Which place is cheaper, Kingston or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or Kingston?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Kingston, 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 Kingston?
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.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
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 daySao Paulo $52Kingston $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $52, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $109. 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 Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30Kingston $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60Kingston $128
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Kingston? 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 Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $5.90Kingston $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- (Sedan Executive Class) Transfer VCP Airport • São Paulo: $298
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia Grande/Santos - Private Transfer: $62
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos hotels - Arrival Transfer: $62
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $38
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Campinas Airport (VCP)to Praia Grande/Santos - RoundTrip Transfer: $125
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) Sao Paulo - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car: $122
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Luxury Van: $143
- Departure private transfer from São Paulo city to Guarulhos Airport by minibus: $194
- Downtown to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) - Departure Private Transfer: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Kingston: $388
- Tropical Off-Road ATV Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $280
- Port Antonio Hotel Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport(KIN): $235
- Private Airport Transfer Sangster Airport to Kingston: $229
- NMIA & Kingston transfer to Negril: $225
- Kingston Airport Private Transfer to Riu Ocho Rios: $200
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport to Jewel Grande Montego Bay: $187
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer to Accommodation in Montego Bay: $170
- Kingston : Private Airport Transfer to Montego Bay: $169
- Kingston Private Airport Transfer : $161
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Ocho Rios : $133
- Kingston Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston 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 $15Kingston $27
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.Sao Paulo $4.05Kingston $13
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
- Sao Paulo 360 Guided Tour: $26
- Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $27
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of Augusta street: $35
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $40
- São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $54
- City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $64
- São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79
- Street Art and Parks Bike Tour: $80
- Secrets of Downtown São Paulo Bike Tour: $85
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages: $174
- 4x4 Jeep Safari & Blue Hole Adventure from Ocho Rios: $158
- Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Ocho Rios: $232
- Authentic Jamaican Food Experience: $140
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Runaway Bay: $142
- Blue Mountains Coffee Private Tour from Kingston: $180
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $83
- Bob Marley Museum Tour from Runaway Bay: $258
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $370
- Bob Marley Museum and Devon House Kingston Day Tour: $320
- Bob Marley Museum and Kingston Sightseeing from Port Royal Cruise Port: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.52Kingston $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $54
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
- Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $180
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Kingston, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sao Paulo is in South America and Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston 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 Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Kingston?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Kingston, 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 Sao Paulo or Kingston?
Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kingston experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Kingston in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Kingston. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Sao Paulo is cooler than Kingston in the summer. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.
Sao Paulo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in January than Kingstonin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySao Paulo 25°C (77°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Kingston in the Autumn?
Both Kingston and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Sao Paulo is cooler than Kingston. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sao Paulo in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Kingston averages at about 28°C (82°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In April, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Kingstonin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSao Paulo 22°C (72°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Kingston in the Winter?
Both Kingston and Sao Paulo during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
In July, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than Kingstonin January. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 19°C (66°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in July than Kingstonin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySao Paulo 19°C (66°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Kingston in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Kingston. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Sao Paulo is cooler than Kingston in the spring. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in April.
In October, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Kingstonin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSao Paulo 21°C (70°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Sao Paulo
| Sao Paulo | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.