A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Sao Paulo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Sao Paulo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Sao Paulo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Sao Paulo?

Arusha

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.

Sao Paulo

With a population of around 11 million, and 20 million in the metropolitan area, Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It's also one of the wealthiest cities in the southern hemisphere, although you don't have to look far to see the income disparities and inequalities that exist. The city is diverse and culturally rich, with excellent food, music, and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $201, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $60. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arusha and Sao Paulo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $134
    Sao Paulo $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $268
    Sao Paulo $56
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Sao Paulo

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Sao Paulo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Arusha


Hotels in Sao Paulo


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arusha Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $14
    Sao Paulo $5.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $161
  • Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Pick Up & Drop Off | Private Transfer Service: $77
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo

Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Sao Paulo APT-HTL(GRU): $67
  • Transfer to Guarulhos Airport - up to 4 passengers sedan: $130
  • Transfer from São Paulo to Port of Santos: $230
  • Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $65
  • Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $38
  • Transfer (Taxi) airport to Sao Paulo: $77
  • Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport GRU to Sao Paulo RoundTrip Transfer : $158
  • Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) Private Transfer to Sao Paulo City/Hotels: $27
  • Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $42
  • Private Transfer from Sao Paulo hotels to Santos Cruise Port: $170
  • Private Transfer from Sao Paulo city hotels to Santos Cruise Port: $138
  • Private Transfer from Sao Paulo City to Congonhas (CGH) Airport: $123

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Sao Paulo?

Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Arusha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Arusha $43
    Sao Paulo $24
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $43
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sao Paulo

For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Make 9 Brazilian Faves in a 4-Hour Cooking Workshop in Sao Paulo: $85
  • Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $47
    Sao Paulo $3.89

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Arusha National Park Guided Day Tour From Arusha: $290
  • Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
  • Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD : $167
  • Materuni Waterfalls, Visiting Chagga Village, CoffeeTour Kikuletwa Hotsprings: $100
  • 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
  • 2 Day Mount Meru Private Camping Tour from Arusha: $200
  • A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro : $160
  • Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
  • Arusha Guided Walking City Tour: Culture, History & Local Markets: $20

Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.

  • São Paulo: 2 Hour Immersion Waling Tour in Paulista Avenue: $34
  • 4 Hour Private Tour - São Paulo: $142
  • 4-Hour Private Tour in Sao Paulo: $300
  • 4-hour Sum-up Private Tour Of São Paulo Including Its Major Attractions : $134
  • 5-hour Pelé Private Tour: The King of Football : $162
  • 5-hour Private Street Art Tour Of São Paulo – The Coolest Urban Art Scenes: $176
  • 5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup: $162
  • 5h City Tour (pick up & delivery within SaoPaulo city): $240
  • 6 Hour Ayrton Senna Tour – The Greatest Formula 1 Drivers of all Time: $193
  • 6-Hour Classic Half-Day Private Tour of São Paulo – Optional Airport Pickup : $178
  • 6-Hour Private Layover Tour in São Paulo from GRU & CGH Airports: $178
  • 7-hour Private Tour Overview Of São Paulo – Optional For GRU Airport Pickup: $192

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Sao Paulo $3.38

Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:

  • Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $192


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Sao Paulo, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Sao Paulo is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sao Paulo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sao Paulo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Sao Paulo.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Sao Paulo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.