Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Roatan, 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Sao Paulo Prices
Brazil PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $63Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $63, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Roatan? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $6.00Roatan $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG): $17
- Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) Private Transfer to Sao Paulo City/Hotels: $27
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $28
- Transfer Guarulhos Airport (GRU) to São Paulo City Center: $43
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $44
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $45
- Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $45
- Transfer São Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport (GRU): $48
- Private Transfer GRU Airport São Paulo – Executive Sedan or SUV: $50
- Private Transfer: São Paulo Hotel to Guarulhos Int. Airport: $50
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)(CGH): $51
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Scuba Dive in the West End of Roatan with Private Transfer: $155
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $152
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
- Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $128
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $112
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $61
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $25Roatan $15
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:
- Street Food Tour in São Paulo with a Local Guide: $72
- Paulista Plates São Paulo Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
- 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $89
- São Suppers Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.05Roatan $25
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- São Paulo Ibirapuera Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.98
- São Paulo Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.01
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
- Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Sao Paulo: $20
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $29
- Brazil Tropical Fruit Experience in São Paulo: $30
- São Paulo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $40
- São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $41
- Bus ticket Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: $50
- São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $52
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
- ATV & community adventure, Mangrove tour, food tasting and Beach: $139
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $99
- ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
- Beer and Food Tasting Experience at Roatan Island Brewing Company: $100
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Cruise Travelers West Bay Beach Break with Island Tour in Roatan: $50
- Custom Private Roatan Shuttle Tour: Explore at Your Own Pace: $30
- Custom Roatan Cruise Excursion and Island Tour: $55
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.53Roatan $6.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Pub Crawl in Pinheiros: Explore the Nightlife of São Paulo: $35
- São Paulo Nightlife: Pub Crawl in the City that Never Sleeps!: $59
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Roatan, we can see that Sao Paulo is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sao Paulo is in South America and Roatan is in Central 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Roatan?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 1330 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Roatan, 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.
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.