Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Chengdu or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chengdu 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.
Where Should I go: Chengdu or Sao Paulo?
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
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 Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.
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Chengdu Prices
China PricesSao Paulo Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $71Sao Paulo $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $71, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $64. 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 Chengdu and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $22Sao Paulo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $44Sao Paulo $60
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $6.35Sao Paulo $6.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu 3-Day Self-Guided Jiuzhaigou&Huanglong with Transfer: $412
- Algou Valley Hiking Tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $289
- Chengdu Panda & Giant Buddha Day Tour With Private Transfer: $240
- Downtown to Mountain Emei round way transfer for one day service: $189
- Leshan Buddha Optional Tours w/ Transfer or Guide: $156
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Chengdu Tianfu Airport Private Transfer: $119
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Chengdu Tianfu Airport Transfer with English Support: $89
- Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $58
- Private Transfer from Chengdu Hotel to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport: $52
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Airport GRU by Business Car: $147
- Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Airport GRU by Luxury Van: $172
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $119
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $239
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) Sao Paulo - Round-Trip Transfer: $255
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $128
- Departure Transfer: Sao Paulo to Airport GRU by Business Car: $147
- Departure Transfer: Sao Paulo to Airport GRU by Luxury Van: $171
- Guarulhos Airport GRU to Águas de Lindoia Round Trip Transfer: $205
- Private Arrival Transfer | Congonhas Airport (CGH) x São Paulo City: $95
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $45
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Chengdu 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
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Food Meals for one dayChengdu $40Sao Paulo $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Chengdu Night: VIP Seat Opera Show or Back Alley Food Tour: $40
- Chengdu Food Tour Local Delicacies and Ear Cleaning: $59
- Chengdu Hidden Street Food Tour Spice Trails: $60
- Eat Like a Local! Food Tour in the Hidden Alleys: $67
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu Local Eats: $68
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals: $69
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $73
- Evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $79
- Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit: $80
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $80
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour: $80
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:
- Street Food Tour in São Paulo with a Local Guide: $73
- 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $89
- Dinner at Terraço Italia Restaurant in São Paulo: $223
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $17Sao Paulo $4.11
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Panda Breeding Center Plus Chengdu City Tour: $175
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch: $246
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Research Base and Sanxingdui Archeological Museum Tour: $256
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch from Chengdu: $229
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi old town Private Tour from Chengdu: $236
- 1-Day Panda Base and Huanglongxi old town Private Tour from Chengdu: $234
- 1-Day Private tour:Dazu Rock Carvings and Ciqikou Ancient Village from Chongqing: $285
- 1-Day Self-Guided Dujiangyan Tour: Panda Volunteer Program and Mount Qingcheng: $150
- 1-Day Self-Guided Leshan Giant Buddha Tour from Chengdu: $154
- 1-day Tour of Chengdu Panda and Sanxingdui Museum: $286
- 2 Days Chengdu Panda Base, Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt.Emei Group Tour: $188
- 2-Day Chengdu & Mount Qingcheng Heritage Tour: $511
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.43
- São Paulo (Ibirapuera) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.46
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
- Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Sao Paulo: $20
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $29
- Brazil Tropical Fruit Experience in São Paulo: $30
- São Paulo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo: $37
- Historical and Cultural Tour of the Center DE São Paulo: $39
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $40
- São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $4.21Sao Paulo $3.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Chengdu
Also in Chengdu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chengdu Pub Crawl: $10
- Tipsy Travel: Chengdu Evening Food and Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $138
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
When comparing the travel costs between Chengdu and Sao Paulo, we can see that Chengdu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Chengdu is in Asia and Sao Paulo is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chengdu Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chengdu or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chengdu. When comparing the sizes of Chengdu 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.