Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Lyon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lyon or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Sao Paulo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Lyon or Sao Paulo?
Lyon
Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.
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 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, 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 dayLyon €125Sao Paulo €49
The average daily cost (per person) in Lyon is €125, 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 Lyon and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLyon €53Sao Paulo €28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLyon €106Sao Paulo €56
Compare Hotels in Lyon and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Lyon 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: Lyon Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lyon €17Sao Paulo €5.50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
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Funiculaire€5.20
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Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus€19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
- Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City: $297
- Private Direct Transfer from Lyon to Geneva: $274
- Private Transfer Grenoble Airport GNB - Grenoble Ski Resort: $230
- Lyon St Exupery Airport to Courchevel/Les Arcs - Arrival Transfer: $181
- Lyon Saint Exupery Airport to Meribel - Arrival Private Transfer: $180
- Lyon Saint Exupery Airport(LYS) to Alpe d'Huez - Arrival Transfer: $164
- Lyon Exupery Airport to Les Deux La Clusaz Round Trip Transfer: $143
- Lyon Private Transfer from Lyon city centre to Lyon (LYS) Airport: $131
- Private Transfer: Lyon to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS): $125
- Private Transfer: (LYS) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to Lyon: $124
- Transfer Privé Lyon saint exupery airport to lyon : $120
- Lyon : Private Transfer from/to Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport: $118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Sao Paulo City - Sao Paulo Airport (GRU): $22
- Private One Way Airport Transfer Sao Paulo to and from Sao Paulo: $27
- Private Transfer from Sao Paulo hotels to Santos Cruise Port: $32
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $36
- Private Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $36
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo hotels to Campinas Airport (VCP) - Departure Transfer: $38
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $38
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $38
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to São Pedro Thermal Arrival Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $44
Is it cheaper to fly into Lyon or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Lyon 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 dayLyon €41Sao Paulo €14
Typical Food Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
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Pastry€1.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
- Street Food Tour: $65
- Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $65
- Lyon Street Food Tour : $66
- 3h Lyon Vegan Food Tour: $66
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $67
- Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $77
- Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $81
- Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
- Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
- Old Town Food Tour: $97
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
- Guided Evening Food Tour: $102
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.Lyon €20Sao Paulo €3.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
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Lunch for 2€45
Tours and Activities in Lyon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
- 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $27
- 1-hour tourist walk with guide: $38
- Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.77
- Alternative Tour: Murals and Hidden Frescoes of Lyon: $46
- An unusual city tour with sketches: $65
- Audio-Guided Tour of the United States Quarter and Painted Walls: $11
- Audio-guided tour of Old Lyon: $11
- Audio-guided tour of the Fourvière and the Sacred Hill: $11
- Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Private Tour - Half Day: $253
- Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day: $269
- Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local: $142
- Cheese and Wine Accord Tour at Château de Champ-Renard: $55
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 dayLyon €24Sao Paulo €3.28
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:
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Drinks for 2€6.80
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Bottle of Wine€15
Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beaujolais Segway Tour with Wine Tasting: $65
- Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
- Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $99
- Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
- From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $107
- Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $107
- Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $107
- From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $107
- Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $107
- Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $108
- Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $109
- Golden stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon: $109
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 Lyon and Sao Paulo, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lyon 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 Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon 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 Lyon Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lyon or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lyon. When comparing the sizes of Lyon 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 Lyon 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 Lyon has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Lyon or Sao Paulo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lyon as well as Sao Paulo. The summer months attract visitors to Lyon because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Lyon is cooler than Sao Paulo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lyon in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.
It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. Lyon usually gets less rain in July than Sao Pauloin January. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 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 JanuaryLyon 22°C (71°F)Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?
Both Sao Paulo and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lyon this time of year.
In October, Lyon is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin April. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 14°C (56°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In October, Lyon usually receives more rain than Sao Pauloin April. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 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 AprilLyon 14°C (56°F)Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Sao Paulo in the Winter?
Both Sao Paulo and Lyon during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Lyon for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Lyon. Lyon is much colder than Sao Paulo in the winter. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 19°C (66°F)in July.
Lyon usually gets more rain in January than Sao Pauloin July. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 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 JulyLyon 4°C (39°F)Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Lyon or Sao Paulo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and Sao Paulo. Many visitors come to Lyon in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Lyon is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lyon in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 21°C (70°F)in October.
In April, Lyon usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin October. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 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 OctoberLyon 11°C (53°F)Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Lyon
| Lyon | Sao Paulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 4°C (39°F) | 55 mm (2.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (53°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (70°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.