Comparison · Cape Town vs Rio de Janeiro · South Africa / Brazil
Cape Town vs Rio de Janeiro
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose Cape Town for Table Mountain and Robben Island; choose Rio de Janeiro for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, a milder winter and a short break. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 6,059 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 6,059 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Cape Town
- February–April and November
- Best time for Rio de Janeiro
- April–June and August–October
Side by side
| Cape Town | Rio de Janeiro | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | Brazil |
| Known for | Table Mountain, Robben Island and African penguins | Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana and Ipanema |
| Best time to visit | February–April and November | April–June and August–October |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $100–$200 | $110–$220 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | February, 27°C (81°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 18°C (64°F) | June, 25°C (77°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Clifton 4th Beach | Copacabana |
| Airports | CPT | GIG, SDU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cape Town for…
Table Mountain and Robben Island. Cape Town wraps around the base of Table Mountain, with the City Bowl and V&A Waterfront facing Table Bay, the Atlantic beaches of Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay to the west, and the warmer False Bay shore of Muizenberg and Kalk Bay to the south. Most…
Choose Rio de Janeiro for…
Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, a milder winter and a short break. Rio de Janeiro wraps around Guanabara Bay between forested granite mountains and Atlantic beaches. Most visitors stay in the Zona Sul — Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon or Botafogo — and split their days between the beach, the two great viewpoints of Christ the…
Top sights compared
| # | Cape Town | Rio de Janeiro |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway | Christ the Redeemer |
| 2 | Robben Island | Sugarloaf Mountain |
| 3 | Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | Copacabana Beach |
| 4 | V&A Waterfront | Ipanema Beach |
| 5 | Bo-Kaap | Arpoador Rock |
Food compared
| Cape Town | Rio de Janeiro |
|---|---|
| Bobotie | Feijoada |
| Cape Malay curry | Biscoito Globo and iced mate |
| Gatsby | Açaí bowl |
| Hake and chips | Cheese bread |
Which is cheaper?
Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $100–$200 in Cape Town and $110–$220 in Rio de Janeiro (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Cape Town on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 6,059 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cape Town or Rio de Janeiro cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 in Cape Town and $110–$220 in Rio de Janeiro (estimates).
+Is Cape Town or Rio de Janeiro better for a first trip?
Pick Cape Town for Table Mountain and Robben Island, or Rio de Janeiro for Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, a milder winter and a short break.
+How far is Cape Town from Rio de Janeiro?
About 6,059 km in a straight line.