Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or Arequipa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Arequipa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Sao Paulo or Arequipa?
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.
Arequipa
Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Peru, and The Best Budget Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $49Arequipa $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $49, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $46. 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 Sao Paulo and Arequipa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $28Arequipa $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $56Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Arequipa
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Arequipa? 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 and Arequipa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $5.56Arequipa $5.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia Grande/Santos - Private Transfer: $65
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos Hotels Round-Trip Transfer: $130
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $40
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $80
- Campinas Airport (VCP)to Praia Grande/Santos - RoundTrip Transfer: $130
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $40
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car: $127
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Luxury Van: $149
- Downtown to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) - Departure Private Transfer: $188
- Executive VIP Transfer in São Paulo: $151
- Private Arrival Transfer | Viracopos Airport (VCP) x São Paulo City : $300
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$1.33
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Bus Ride$0.43
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Taxi Ride$0.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:
- Private Transfer between Chivay and Puno: $299
- Private Transfer between Arequipa and Puno: $299
- 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $250
- 3 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $214
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $177
- From Colca Canyon Tour 1 Day and Transfer to Puno: $129
- 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $122
- Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
- Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
- From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
- Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Arequipa?
Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Sao Paulo 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 daySao Paulo $14Arequipa $13
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:
- Traditional Paulistano or Brazilian Cooking Class in Sao Paulo: $130
- Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189
- Street Food Tour in São Paulo with a Local Guide: $250
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:
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Coke$0.40
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Lunch$2.80
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Ice Cream$1.07
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Fruit$0.80
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Ice Cream$0.93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Arequipa.
- Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $48
- Typical Food Cooking Class in Arequipa: $48
- Typical Food Cooking Class in Arequipa: $48
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $48
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $48
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $49
- Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
- Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
- Cooking Class Typical Food in Arequipa: $70
- 3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $3.81Arequipa $18
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- São Paulo (Ibirapuera) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.24
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.24
- Sao Paulo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $28
- Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $31
- São Paulo: 2 Hour Immersion Waling Tour in Paulista Avenue: $32
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo : $33
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of the Augusta Street: $33
- Breakfast Tour in Bom Retiro: $44
- Boat Trip Billings Dam and Experience Bororé Island: $49
- Bus ticket Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: $50
- São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $56
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa
Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Monastery Entry$2.67
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Salsa Class$2.67
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Movie Ticket$2.91
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Hot Springs$2.67
Tours and Activities in Arequipa
Here are a few actual costs in Arequipa for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-day Colca Canyon Tour in Arequipa: $28
- 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $295
- 2 Days Colca Canyon Adventure Trekking Tour: $132
- 2 days and 1 night tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $90
- 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $100
- 2-Day Misti Volcano Tour: $117
- 2-Day Tour in Colca Valley: $60
- 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
- 2-Day || Adventure From Arequipa to Chachani Volcano ||: $143
- 2-day tour to the Colca Valley and the Cruz del Condor: $99
- 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
- 3-Day Cotahuasi Canyon Tour: $350
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.32Arequipa $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides: $75
- Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $189
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $196
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:
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Beer$2.40
Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:
- Pub Crawl with Skip-The-Line Access and Drinks: $20
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
- From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
- Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60
When comparing the travel costs between Sao Paulo and Arequipa, we can see that Sao Paulo 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sao Paulo Expensive? and Is Arequipa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Arequipa?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Arequipa. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Arequipa, 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.