Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cologne or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne or Sao Paulo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cologne or Sao Paulo?
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
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 Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, and The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Sao Paulo €49
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is €49. 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 Cologne and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Sao Paulo €28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Sao Paulo €56
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Cologne 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: Cologne Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Sao Paulo €5.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia Grande/Santos - Private Transfer: $63
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos Hotels Round-Trip Transfer: $125
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos hotels - Arrival Transfer: $63
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $38
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $77
- Campinas Airport (VCP)to Praia Grande/Santos - RoundTrip Transfer: $125
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car: $123
- Departure private transfer from São Paulo city to Guarulhos Airport by minibus: $197
- Downtown to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) - Departure Private Transfer: $181
- Private Arrival Transfer | Congonhas Airport (CGH) x São Paulo City: $95
- Private Arrival Transfer | Viracopos Airport (VCP) x São Paulo City : $300
Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Cologne 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 dayCologne €50Sao Paulo €14
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484
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:
- Private Traditional Brazilian or Paulistano Cooking Class with a Chef: $130
- Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cologne €20Sao Paulo €3.77
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen City Hall tour (public): $20
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Ancient Echoes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Roman Cologne: $11
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $397
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- São Paulo (Ibirapuera) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.89
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
- Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $27
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo : $35
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of Augusta street: $35
- Breakfast Tour in Bom Retiro: $43
- São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $54
- City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $64
- Bixiga Walking Tour: $67
- Sao Paulo Culture Walking Tour: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCologne €23Sao Paulo €3.28
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
- Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- São Paulo Nightlife: Pub Crawl in the City that Never Sleeps!: $49
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $54
- Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides: $98
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Sao Paulo, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cologne 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne 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 Cologne Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Cologne 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 Cologne or Sao Paulo?
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 Cologne has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Cologne or Sao Paulo in the Summer?
Both Sao Paulo and Cologne during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cologne for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Cologne is cooler than Sao Paulo in the summer. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.
Sao Paulo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cologne usually gets less rain in July than Sao Pauloin January. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCologne 19°C (66°F)Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Sao Paulo. Many visitors come to Cologne in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Cologne is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cologne in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
In October, Cologne usually receives more rain than Sao Pauloin April. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilCologne 12°C (54°F)Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Sao Paulo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Sao Paulo. Most visitors come to Cologne for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Cologne can be very cold during winter. In January, Cologne is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin July. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 3°C (37°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Cologne usually gets more rain in January than Sao Pauloin July. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyCologne 3°C (37°F)Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Sao Paulo in the Spring?
Both Sao Paulo and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Cologne because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Cologne is much colder than Sao Paulo in the spring. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in October.
In April, Cologne usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin October. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberCologne 10°C (50°F)Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Cologne
| Cologne | Sao Paulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
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.