A Travel Price Comparison for Brazil Sao Paulo vs. Brasilia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Brasilia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Brasilia, 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 Brasilia?

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.

Brasilia

The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus.


Which place is cheaper, Brasilia or Sao Paulo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $54, while the average daily cost in Brasilia is $85. 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 Brasilia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sao Paulo $31
    Brasilia $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sao Paulo $62
    Brasilia $72
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Brasilia

Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Brasilia? 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.

Hotels in Sao Paulo


Hotels in Brasilia


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 Brasilia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sao Paulo $6.04
    Brasilia $22

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: $63
  • Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos Hotels Round-Trip Transfer: $126
  • Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos hotels - Arrival Transfer: $63
  • Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $39
  • Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $77
  • Campinas Airport (VCP)to Praia Grande/Santos - RoundTrip Transfer: $126
  • Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $39
  • Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car: $123
  • Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Luxury Van: $144
  • Departure private transfer from São Paulo city to Guarulhos Airport by minibus: $194
  • Downtown to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) - Departure Private Transfer: $182
  • Private Arrival Transfer | Congonhas Airport (CGH) x São Paulo City: $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Brasilia?

Prices for flights to both Brasilia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sao Paulo $15
    Brasilia $33

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sao Paulo $4.14
    Brasilia $20

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: $7.96
  • São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.96
  • Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
  • Sao Paulo 360 Guided Tour: $26
  • Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $28
  • Night Walking Tour through the Bars of Augusta street: $34
  • Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo : $34
  • Sao Paulo, Pinheiros - Food & Graffiti Tour (2,5hr Food included): $54
  • São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $54
  • City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $64
  • Bixiga Walking Tour: $67
  • São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79

Tours and Activities in Brasilia

Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Brasilia Tour: $52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sao Paulo $3.60
    Brasilia $15

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: $100
  • 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
  • Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $185


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Brasilia, we can see that Brasilia 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 Brasilia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brasilia 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 Sao Paulo Expensive? and Is Brasilia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Brasilia?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Brasilia. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Brasilia, 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.