Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Sao Paulo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Athens is a energetic, historic, and ancient city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Athens travel costs.
Sao Paulo is a colorful, cultural, and dynamic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Sao Paulo travel costs.
Visitors will generally find more to do in Athens than Sao Paulo. While Sao Paulo is larger than Athens, Athens has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Athens is very popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Sao Paulo attracts visitors for its shopping and big city activities. Athens is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is known for its ancient temples and landmarks as well as its influence as the birthplace of democracy. It is also well known for The Acropolis. Sao Paulo is famous for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene.
The Acropolis
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sao Paulo and Athens. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
You'll find a number of world-class museums and attractions in both Sao Paulo and Athens.
With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Athens has many famous sights for visitors. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.
Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Sao Paulo that are not to be missed. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral
Athens is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Athens is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.
With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Sao Paulo makes for a great culinary experience. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).
The vibe at night is world-class in both Athens and Sao Paulo.
The nightlife in Athens is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.
Sao Paulo is a world class party destination. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.
Athens is a world-class destination for its historic old town charm. However, Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.
The historic old town of Athens is revered around the world. The city's "historic triangle" is between Syntagma, Omonia, and Monastiraki Squares. This area is also at the political and financial heart of the city.
Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.
Sao Paulo is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.
Many people travel to Sao Paulo specifically to go shopping. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.
Athens is a great destination for shopping. Most neighborhoods have a shopping street but head to Ermou Street for some of the city's best shopping.
Athens is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.
Athens offers plenty of beauty for visitors. With it's stunning archaeological sites, Athens is most beautiful at night, when things light up.
Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.
Athens is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Athens. With its rich history, beautiful outdoor activities, and kid-friendly food, Athens is a fun place to explore with the whole family.
Sao Paulo is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.
Athens and Sao Paulo both nice destinations for a couple.
Athens is a good city for couples to visit. The city is historical, fascinating, and romantic, making it a beautiful place to explore as a couple.
Sao Paulo is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.
Athens is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.
A large number of backpackers visit Athens, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city has long been established as a backpackers destination with budget friendly food and plenty of hostels around town.
Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.
Athens is a great city for its student-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.
Athens is a great city to visit as a student. International students will appreciate the rich history, archaeological ruins, and unique opportunities that are available here.
Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for students. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.
Sao Paulo is an unbeatable place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Athens is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.
Visitors in Sao Paulo can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.
Public transit in Athens is fairly effecient and thorough. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.
Athens and Sao Paulo are great when it comes to walkability.
Athens is a very walkable destination. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.
Sao Paulo is very walkable. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.
For even more information, also check out Is Athens Worth Visiting? and Is Sao Paulo Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Athens and Sao Paulo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Athens than in Sao Paulo. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Athens, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sao Paulo.
Families should spend more time in Athens than Sao Paulo. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Athens, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Athens than Sao Paulo if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Athens.
People visit Athens because there is so much to do. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the big city destination of Sao Paulo. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
People visit Athens because there is so much to do. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Sao Paulo is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
People visit Athens because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sao Paulo. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Athens is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Athens, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the dynamic big city of Sao Paulo. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Athens, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Athens, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, and The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil.
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 Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is €54. 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 Athens and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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.
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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Athens 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Sao Paulo, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Athens has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Both Sao Paulo and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Athens is around the same temperature as Sao Paulo in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sao Paulo. In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin January. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Sao Paulo is October to March.
Both Sao Paulo and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Sao Paulo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
Athens usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Sao Pauloin April. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Sao Paulo.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Sao Paulo. The winter months attract visitors to Athens because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year.
In January, Athens is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin July. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In January, Athens usually receives more rain than Sao Pauloin July. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter. June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.
The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Sao Paulo. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the activities around the city.
Athens is cooler than Sao Paulo in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in October.
Athens usually gets less rain in April than Sao Pauloin October. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Sao Paulo is the rainy season.
Athens | Sao Paulo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |