worth it. Could I have done it for less? Definitely. Booking earlier, cooking a few meals, and shopping a little less would’ve made a huge difference.
But at the end of the day, Carnival is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and I’m glad I got to see Rio at its most alive. The energy, the music, the beach days, and the atmosphere with my best friend made the experience unforgettable!
When I go back — and I definitely will 🤞🏾— I’d love to experience Rio outside of Carnival, as well as visit other cities.
— Keep wandering ✨
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio expensive during Carnival?
Yes. Carnival significantly increases hotel prices. Booking at least 4 months in advance can help mitigate that. However, the food and clothing prices were still affordable.
How much should I budget for one week in Rio?
It really depends on if the time of year, if it’s Carnaval, and if it’s summer or winter. During Carnaval a budget traveler can expect to spend $100 – $140 per day, depending on accommodation, food choices, and activities.
Is Rio more expensive than São Paulo?
In my experience, Rio was cheaper than São Paulo for daily expenses, but Carnival pricing made accommodation much more expensive in Rio.
How much are Carnival tickets?
Sambadrome tickets can range from $30 to several hundred dollars depending on seating. Street blocos are free 🙂
Is Rio cheaper than the United States?
Yes. While more expensive than other Latin American cities, Rio is still generally cheaper than most cities in the U.S.
Wandering Morena 
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