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

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Ottawa?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Ottawa, 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. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a welcoming, cultural, and friendly city. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See Ottawa travel costs.

Sao Paulo and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or Ottawa?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sao Paulo than Ottawa. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Sao Paulo is more touristy than Ottawa and is known for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. It is also well known for Ibirapuera Park. Ottawa is famous for its history, politics, and green space.

How is Sao Paulo different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ottawa 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 Ottawa?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its museums and history. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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

Many visitors head to Ottawa specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As the country's capital, there are a large number of museums to explore. There are summer national museums in town which include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of History, the Science and Technology Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Agriculture and Food Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the War Museum.

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

Sao Paulo is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Sao Paulo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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).

Ottawa offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The culinary scene highlights many Canadian classics like poutine and maple donuts (and, of course, the classic Tim Horton's), but you'll also find plenty of international options like shawarma.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

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.

Ottawa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think about partying, but there are live music venues and a some great bars around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or Ottawa?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

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.

Ottawa is a great destination for shopping. You'll find large malls, outlets, and shopping streets that are fun to browse. Some of the favorite shopping areas include ByWard Market, Sparks Street, and CF Rideau Centre.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa Better for Families?

Sao Paulo and Ottawa are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Sao Paulo offers lots of family activities. 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.

Ottawa is a family-friendly place to visit. As the country's capital, you'll find a number of museums that will keep a kid's attention. In particular, check out the aviation, science, and nature museums. If you have a car, you can head out to Calypso Water Park, which is fun as well.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Sao Paulo and Ottawa are both nice 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.

Ottawa is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with parks and green spaces where you can enjoy flowers or peaceful walks. Commissioners Park is particularly nice and known for its tulips during the spring season. Dow's Lake is a nice place for ice skating in the winter or kayaking in the summer. The city also offers a number of romantic restaurants and charming hotels.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Sao Paulo and Ottawa are nice places to visit.

It's common for backpackers to visit Sao Paulo. 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.

Ottawa is a good city to visit for backpackers. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa Better for Students?

For students, both Sao Paulo and Ottawa are nice 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.

Ottawa is a good city to visit for students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa 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. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

You'll find some public transit in Ottawa, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Is Sao Paulo or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Sao Paulo is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

Sao Paulo is a very walkable destination. 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.

Ottawa is somewhat walkable. Many of the urban neighborhoods are very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or Ottawa?

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

Families should spend more time in Sao Paulo than Ottawa. 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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa?

Sao Paulo is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?

Sao Paulo is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and food around the friendly destination of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sao Paulo. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the friendly city of Ottawa. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Sao Paulo or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural big city of Sao Paulo. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Ottawa is a popular choice for travelers. 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Ottawa?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?

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 Ottawa has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Ottawa in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Ottawa. Many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Sao Paulo is a little warmer than Ottawa in the summer. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F)in July.

Sao Paulo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Ottawain July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Ottawa. Most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Sao Paulo is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sao Paulo in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Ottawa averages at about 9°C (48°F)in October.

Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than Ottawain October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Ottawa in the Winter?

Both Ottawa and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. In July, Sao Paulo is generally much warmer than Ottawain January. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 19°C (66°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In July, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Ottawain January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Sao Paulo is June to August.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Sao Paulo during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year.

Sao Paulo is much warmer than Ottawa in the spring. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F)in April.

Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in October than Ottawain April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Sao Paulo