View from the top of Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro has become one of the most expensive cities in South America, and learning how to save money while on vacation in Rio became an important issue. In fact, price-wise Rio is only behind São Paulo, which is the financial capital of Brazil.
The cost of living is approximately the same (and even higher) than in many other cities in the United States of America, Canada and in Europe. Therefore, tourists visiting Rio de Janeiro for a few days will definitely feel that the city is not cheap.
However, it is perfectly possible to save money when visiting Rio de Janeiro. Below are a few tips on how to save money in the most fantastic city in Brazil.
Accommodation – How to Save Money
Self-catering apartment for rent in Ipanema
Hotels in Rio de Janeiro are among the most expensive in the world. You will notice that you pay approximately the same as you would pay in Europe or in the U.S., but have less value for money.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of self-catering holiday apartments for rent in the popular beach areas such as Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Arpoador, and Leblon.
Renting a well-located and well-maintained apartment is a great way to save money in Rio de Janeiro, and have more value for your money. One of the great advantages of staying in an apartment is that you can cook, and there are several supermarkets in the neighborhoods above mentioned.
Eating out – How to Save Money
Steak dish at a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro
This is one of the daily expenses that can quickly deplete your budget while on vacation in Rio. However, you can perfectly eat out every day and spend little by taking advantage of the lunch specials. Literally, every mid-range restaurant (and even some upscale ones) have a lunch special offer.
Usually, the lunch special time is from 12 until 3:30 p.m. (some until 4 p.m.) on weekdays.
So, you can have a big breakfast (usually generous and included in the hotel rate), and have a late lunch. This way you can just eat something lighter at dinner.
Wanna more details on how to save money in Rio? Get your copy of My Rio Travel Guide — the most updated travel guide to Rio de Janeiro. It includes not only a listing of restaurants that offer lunch specials (and its location on maps), but also many other tips on accommodation, self-guided tours, nightlife, and more.
Click below to save money and still have a great time in Rio!
