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Explore Brazil

Cost To Visit Brazil: Travel Budget Guide (2026)

Brazil can be very affordable day-to-day, but big cities, domestic flights, and major events can raise your budget fast. This travel cost guide breaks down hotels, food, transportation, attractions, and more.

Cost To Visit Brazil: Travel Budget Guide (2026)
Iguazú Falls National Park

Planning a trip to Brazil and wondering what it will cost? You're in this right place! This guide dives deep into the travel budget needed when visiting Brazil.

Brazil uses the Brazilian real (BRL). Prices have been converted from BRL and are only shown in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.

Is Brazil Cheap To Visit?

For many U.S. travelers, yes—Brazil can be cheap to visit, especially if you:

  • Eat like a local (buffets, bakeries, casual restaurants)
  • Use metro/bus + rideshare strategically
  • Choose mid-range hotels outside the most premium beach blocks

Brazil is often cheaper than the U.S. for meals, local transportation, and many hotels—especially outside the most in-demand neighborhoods. Within South America, Brazil ranges from budget-friendly to moderate depending on where you go: places like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo can be pricier, while many beach towns and inland cities can feel like a great deal.

Brazil Vacation Costs

Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.

Avg. Accommodation Cost

Peak

  • Budget Travelers: $35–$85 per night
  • Mid-Range Travelers: $110–$240 per night
  • Luxury Travelers: $350–$1,000+ per night

Shoulder-Season

  • Budget Travelers: $30–$75
  • Mid-Range Travelers: $95–$210
  • Luxury Travelers: $320–$900+

Off-Season

  • Budget Travelers: $28–$70
  • Mid-Range Travelers: $85–$190
  • Luxury Travelers: $280–$780+

Brazil reality check: Rio and São Paulo often price above national averages, while many other regions can be noticeably cheaper.

Food Cost

Budget Travelers

  • Breakfast: $3–$8
  • Lunch: $6–$12
  • Dinner: $10–$20

Mid-Range Travelers

  • Breakfast: $8–$15
  • Lunch: $12–$22
  • Dinner: $25–$55

Luxury Travelers

  • Breakfast: $15–$25
  • Lunch: $22–$45
  • Dinner: $70–$160+

Transportation Cost

Getting around cities (Rio, São Paulo, etc.)

Metro / buses

  • Typical rides: $1–$2.50
  • Typical daily transit spend: $3–$8

Rideshare / taxi

  • Short ride: $4–$10
  • Longer ride (airport runs vary): $12–$40+
    Tip: Rideshare is widely used in major cities and is often cheaper than street taxis.

Domestic flights (the big cost swing)

Because Brazil is so large, many itineraries need flights (Rio ↔ Salvador, São Paulo ↔ Foz do Iguaçu, etc.).

  • Typical one-way domestic flight: $60–$220+
  • Typical round trip: $120–$440+

Car rental (best for beach road trips / countryside)

  • Compact car:
    • Off-Season: $30–$55/day
    • Shoulder: $35–$65/day
    • Peak: $45–$85+/day
  • Fuel + tolls (varies): $10–$30/day

Private driver

  • Half-day: $90–$180+
  • Full day: $150–$300+

Attractions

  • Christ the Redeemer (Rio): $20–$40+
  • Sugarloaf Mountain (Rio): $35–$60+
  • Iguaçu Falls National Park (Brazil side): $15–$30+
  • Amazon day tour (Manaus-area): $60–$180+
  • Amazon multi-day lodge/tour: $250–$900+ (varies widely)
  • Salvador historic district walking + museums: $5–$25+
  • Beach days: free (chair/umbrella rentals extra where offered)
  • Soccer match tickets (varies): $10–$80+
  • Museums (major cities): $3–$20

Day Trip Costs In Brazil

Day trip transportation cost will obviously vary based on where you're at in Brazil, and where you're going. Here's some of the most popular day trips from popular locations.

Day Trip and Attractions Costs
Day Trip Transportation Cost (Round Trip) Top Attraction Attraction Cost
Iguaçu Falls (from Rio or São Paulo) $120–$440+ (flight RT) + $10–$35 local transfers Iguaçu Falls (Brazil side) $15–$30+
Ilha Grande (from Rio) $25–$70 (bus/van + ferry) Lopes Mendes Beach / boat tour Free–$80+
Búzios (from Rio) $25–$70 (bus/shuttle) Beach-hopping + boat cruise Free–$60+
Petrópolis (from Rio) $10–$30 (bus) • $60–$140 (tour/driver) Imperial Museum area $5–$20+
Amazon day tour (from Manaus) $0–$20 (local transfers) • often included River + wildlife experience $60–$180+
Paraty (from Rio or São Paulo) $25–$80 (bus) • $120–$280 (private) Boat tour + colonial old town Free–$70+
Tijuca Forest (Rio) $10–$35 (rideshare/taxi) • $40–$120 (guided) Rainforest hikes + viewpoints Free–$60+

Daily Budget

Budget Travelers
Season Daily Total (Per Person)
Peak $45–$110
Shoulder $40–$100
Off-Season $38–$95
Mid-Range Travelers
Season Daily Total (Per Person)
Peak $120–$260
Shoulder $110–$240
Off-Season $100–$225
Luxury Travelers
Season Daily Total (Per Person)
Peak $350–$1,000+
Shoulder $320–$900+
Off-Season $280–$780+

Weekly Budget (7 Days)

Budget Travelers
Season Lodging (7 nights) Food (7 days) Transport Attractions Total
Peak $245–$595 $120–$245 $40–$180 $70–$260 $475–$1,280
Shoulder $210–$525 $110–$230 $35–$165 $65–$240 $420–$1,160
Off-Season $196–$490 $105–$220 $35–$150 $60–$225 $396–$1,085
Mid-Range Travelers
Season Lodging (7 nights) Food (7 days) Transport Attractions Total
Peak $770–$1,680 $210–$420 $90–$280 $140–$420 $1,210–$2,800
Shoulder $665–$1,470 $200–$400 $85–$260 $130–$400 $1,080–$2,530
Off-Season $595–$1,330 $190–$385 $80–$240 $120–$380 $985–$2,335
Luxury Travelers
Season Lodging (7 nights) Food (7 days) Transport Attractions Total
Peak $2,450–$7,000+ $520–$1,250+ $200–$700+ $300–$1,100+ $3,470–$10,050+
Shoulder $2,240–$6,300+ $480–$1,150+ $180–$650+ $280–$1,000+ $3,180–$9,100+
Off-Season $1,960–$5,460+ $450–$1,050+ $160–$600+ $260–$900+ $2,830–$8,010+

Flight Cost

Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports will have cheaper flights than smaller airports.

Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S. to Brazil (often São Paulo (GRU) or Rio (GIG)):

  • Peak: $700–$1,400
  • Shoulder: $600–$1,200
  • Off-Season: $500–$1,000

You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.

Brazil Travel Seasons

Peak Season

  • Mid-December–March: Typically highest demand during Brazil’s summer travel months—especially late December through early January (New Year’s) and Carnival week (usually February or early March, and prices spike hard in Rio). Beach destinations and popular cities sell out faster.

Shoulder-Season

  • April–early June and September–November: Often the best balance of weather and deals, with better hotel availability and fewer crowds than peak.

Off-Season

  • Mid-June–August: Usually the lowest overall demand in many parts of Brazil because it’s winter in the south and southeast—expect cooler temps in places like Rio and São Paulo. One caveat: July can still bump prices a bit due to school holidays, especially in big beach spots and family-friendly destinations.

Need help knowing when to visit Brazil? Here's what you can expect during each month of the year!

What currency is used in Brazil?
Brazil uses the Brazilian real (BRL). In this guide, prices are shown only in $ (USD) for U.S. travelers.
Do they accept US dollars in Brazil?
Not usually for everyday purchases. Most businesses price and accept payment in Brazilian reais. In tourist areas you may see USD accepted occasionally, but exchange rates are typically unfavorable—paying in local currency is best.
Will US credit and debit cards work in Brazil?
Often, yes—U.S. cards generally work at hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and major retailers in cities like Rio and São Paulo. In smaller towns and some beach destinations, cash is still helpful. If the card terminal offers a choice, pay in local currency to avoid dynamic currency conversion.
What is the cheapest month to visit Brazil?
May is often one of the cheapest months for Brazil travel because it typically sits outside the biggest holiday/event demand windows, and hotel pricing is often softer in many regions.
  • Why it’s cheaper: fewer major travel spikes and more lodging deals.
  • Tradeoff: weather varies by region—beach destinations can still be great, while the south is cooler.
What is the most expensive month to visit Brazil?
February is often one of the most expensive months due to Carnival demand—especially in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. Hotel rates and flights can spike sharply around Carnival week.
Is $2,000 enough for a week in Brazil?

Yes—often. For many travelers, $2,000 can cover a comfortable week in Brazil, especially if you stay in mid-range lodging and limit domestic flights.

  • Budget Travelers (7-day total): $396–$1,085
  • Mid-Range Travelers (7-day total): $985–$2,800
  • Luxury Travelers (7-day total): $2,830–$10,050+

To keep a week near $2,000, the biggest wins are choosing one main region (to avoid extra flights), using rideshare/metro in big cities, and mixing casual meals with a couple nicer dinners.

Is Brazil cheaper than other South American countries?
It depends on where you compare, but Brazil is often cheaper than the U.S. and can be budget-friendly versus pricier South American hubs. Big cities and famous beach neighborhoods can feel more expensive, while many other regions offer excellent value.
Is Rio de Janeiro more expensive than other parts of Brazil?
Usually, yes. Rio (especially Ipanema/Leblon/Copacabana) often costs more than many Brazilian destinations due to demand. You can lower costs by staying a bit farther from the beach, using metro/rideshare, and prioritizing free attractions like viewpoints and beach days.

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