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

Should you visit Sao Paulo or New York City?

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 York City, 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 York City

New York City is a energetic, cosmopolitan, and one-of-a-kind city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music. See New York City travel costs.

Sao Paulo and New York City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or New York City?

Visitors will generally find more to do in New York City than Sao Paulo. While Sao Paulo is larger than New York City, New York City has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. New York City is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is known for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. Also, New York City is famous for The Statue of Liberty. Sao Paulo is well known for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene.

How is Sao Paulo different from New York City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New York City 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 York City?

You'll find a number of world-class museums and attractions in both New York City and Sao Paulo.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Sao Paulo has many famous sights for visitors. 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

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in New York City that are not to be missed. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City Better for Theater?

New York City is a world-class destination for its shows and theatre. However, Sao Paulo is not a theatre destination.

Famous for its theaters and plays, you'll find world-renowned shows in New York City. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.

Sao Paulo is not a theatre destination.

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

New York City 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 York City is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.

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 York City Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find world-class options in both Sao Paulo and New York City.

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 York City is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City Better for Music?

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

New York City has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.

Sao Paulo is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or New York City?

If you're looking to go shopping, Sao Paulo and New York City both offer plenty of world-class spots.

Many people travel to Sao Paulo specifically to go shopping. 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.

New York City is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City More Beautiful?

New York City is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City Better for Families?

New York City is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in New York City. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.

Sao Paulo is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City Better for Couples?

New York City is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

New York City has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.

Sao Paulo is a nice destination for couples. 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.

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

New York City is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit New York City. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.

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.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City Better for Students?

New York City is a world-class destination for its student-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

New York City is a great destination for students. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for students. 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.

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

Sao Paulo and New York City both offer world-class public transit to get you around.

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.

Visitors in New York City can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.

Is Sao Paulo or New York City a more walkable city?

New York City is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

New York City is a very easy city to get around on foot. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.

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.

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

Should I spend more time in New York City or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or New York City?

Both Sao Paulo and New York City have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Sao Paulo. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sao Paulo, and 3-7 days is enough time in New York City.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City than Sao Paulo 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 New York City.

One day in Sao Paulo or New York City?

Sao Paulo is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

You'll find museums and theater around the city of New York City. 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 York City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sao Paulo. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find theater and nightlife around the cosmopolitan big city of New York City. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Sao Paulo or New York City?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural big city of Sao Paulo. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the energetic city of New York City. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Sao Paulo or New York City?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Sao Paulo. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

New York City is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in New York City, one week is sufficent for most. 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 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

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

Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or New York City?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of New York City. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and New York City, 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 York City?

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 York City has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sao Paulo or New York City in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and New York City. Many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to New York City in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Sao Paulo is around the same temperature as New York City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sao Paulo in January average around 25°C (77°F), and New York City averages at about 77°F (25°C)in July.

New York City 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 York Cityin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 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 York City in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as New York City. Many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, most visitors come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In April, Sao Paulo is generally much warmer than New York Cityin October. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 22°C (72°F), and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than New York Cityin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 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 York City in the Winter?

Both New York City and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to New York City because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in New York City can be very cold. Sao Paulo is much warmer than New York City in the winter. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C)in January.

In July, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than New York Cityin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 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 York City in the Spring?

Both New York City and Sao Paulo during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the activities around the city. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to New York City this time of year.

In the spring, Sao Paulo is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sao Paulo in October average around 21°C (70°F), and New York City averages at about 52°F (11°C)in April.

Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in October than New York Cityin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Typical Weather for New York City and Sao Paulo