Should you visit La Plata or Sao Paulo?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Plata and Sao Paulo can help you decide which place is right for you.
La Plata
Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Sao Paulo or La Plata?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in La Plata is $61, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $41. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for La Plata and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $48 in La Plata For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Sao Paulo can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $23, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $46.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in La Plata cost around $24 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $9.60.
The average traveler spends about $11 per day in Sao Paulo for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
La Plata $24
Sao Paulo $11
Typical Food prices in La Plata
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to La Plata:
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:
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Sao Paulo - Pinheiros Gourmet Food Tour (4 hours tour + 3 dishes included):
$45
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Brazilian Cooking Class:
$79
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Cooking Class in São Paulo:
$268
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Private Food Tour in São Paulo:
$278
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in La Plata than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $17 on transportation in La Plata on average per day.
Sao Paulo's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $4.61 per person, per day on transportation in Sao Paulo.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Plata
Also for La Plata, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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La Plata hotels to El Palomar Airport (EPA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Creative & Natural Transfer São Paulo-Paraty:
$375
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Private São Paulo Airport - Hotels Transfer In or Out:
$200
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Private Transfer from Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Campinas Airport (VCP):
$190
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Private Transfer from Sao Paulo City to Campinas Airport (VCP):
$190
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Private Transfer from Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Viracopos Airport (VCP):
$190
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Private Transfer from Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Santos Port:
$190
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Private Arrival Transfer: São Paulo Airport to Santos Cruise Terminal:
$186
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Private Departure Transfer from Santos Cruise Terminal to São Paulo Airport:
$186
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Private Transfer from Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Jundiai:
$153
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Private Transfer from Gru Airport to Port or City of Santos:
$125
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport to Guarulhos City - One Way:
$122
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport to São Paulo City - One Way:
$122
Is it cheaper to fly into La Plata or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and La Plata 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in La Plata, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $15 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Sao Paulo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $3.16 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in La Plata
For La Plata, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
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2-Hour Boat and Stand Up Paddle Board Adventure in São Paulo, Brazil:
$275
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3 Beaches Hiking Santo Amaro Island - Paradise Route Tour from São Paulo:
$85
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4 Hour Customized "Private Tour" Drinking, Dining and Entertainment:
$400
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4-Day Private Guided Tour From São Paulo To Rio de Janeiro – Coastal Trip:
$990
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4-hour Private Tour - Hidden Gems and Top Sights of São Paulo:
$105
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4-hour Sum-up Private Tour Of São Paulo Including Its Major Attractions:
$87
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4WD One Day Tour visiting Water Fall and the Big Stone from Sao Paulo:
$270
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5-hour Private Street Art Tour Of São Paulo – The Coolest Urban Art Scenes:
$106
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5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup:
$97
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5h City Tour (pick up & delivery within SaoPaulo city):
$189
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7-hour Private Tour Overview Of São Paulo – Optional For GRU Airport Pickup:
$134
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8-Day São Paulo Tour: From City to Beaches, Waterfalls & Caves:
$2,490
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In La Plata, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $8.49.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Sao Paulo, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $2.75.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
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4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena:
$69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and Sao Paulo, we can see that La Plata is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 La Plata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Plata than you might in Sao Paulo.
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