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

Should you visit Cairo 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 Cairo 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: Cairo or Sao Paulo?

Cairo

Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Cairo?

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 Cairo is $33, 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 Cairo and Sao Paulo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $11
    Sao Paulo $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $22
    Sao Paulo $56
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Sao Paulo

Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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 Cairo


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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.80
    Sao Paulo $5.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:


  • Metro Ride
    $0.08
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • From Guided 4 Day Cairo & Red Sea Tour with Transfer: $1,440
  • Private Day Trip to Luxor with Transfers and Flights: $791
  • Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $511
  • From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $489
  • 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
  • 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
  • Private One-Way Transfer to/from Hurghada: $292
  • Private One-Way Transfer to/from Sharm El-Sheikh: $292
  • Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
  • Private Transfer Cairo to Hurghada: $290
  • Private Transfer From Cairo to Hurghada By Car: $280
  • 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $280

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo

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

  • Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) to Sao Paulo Private Transfer: $79
  • Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Airport GRU by Business Car: $143
  • Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Airport GRU by Luxury Van: $176
  • Arrived in Guarulhos or Congonhas? Your Transfer is Ready: $90
  • Private Arrival Transfer | Congonhas Airport (CGH) x São Paulo City: $95
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $39
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $47
  • Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $39
  • Private Transfer from Alphaville to Sao Paulo (GRU) Airport: $125
  • Private Transfer from Gru Airport to Port or City of Santos (1 to 15 people): $229
  • Private Transfer from Guarulhos to Santos: $80
  • Private Transfer from Morumbi to Sao Paulo (GRU) Airport: $178

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Sao Paulo?

Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Cairo 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
    Cairo $18
    Sao Paulo $24
Typical Food Prices in Cairo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:


  • Juice
    $0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.

  • Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
  • Great tour toThe Grand Museum of Giza and Nile River DinnerCruise: $5.00
  • Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
  • Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride : $7.00
  • Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
  • Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $8.00
  • night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
  • Local Oriental Food Tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $9.00
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $9.00
  • Cairo Food Tour in local places & Egyptian Mint Tea: $9.00
  • food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $9.00
  • Giza pyramids,Sphinx,ATV bike,Camel ride,Dinner cruise& shopping: $9.00

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.
    Cairo $9.09
    Sao Paulo $3.89
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo

Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Camel Market for Two
    $0.84
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $6.47

Tours and Activities in Cairo

Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day Private Tour in Cairo and Giza: $90
  • 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
  • 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $253
  • 2-Day Tour Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour: $290
  • 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
  • 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
  • 3 Days Private Tour in Giza, Cairo, and Alexandria: $70
  • 8-Hour Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum and local Bazaars: $14
  • Alexandria Private Day Tour From Cairo: $95
  • Alexandria day tour : $75
  • All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
  • All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $39

Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo

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

  • Sao Paulo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Downtown-Center History Walking Tour - in English: $31
  • São Paulo: 2 Hour Immersion Waling Tour in Paulista Avenue: $34
  • São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $48
  • Boat Trip Billings Dam and Experience Bororé Island: $50
  • São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour - In English: $55
  • Sao Paulo, Pinheiros - Food & Graffiti Tour - In English: $65
  • São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $66
  • City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $68
  • Sao Paulo Culture Walking Tour: $69
  • Shared tour of the tourist attractions of São Paulo: $77
  • São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.48
    Sao Paulo $3.38

Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:

  • Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70

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 Cairo and Sao Paulo, we can see that Sao Paulo is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Sao Paulo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sao Paulo than you might in Cairo.

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


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Cairo. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.


When is the best time to visit Cairo or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Cairo or Sao Paulo in the Summer?

Both Sao Paulo and Cairo during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Cairo is generally a little warmer than Sao Pauloin January. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 28°C (82°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Sao Paulo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Sao Pauloin January. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Cairo 28°C (82°F) 
    Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Sao Paulo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year.

Cairo is around the same temperature as Sao Paulo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.

In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin April. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Cairo 23°C (73°F) 
    Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Sao Paulo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Sao Paulo. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Cairo is cooler than Sao Paulo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Cairo in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 19°C (66°F)in July.

Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Sao Pauloin July. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Cairo 14°C (57°F) 
    Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Cairo or Sao Paulo in the Spring?

Both Sao Paulo and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Cairo is generally around the same temperature as Sao Pauloin October. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 21°C (70°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin October. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Sao Paulo is October to March.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Cairo 21°C (70°F) 
    Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)

Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Cairo

Cairo Sao Paulo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
Mar 17°C (63°F) 8 mm (0.3 in) 24°C (75°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 22°C (72°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 0 mm (0 in) 21°C (70°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 1 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Sep 26°C (79°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 21°C (70°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Oct 23°C (73°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 21°C (70°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 1 mm (0 in) 23°C (73°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 150 mm (5.9 in)