Which city is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Recife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Brazil Recife vs. Sao Paulo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Recife or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Sao Paulo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Recife or Sao Paulo?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $133Sao Paulo $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $133, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $42. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Recife and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $70Sao Paulo $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $140Sao Paulo $48
Compare Hotels in Recife and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $6.79Sao Paulo $4.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Belém de São Francisco: $771
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Triunfo: $708
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Serra Talhada: $708
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Maceió: $438
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Natal: $438
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Buíque: $424
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Praia da Pipa: $374
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Santa Cruz do Capibaribe: $322
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to São Miguel dos Milagres: $322
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Porto de Pedras: $290
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Garanhuns: $281
- Private Transfer from Recife (REC) Airport to Nova Jerusalém: $256
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Sao Paulo: $22
- Private Airport Transfer: from Sao Paulo to Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH): $22
- Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Int. Airport (GRU) to Sao Paulo: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Int. Airport (GRU): $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Sao Paulo City to Airport: $25
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport: $28
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $30
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $30
- CGH Airport transfer Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $38
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Guarulhos International Airport: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer from São Paulo Guarulhos Airport to São Paulo City: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Recife 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 dayRecife $56Sao Paulo $12
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $9.01Sao Paulo $3.24
Tours and Activities in Recife
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:
- 5-Day Pernambuco Tour from Recife: $385
- Carneiros Beach Day Tour: $40
- City Tour Olinda And Recife Antigo: $26
- City Tour of Olinda Including Instituto Ricardo Brennand: $77
- City Tour of Recife Including the Park of Sculptures: $64
- Cultutal Tour in Recife with Ricardo Brennand Institute: $26
- Day Trip to Igarassu and Itamaracá Island Tour from Recife: $29
- From Recife Old Town and Olinda City Tour: $17
- Gastronomic and Boat Evening Tour in Recife: $100
- Half-Day Tour: Oficina Francisco Brennand and Ricardo Brennand Institute plus Park of Sculptures in Recife: $71
- Igarassu And Itamaraca Island Tour: $38
- Maragogi Beach Tour from Recife: $43
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Sao Paulo $2.82
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 Recife and Sao Paulo, we can see that Recife 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Sao Paulo.
When is the best time to visit Recife or Sao Paulo?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Recife or Sao Paulo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Recife as well as Sao Paulo.
In the summer, Recife is around the same temperature as Sao Paulo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January are around 26°C (79°F), and Sao Paulo is about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. Recife receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife usually gets less rain in January than Sao Paulo. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 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 JanuaryRecife 26°C (79°F)Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Recife or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?
Both Sao Paulo and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In April, Recife is generally a little warmer than Sao Paulo. Temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Sao Paulo stays around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in Recife. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Sao Paulo. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 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 AprilRecife 26°C (79°F)Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Recife or Sao Paulo in the Winter?
Both Sao Paulo and Recife during the winter are popular places to visit.
Recife is a little warmer than Sao Paulo in the winter. The temperature in Recife is usually 24°C (76°F) in July, and Sao Paulo stays around 19°C (66°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Sao Paulo. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 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 JulyRecife 24°C (76°F)Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Recife or Sao Paulo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Sao Paulo.
In the spring, Recife is a little warmer than Sao Paulo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October are around 25°C (77°F), and Sao Paulo is about 21°C (70°F).
In October, Recife usually receives less rain than Sao Paulo. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 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 OctoberRecife 25°C (77°F)Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Recife
| Recife | Sao Paulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 338 mm (13.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 319 mm (12.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 378 mm (14.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 388 mm (15.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
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