Athletes and spectators alike attending the Rio Olympics will be paying more for food than at previous Games in London and Beijing, The Beijing News reports.

A piece of fruit at the Rio Olympics is around 10 yuan ($1.5), a sandwich 36 yuan, and 16 yuan for a bottle of water, according to official concession menus provided by the Organising Committee for the Rio 2016 Olympics show.

Bottled water was 3 yuan during the Beijing Olympics, financial news website mrcjcn.com reported.

Food prices in official restaurants and stores are 20 to 30 percent higher than those offered two years ago when the country hosted the World Cup.

The Beijing News reports the rise in prices reflect the high inflation rates gripping the country.

In an attempt to provide more affordable options, the Committee opened a restaurant in the Main Press Centre that charges by weight.

However, an average meal at the restaurant costs around 200 yuan - up to four times the price of local restaurants.

Moreover, many local restaurants and bars also increased prices ahead of the Games, with hotels located near Olympic venues charging around $1,000 a night.

The Beijing News