Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Johannesburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Johannesburg 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.
Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.
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 Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, 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.
The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $95, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $53. 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 Johannesburg and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Johannesburg 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johannesburg.
For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johannesburg are as follows:
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 Johannesburg:
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 Johannesburg and Sao Paulo, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Johannesburg. When comparing the sizes of Johannesburg 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.