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 $64Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $64, 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 $6.18Roatan $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): $18
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $28
- Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $38
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $42
- Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $42
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $43
- Transfer São Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport (GRU): $47
- Private Transfer: São Paulo Hotel to Guarulhos Int. Airport: $47
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport: $52
- Private Transfer from Vila Mariana to Sao Paulo (GRU) Airport: $59
- Private Transfer from CGH to any point of the city of São Paulo: $60
- Transfers Main airports in Sao Paulo: $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $150
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $105
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $79
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $65
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
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 $26Roatan $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: $71
- 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $89
- Paulista Plates São Paulo Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $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.
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.17Roatan $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: $4.74
- São Paulo Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.74
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $15
- Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Sao Paulo: $20
- Brazil Tropical Fruit Experience in São Paulo: $22
- Ladies Nightlife Tour with Drinks at Hidden Bars: $26
- Downtown-Center History Walking Tour: $28
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $29
- São Paulo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Historical and Cultural Tour Through Downtown São Paulo: $37
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $38
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- ATV Off Road Tour and Cultural Experience in Roatan: $129
- ATV Ride and Animals Park Tour Mahogany Bay and Ports Roatan: $135
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
- ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $159
- Animal Sightings and Walking Tour at Gumbalimba Park with Addons: $115
- Beer and Food Tasting Experience at Roatan Island Brewing Company: $100
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Costumed tours in paradise: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.63Roatan $6.49
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!: $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
- Roatan Coffee and Chocolate Tour with Brewery Stop: $90
- Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125
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.