Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru 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: Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital of the state of Johor in Southern Malaysia. Though it is largely industrial and does not typically cater to tourists, especially compared to the grandeur of neighboring Singapore, the city does have some opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
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 Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.
-
Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesSao Paulo Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $66Sao Paulo $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $66, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $63. 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 Johor Bahru and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $41Sao Paulo $30
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $82Sao Paulo $60
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru 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: Johor Bahru Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Sao Paulo $6.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $297
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $245
- Sit Back & Relax - JB to Malacca MPV Transfer: $226
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Penang Island Transfer [Van]: $156
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG): $18
- Private Transfer to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)(CGH): $25
- Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) Private Transfer to Sao Paulo City/Hotels: $27
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo Airport to Sao Paulo: $29
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $29
- Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $38
- Transfer Guarulhos Airport (GRU) to São Paulo City Center: $43
- Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $44
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $45
- Transfer São Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport (GRU): $48
- Private Transfer: São Paulo Hotel to Guarulhos Int. Airport: $50
- Private Transfer GRU Airport São Paulo – Executive Sedan or SUV: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Johor Bahru 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 dayJohor Bahru $16Sao Paulo $25
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: $72
- Paulista Plates São Paulo Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
- 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $89
- São Suppers Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.07Sao Paulo $4.05
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- *15 Hrs Melaka Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $116
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore: $34
- Buggy Tour Tourism Johor: $58
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.52
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $73
- HydroDash Singapore Ticket: $45
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $62
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $276
- Johor Day Tour - Southernmost Tip, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $268
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- Free Walking Tour, São Paulo History in the City Center: $3.50
- São Paulo Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.01
- São Paulo Ibirapuera Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.03
- 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
- Downtown-Center History Walking Tour: $29
- 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
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $40
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.26Sao Paulo $3.53
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Pub Crawl in Pinheiros: Explore the Nightlife of São Paulo: $35
- São Paulo Nightlife: Pub Crawl in the City that Never Sleeps!: $59
When comparing the travel costs between Johor Bahru and Sao Paulo, we can see that Johor Bahru 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 Johor Bahru 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 Johor Bahru Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru 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.