Which place is cheaper, New York City or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
Where Should I go: Sao Paulo or New York City?
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.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $53New York City $326
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $53, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30New York City $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and New York City
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or New York City? 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 New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $5.96New York City $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- airport transfer: $113
- Viracopos Airport VCP to Poços de Caldas Thermal Arrival Transfer: $80
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to São Pedro Thermal Arrival Transfer: $38
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-RoundTrip Transfer: $77
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $38
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in São Paulo HTL-APT(GRU): $61
- Transfer from São Paulo to Port of Santos: $139
- Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $64
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $36
- Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo hotels to Campinas Airport (VCP) - Departure Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo Airport to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $176
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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Subway$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private New York Downtown Transfer for 10 hours Up to 12pax: $1,000
- Private Transfer: between Manhattan and Philadelphia: $528
- La Guardia Airport Private Limousine Transfer: $489
- NYC Instagram Tour with a Photographer, Tickets & Transfers: $427
- Skip-the-line Tickets to Bronx Zoo with Private Transfers: $410
- JFK Airport To Manhattan Luxury SUV Transfer: $370
- JFK Departure - Private Van Transfers to JFK Airport: $300
- Empire State Building NYC Tour, Pre-booked Tickets, Transfer: $300
- Private New York City Airport Departure Transfer : $299
- Skip the line One World Observatory Private Tour with Transfers : $296
- Skip-the-line One World Observatory Tour with Transfers: $296
- Central Park Zoo Skip the line Tickets and Private Transfers : $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $15New York City $50
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
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New York, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $26
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- Greenwich Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Gastro Pub Pre/Post Theater Dinner in Times Square: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.08New York City $180
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- 2 Hours Private São Paulo Museum of Modern Art Tour: $240
- 3 Beaches Hiking Santo Amaro Island - Paradise Route Tour from São Paulo: $125
- 3H CITY TOUR (pick up / delivery within Sao Paulo city limits): $151
- 4-Hour Private Tour in Sao Paulo: $300
- 4-hour Sum-up Private Tour Of São Paulo Including Its Major Attractions : $134
- 4WD One Day Tour visiting Water Fall and the Big Stone from Sao Paulo: $260
- 5 Hour City Tour in São Paulo: $91
- 5-hour Pelé Private Tour: The King of Football : $162
- 5-hour Private Street Art Tour Of São Paulo – The Coolest Urban Art Scenes: $174
- 5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup: $162
- 5-hour private tour in São Paulo (departures from hotels and airport): $155
- 5h City Tour (pick up & delivery within SaoPaulo city): $249
Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets$56
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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Magazine$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Hour Session at Williamsburg's Adventure Park Area 53: $42
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Amish FarmNHouse Tour from NY: $137
- Classic 1-Hour Central Park Pedicab Tour : $69
- Grand Central Terminal Walking Tour: $35
- New York City Ghost Tour of Greenwich Village: $36
- Official Central Park Pedicab Tours: $50
- & Juliet on Broadway Ticket : $110
- & Juliet on Broadway Ticket with VIP Experience and Lunch: $299
- 1 Day Tour to Philadelphia and Hershey's Chocolate World: $195
- 1 HR - NYC Private Classic Car Experience - Downtown: $249
- 1 HR - NYC Private Classic Car Experience - Midtown: $75
- 1 Hour Private Guided Pedicab Tour in New York City: $45
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.55New York City $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- São Paulo Nightlife: Pub Crawl in the City that Never Sleeps!: $49
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $54
- Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides: $98
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $22
- Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $29
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Tour Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery with Tastings: $42
- Lower East Side & Alphabet City divebar crawl w the Bar Buds: $48
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
- New York Wine Tasting Experience : $98
- Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99
- Hudson Valley Craft Brewery Bike Tour: $145
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. 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.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySao Paulo 25°C (77°F)New York City 77°F (25°C)
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. 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSao Paulo 22°C (72°F)New York City 57°F (14°C)
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. 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.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySao Paulo 19°C (66°F)New York City 31°F (-1°C)
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. 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.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSao Paulo 21°C (70°F)New York City 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for New York City and Sao Paulo
| Sao Paulo | New York City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |
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.