Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or Cochabamba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Cochabamba, 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 Cochabamba?
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.
Cochabamba
With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.
The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.
Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Bolivia.
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Sao Paulo Prices
Brazil PricesCochabamba Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $60Cochabamba $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $60, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $79. 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 Cochabamba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $28Cochabamba $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $56Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Cochabamba
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Cochabamba? 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 Cochabamba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $5.76Cochabamba $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG) (SDU): $16
- Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) Private Transfer to Sao Paulo City/Hotels: $27
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $38
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $39
- Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $42
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $47
- Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $65
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Sao Paulo APT-HTL(GRU): $67
- Transfer (Taxi) airport to Sao Paulo: $77
- Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) to Sao Paulo Private Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from Guarulhos to Santos: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cochabamba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cochabamba:
- MiniVan or Bus Transfer from Cochabamba Airport CBB to Cochabamba: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Cochabamba?
Prices for flights to both Cochabamba 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 $24Cochabamba $38
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:
- Make 9 Brazilian Faves in a 4-Hour Cooking Workshop in Sao Paulo: $85
- Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cochabamba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cochabamba.
- Adelante Mujer Bolivian Cooking Workshops: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $3.89Cochabamba $25
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- Sao Paulo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Downtown-Center History Walking Tour - in English: $31
- São Paulo: 2 Hour Immersion Waling Tour in Paulista Avenue: $34
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $48
- Boat Trip Billings Dam and Experience Bororé Island: $50
- São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour - In English: $55
- Sao Paulo, Pinheiros - Food & Graffiti Tour - In English: $65
- São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $66
- City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $68
- Sao Paulo Culture Walking Tour: $69
- Shared tour of the tourist attractions of São Paulo: $77
- São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79
Tours and Activities in Cochabamba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:
- City of Eternal Spring: Self-Guided Tour of Downtown Cochabamba : $5.99
- Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $231
- Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $85
- Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.38Cochabamba $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:
- Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $192
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba 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 Cochabamba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Cochabamba?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cochabamba. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Cochabamba, 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.