Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo?
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.
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 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 daySaint Petersburg $64Sao Paulo $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo is $53. 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 Saint Petersburg and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $37Sao Paulo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $74Sao Paulo $60
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg 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.Saint Petersburg $7.42Sao Paulo $5.96
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
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Metro Passes$1.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- airport transfer: $113
- Viracopos Airport VCP to Poços de Caldas Thermal Arrival Transfer: $80
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to São Pedro Thermal Arrival Transfer: $38
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-RoundTrip Transfer: $77
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $38
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in São Paulo HTL-APT(GRU): $61
- Transfer from São Paulo to Port of Santos: $139
- Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $64
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $36
- Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo hotels to Campinas Airport (VCP) - Departure Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo Airport to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Saint Petersburg 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 daySaint Petersburg $19Sao Paulo $15
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.69
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.Saint Petersburg $18Sao Paulo $4.08
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- 2 Hours Private São Paulo Museum of Modern Art Tour: $240
- 3 Beaches Hiking Santo Amaro Island - Paradise Route Tour from São Paulo: $125
- 3H CITY TOUR (pick up / delivery within Sao Paulo city limits): $151
- 4-Hour Private Tour in Sao Paulo: $300
- 4-hour Sum-up Private Tour Of São Paulo Including Its Major Attractions : $134
- 4WD One Day Tour visiting Water Fall and the Big Stone from Sao Paulo: $260
- 5 Hour City Tour in São Paulo: $91
- 5-hour Pelé Private Tour: The King of Football : $162
- 5-hour Private Street Art Tour Of São Paulo – The Coolest Urban Art Scenes: $174
- 5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup: $162
- 5-hour private tour in São Paulo (departures from hotels and airport): $155
- 5h City Tour (pick up & delivery within SaoPaulo city): $249
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.86Sao Paulo $3.55
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 Saint Petersburg and Sao Paulo, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Saint Petersburg. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg 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 Saint Petersburg has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Sao Paulo.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Sao Paulo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.
Sao Paulo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Sao Pauloin January. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Sao Paulo.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Sao Pauloin April. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in October than Sao Pauloin April. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo in the Winter?
Both Sao Paulo and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
Saint Petersburg can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Sao Paulo in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 19°C (66°F)in July.
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Sao Pauloin July. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Sao Paulo in the Spring?
Both Sao Paulo and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 21°C (70°F)in October.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Sao Pauloin October. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Sao Paulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.