Should you visit Piriapolis or Sao Paulo?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Sao Paulo, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Piriapolis
Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.
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 Piriapolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $48, 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 Piriapolis and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Piriapolis is about $38 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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
While meal prices in Piriapolis can vary, the average travelers spends about $17 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Piriapolis should cost around $6.80 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Piriapolis is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Piriapolis $17
Sao Paulo $11
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:
-
Sao Paulo - Pinheiros Gourmet Food Tour (4 hours tour + 3 dishes included):
$45
-
Brazilian Cooking Class:
$79
-
Cooking Class in São Paulo:
$268
-
Private Food Tour in São Paulo:
$278
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $23 per day to get around in Piriapolis.
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 Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to GRU International Airport:
$50
-
CGH Airport transfer Sao Paulo city / Hotel:
$38
-
Creative & Natural Transfer São Paulo-Paraty:
$375
-
Departure Private Transfer São Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU by Standard Car:
$43
-
Departure Private Transfer São Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car:
$82
-
Departure Private Transfer São Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Luxury Van:
$77
-
Guarulhos International Airport Transfer:
$100
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport to Guarulhos City - One Way:
$122
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport to São Paulo City - One Way:
$122
-
Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Int. Airport (GRU):
$23
-
Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Int. Airport (GRU) to Sao Paulo:
$23
-
Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Sao Paulo:
$22
Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Piriapolis 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $4.25 per person, per day in Piriapolis. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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.
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
-
Downtown São Paulo: An audio tour tracing the city's epic history:
$5.00
-
Virtual Live Tour of Sao Paulo Graffiti Hosted by Artist:
$25
-
Street art is not for lazy tourists :P:
$25
-
São Paulo Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
-
Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour:
$31
-
Paulista Avenue Walking Tour:
$31
-
Private São Paulo Historic Center Walking Tour:
$45
-
Small Group Highlights Tour in São Paulo:
$49
-
City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day:
$50
-
Alternative City Tour:
$50
-
Rain Forest Trail - Cantareira Natural Park day tour from São Paulo:
$58
-
Embu das Artes Largest Handicraft Fair Tour from São Paulo:
$58
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Piriapolis may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $5.86 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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:
-
4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena:
$69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Sao Paulo, we can see that Piriapolis 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 Piriapolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Piriapolis than you might in Sao Paulo.
Related Articles for Piriapolis
Related Articles for Sao Paulo
