A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pingyao vs. Sao Paulo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pingyao or Sao Paulo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pingyao and Sao Paulo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pingyao or Sao Paulo?

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.


Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Pingyao?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Pingyao Prices
    China Prices
    Sao Paulo Prices
    Brazil Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Pingyao $74
    Sao Paulo $64

The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $74, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $64. 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 Pingyao and Sao Paulo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pingyao $25
    Sao Paulo $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pingyao $50
    Sao Paulo $60
Compare Hotels in Pingyao and Sao Paulo

Looking for a hotel in Pingyao 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.

Hotels in Pingyao


Hotels in Sao Paulo


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: Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pingyao $14
    Sao Paulo $6.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:

  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
  • Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60

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 One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $28
  • Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $38
  • Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $42
  • Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $42
  • Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $43
  • Transfer São Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport (GRU): $47
  • Private Transfer: São Paulo Hotel to Guarulhos Int. Airport: $47
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport: $52
  • Private Transfer from Vila Mariana to Sao Paulo (GRU) Airport: $59
  • Private Transfer from CGH to any point of the city of São Paulo: $60
  • Transfers Main airports in Sao Paulo: $61

Is it cheaper to fly into Pingyao or Sao Paulo?

Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Pingyao 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 day
    Pingyao $36
    Sao Paulo $26
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $5.40
  • Mango Juice
    $0.75

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: $71
  • 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $89
  • Paulista Plates São Paulo Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
  • São Suppers Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pingyao $20
    Sao Paulo $4.17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $3.00
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $7.51
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.60

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $170
  • 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress: $206
  • 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $76
  • All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
  • One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
  • Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $171
  • Pingyao Day Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $175
  • Pingyao Private Tour: Shuanglin Temple And Wang's Compound: $269
  • Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour: $204
  • Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
  • Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $289

Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.

  • São Paulo Ibirapuera Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.74
  • São Paulo Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.74
  • Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $15
  • Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Sao Paulo: $20
  • Brazil Tropical Fruit Experience in São Paulo: $22
  • Ladies Nightlife Tour with Drinks at Hidden Bars: $26
  • Downtown-Center History Walking Tour: $28
  • São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $29
  • São Paulo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
  • Historical and Cultural Tour Through Downtown São Paulo: $37
  • Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pingyao $14
    Sao Paulo $3.63

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!: $59
  • 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150


When comparing the travel costs between Pingyao and Sao Paulo, we can see that Pingyao 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 Pingyao 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 Pingyao Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Pingyao or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Pingyao 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.