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.
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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.
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Pingyao Prices
China PricesSao Paulo Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPingyao $73Sao Paulo $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Pingyao is $73, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $61. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPingyao $25Sao Paulo $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPingyao $50Sao Paulo $58
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pingyao $14Sao Paulo $5.89
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.49
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 Transfer to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU): $24
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $28
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo Airport to Sao Paulo: $28
- Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $38
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $45
- Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $45
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $46
- Transfer São Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport (GRU): $47
- Private Transfer GRU Airport São Paulo – Executive Sedan or SUV: $51
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport: $56
- Private Transfer from Vila Mariana to Sao Paulo (GRU) Airport: $59
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
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Food Meals for one dayPingyao $36Sao Paulo $25
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.38
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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
- Paulista Plates São Paulo Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
- São Suppers Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
- São Paulo: Liberdade Food Tour with 6 Tastings and Tonkatsu: $112
- Dinner at Terraço Italia Restaurant in São Paulo: $230
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pingyao $20Sao Paulo $3.98
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.99
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.47
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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 Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.12
- São Paulo Ibirapuera Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.12
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $16
- Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Sao Paulo: $20
- Downtown-Center History Walking Tour: $28
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $29
- Historical and Cultural Tour of the Center DE São Paulo: $34
- São Paulo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $40
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $41
- MASP Museum of Art of São Paulo (+ticket): $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPingyao $14Sao Paulo $3.46
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 São Paulo: Open Bar + Free Appetizers at Bars: $31
- São Paulo Nightlife: Pub Crawl in the City that Never Sleeps!: $59
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pingyao and Sao Paulo, we can see that Pingyao is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pingyao is in Asia 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 Pingyao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pingyao 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 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.
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.