A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sao Paulo vs. Puerto Madryn for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?

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.

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn or Sao Paulo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $52, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sao Paulo $30
    Puerto Madryn $5.25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sao Paulo $60
    Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Puerto Madryn

Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn? 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.

Hotels in Sao Paulo


Hotels in Puerto Madryn


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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sao Paulo $5.90
    Puerto Madryn $3.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo

Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Sao Paulo City - Sao Paulo Airport (GRU): $22
  • Private One Way Airport Transfer Sao Paulo to and from Sao Paulo: $27
  • Private Transfer from Sao Paulo hotels to Santos Cruise Port: $31
  • Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $35
  • Private Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $36
  • Sao Paulo hotels to Campinas Airport (VCP) - Departure Transfer: $38
  • Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $38
  • Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $38
  • Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $43
  • Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Guarulhos International Airport: $46
  • Private Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport Transfer to or from Sao Paulo: $50
  • Private Transfer from Liberdade to Sao Paulo (GRU) Airport: $57

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:

  • From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
  • Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sao Paulo $15
    Puerto Madryn $5.69

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sao Paulo $4.05
    Puerto Madryn $5.77

Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.

  • São Paulo (Ibirapuera) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.87
  • Casa do Povo: guided tour of Neo Química Arena: $11
  • Sao Paulo 360 Guided Tour: $26
  • Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $27
  • Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo : $34
  • Night Walking Tour through the Bars of Augusta street: $34
  • Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $39
  • Sao Paulo, Pinheiros - Food & Graffiti Tour (2,5hr Food included): $53
  • São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $53
  • City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $64
  • Sao Paulo Culture Walking Tour: $69
  • São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79

Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:


  • Whale Watching for Two
    $0.35

Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:

  • 4 x 4 experience around Puerto Madryn: $100
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Ea San Lorenzo Peninsula Valdes - Patagonia - Argentina: $229
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Peninsula Valdes - Pto Madryn - Patagonia - Argentina: $119
  • Cruise Shore Excursion Punta Tombo - Tickets included - Puerto Madryn Patagonia: $129
  • Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
  • From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
  • From Florentino Ameghino Dam Day Tour: $194
  • From Penguin Tour & Península Valdés Day Trip: $152
  • From Valdes Peninsula Full-Day Tour: $130
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
  • Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
  • Full Day Punta Tombo - Walking Among Penguins Experience - Madryn: $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sao Paulo $3.52
    Puerto Madryn $3.13

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: $53
  • Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides: $95
  • 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
  • Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $177


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Puerto Madryn, we can see that Sao Paulo is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Sao Paulo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sao Paulo than you might in Puerto Madryn.

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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Puerto Madryn. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn in the Summer?

Both Puerto Madryn and Sao Paulo during the summer are popular places to visit.

Sao Paulo is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the summer. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in January than Puerto Madryn. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January
    Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Puerto Madryn.

In the autumn, Sao Paulo is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sao Paulo in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F).

In April, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April
    Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Puerto Madryn.

In July, Sao Paulo is generally much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 19°C (66°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Madryn. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July
    Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?

Both Puerto Madryn and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Sao Paulo is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn in the spring. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

In October, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Puerto Madryn. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October
    Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F) 
    Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo Puerto Madryn
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 170 mm (6.7 in) 21°C (69°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Mar 24°C (75°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 18°C (64°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Apr 22°C (72°F) 50 mm (2 in) 14°C (58°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
May 21°C (70°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 10°C (51°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Jun 19°C (66°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 7°C (45°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 7°C (45°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)
Aug 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 9°C (48°F) 16 mm (0.6 in)
Sep 21°C (70°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 11°C (53°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Oct 21°C (70°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 14°C (58°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 18°C (64°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Dec 24°C (75°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)