Should you visit Sao Paulo or Copacabana?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Copacabana, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Copacabana
Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.
Which city is cheaper, Copacabana or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $41, while the average daily cost in Copacabana is $34. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sao Paulo and Copacabana in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Sao Paulo can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $23, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $46.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $18 for a double occupancy room in Copacabana.
Food
The average traveler spends about $11 per day in Sao Paulo for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The price of a meal in Copacabana can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $14 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $5.60 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sao Paulo $11
Copacabana $14
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:
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Sao Paulo - Pinheiros Gourmet Food Tour (4 hours tour + 3 dishes included):
$45
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Brazilian Cooking Class:
$79
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Cooking Class in São Paulo:
$268
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Private Food Tour in São Paulo:
$278
Typical Food prices in Copacabana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:
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Lunch
$3.63
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Sandwich
$1.16
Local Transportation
Sao Paulo's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $4.60 per person, per day on transportation in Sao Paulo.
The average price of local transportation around Copacabana is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to GRU International Airport:
$50
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CGH Airport transfer Sao Paulo city / Hotel:
$38
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Creative & Natural Transfer São Paulo-Paraty:
$375
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Departure Private Transfer São Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU by Standard Car:
$43
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Departure Private Transfer São Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car:
$82
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Departure Private Transfer São Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Luxury Van:
$77
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Guarulhos International Airport Transfer:
$100
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport to Guarulhos City - One Way:
$122
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport to São Paulo City - One Way:
$122
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Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Int. Airport (GRU):
$23
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Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo-Guarulhos Int. Airport (GRU) to Sao Paulo:
$23
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Private Airport Transfer: Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) to Sao Paulo:
$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Copacabana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Copacabana:
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Private Transfer from La Paz to Uyuni.:
$249
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Copacabana?
Prices for flights to both Copacabana 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Sao Paulo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $3.15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Copacabana's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
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Downtown São Paulo: An audio tour tracing the city's epic history:
$5.00
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Virtual Live Tour of Sao Paulo Graffiti Hosted by Artist:
$25
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Street art is not for lazy tourists :P:
$25
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São Paulo Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour:
$31
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Paulista Avenue Walking Tour:
$31
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Private São Paulo Historic Center Walking Tour:
$45
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Small Group Highlights Tour in São Paulo:
$49
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City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day:
$50
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Alternative City Tour:
$50
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Rain Forest Trail - Cantareira Natural Park day tour from São Paulo:
$58
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Embu das Artes Largest Handicraft Fair Tour from São Paulo:
$58
Tours and Activities in Copacabana
Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2-Day Moon & Sun Island Tour from La Paz:
$147
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2-Day Private Tour from La Paz: Lake Titicaca, Copacabana and Sun Island:
$553
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La Paz City Tour - Fullday (FD):
$163
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La Paz and Moon Valley Half-Day Tour:
$55
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Private Tour: La Paz City Sightseeing and Moon Valley:
$66
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Private Tour: Lake Titicaca, Copacabana and Sun Island from La Paz:
$311
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Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 pm:
$12
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Sao Paulo, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $2.74.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Copacabana may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $9.35 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
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4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena:
$69
Typical Alcohol prices in Copacabana
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Copacabana, we can see that Sao Paulo is more expensive. And not only is Copacabana much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Copacabana would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copacabana 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 Sao Paulo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sao Paulo than you might in Copacabana.
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