Is Sao Paulo Expensive?

Is Sao Paulo expensive to visit?

While Sao Paulo is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $52, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in South America, many visitors find it to be a moderately priced destination. It's in the top 50% of places in South America for its travel costs, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Quito and Santa Cruz de la Sierra.



Sao Paulo, Brazil

How expensive is Sao Paulo?

For a trip to Sao Paulo, travelers spend on average $52 per day (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations from previous visitors. As this is an average cost, your individual spending may vary, especially since there's a wide range of accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment options here. If you stick to moderately-priced hotels and restaurants, as well as take advantage of some of free things to do in the area, you can stick close to the average budget. See more travel costs for Sao Paulo here to see how all of the average spending costs pan out.

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Sao Paulo?

On average, a weekend trip to Sao Paulo costs about $157 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a weekend trip costs $314.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Sao Paulo?

A one week trip to Sao Paulo costs about $366 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $732.

Is it expensive to backpack in Sao Paulo?

With more than 50 hostels in the area, Sao Paulo is a popular backpacker destination for travelers looking to stay on a tight budget and have a fun time along the way. Here, hostels cost an average of $14 per night for a dorm bed, with private rooms being more expensive. (See hostel prices in Sao Paulo here.) It's also common to see a wide range in prices, as the cheapest hostels here cost $3, but the most expensive can be more than $75 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Sao Paulo.

  • $18 for a dorm bed at O de Casa Hostel Bar
  • $9 for a dorm bed at Viva Hostel Design
  • $3 for a dorm bed at Selina Madalena Sao Paulo

Are hotels expensive in Sao Paulo?

When we look at our analysis of hotel prices in Sao Paulo, we find them to be somewhat lower in price in comparison to the rest of the world. The average nightly cost for a hotel room here is approximately $39. The area boasts about 18 five-star hotels with an average rate of $171 per night. For those seeking a balance between comfort and affordability, three-star hotels offer an average rate of $43 per night, while two-star hotels provide an even more budget-friendly option at $24 per night.


Hotels by star rating in Sao Paulo
Rating Number of Hotels Average Hotel Price
5 stars 18 $171
4 stars 87 $67
3 stars 175 $43
2 stars 177 $24
1 star 29 $44
No rating 42 $42

Rua Augusta, 129, Sao Paulo
Overall Rating 9.1
Al Casa Branca 909, Sao Paulo
Overall Rating 9.0

How expensive are sightseeing activities in Sao Paulo?

In Sao Paulo, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $4 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is less than the country's average of $15.

    • Private 5 Hour Guided Tour in Sao Paulo With Fruit Tasting: $141
    • Gastronomic Tour São Paulo – Culture & History Through The Art Of Food – Private: $197
    • Sao Paulo Photo Tour Downtown: $200
    • Hiking Ecotour Jaraguá Park – Incredible Rain Forest Landscapes In São Paulo: $175
    • São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $54
    • Sao Paulo Top Highlights Tour with Market visit (4h): $145
    • 4-Hour Private Tour in Sao Paulo: $300
    • Private 4 hour Architecture Tour of Sao Paulo: $143

    Is food expensive in Sao Paulo?

    In Sao Paulo, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $15 per day on food, which is less than the country's average of $20.

    • Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189

    Is transportation expensive in Sao Paulo?

    Exploring local transportation in Sao Paulo shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $6 per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $12. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.

    More for Sao Paulo

    If you're planning a trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, check out these other informative travel guides.



    We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



    If you want to share the information, here's how. down-arrow
    • You are welcome to reference or display our travel costs on your website as long as you provide a link back to this page.
    • For a basic link, you can copy and paste the HTML link code, or this page's address.