A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sao Paulo vs. New Orleans for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or New Orleans, 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.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a dynamic, vibrant, and colorful city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a festive, vibrant, and energetic city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the food, nightlife, and live music. See New Orleans travel costs.

Sao Paulo and New Orleans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Visitors will generally find more to do in New Orleans than Sao Paulo. While Sao Paulo is larger than New Orleans, New Orleans has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. New Orleans is better known for its food, music, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere, while Sao Paulo is more popular for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities. New Orleans is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is known for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. Also, New Orleans is famous for The French Quarter. Sao Paulo is well known for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene.

The French Quarter

How is Sao Paulo different from New Orleans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New Orleans and Sao Paulo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Sao Paulo from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Sao Paulo or New Orleans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Orleans is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, New Orleans is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Sao Paulo makes for a great culinary experience. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find first-rate options in both Sao Paulo and New Orleans.

People head to Sao Paulo just to party. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.

The nightlife in New Orleans is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Music?

New Orleans is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Sao Paulo is not a live music destination.

New Orleans has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Sao Paulo is not a live music destination.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a great city for its historic old town charm. However, Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to New Orleans to see the historical old town. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Sao Paulo does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Sao Paulo. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Families?

Sao Paulo is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Sao Paulo is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Couples?

Sao Paulo and New Orleans are both notable to visit as a couple.

Sao Paulo is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.

New Orleans is a nice destination for couples. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sao Paulo is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Students?

For students, both Sao Paulo and New Orleans are notable places to visit.

It's common for students to visit Sao Paulo. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.

New Orleans is a good city to visit for students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Sao Paulo can get you around easily. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is Sao Paulo or New Orleans a more walkable city?

Sao Paulo is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

Sao Paulo is very walkable. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.

New Orleans is a somewhat walkable place. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

For even more information, also check out Is Sao Paulo Worth Visiting? and Is New Orleans Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New Orleans or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sao Paulo and New Orleans. In our opinion, Sao Paulo has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Sao Paulo than New Orleans. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Sao Paulo than New Orleans. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sao Paulo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sao Paulo than New Orleans. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sao Paulo that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sao Paulo than New Orleans if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sao Paulo.

One day in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Sao Paulo is a cultural city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find live music and food around the city of New Orleans. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Sao Paulo is a cultural big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find food and nightlife around the vibrant destination of New Orleans. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

The vibrant city of Sao Paulo offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the vibrant city of New Orleans. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sao Paulo. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

New Orleans is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or New Orleans?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and New Orleans, 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 New Orleans?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but New Orleans has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sao Paulo or New Orleans in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and New Orleans. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to New Orleans for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Sao Paulo is cooler than New Orleans. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sao Paulo in January average around 25°C (77°F), and New Orleans averages at about 82°F (28°C)in July.

New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sao Paulo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than New Orleansin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or New Orleans in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as New Orleans. Many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, many visitors come to New Orleans in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In April, Sao Paulo is generally around the same temperature as New Orleansin October. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 22°C (72°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than New Orleansin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or New Orleans in the Winter?

Both New Orleans and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to New Orleans for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

Sao Paulo is much warmer than New Orleans in the winter. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and New Orleans fluctuates around 51°F (11°C)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In July, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than New Orleansin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Sao Paulo is June to August.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or New Orleans in the Spring?

Both New Orleans and Sao Paulo during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Sao Paulo is around the same temperature as New Orleans. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sao Paulo in October average around 21°C (70°F), and New Orleans averages at about 68°F (20°C)in April.

New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in October than New Orleansin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Typical Weather for New Orleans and Sao Paulo