Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Saint John, 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 Saint John?
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.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, and The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $52Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $52, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or Saint John? 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 $5.90Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- (Sedan Executive Class) Transfer VCP Airport • São Paulo: $298
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia Grande/Santos - Private Transfer: $62
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Praia/Santos hotels - Arrival Transfer: $62
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Arrival Transfer: $38
- Campinas Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Campinas Airport (VCP)to Praia Grande/Santos - RoundTrip Transfer: $125
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) Sao Paulo - Round-Trip Transfer: $76
- Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Sao Paulo - Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Business Car: $122
- Departure Private Transfers: Sao Paulo to Guarulhos Airport GRU in Luxury Van: $143
- Departure private transfer from São Paulo city to Guarulhos Airport by minibus: $194
- Downtown to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) - Departure Private Transfer: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $15Saint John $56
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.05Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
- Sao Paulo 360 Guided Tour: $26
- Discover Sao Paulo History Guided Tour: $27
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of Augusta street: $35
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $40
- São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour: $54
- City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $64
- São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79
- Street Art and Parks Bike Tour: $80
- Secrets of Downtown São Paulo Bike Tour: $85
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.52Saint John $44
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $54
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
- Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $180
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Sao Paulo or Saint John?
Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Saint John. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
In the summer, Sao Paulo is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sao Paulo in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Saint John averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.
Sao Paulo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in January than Saint Johnin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySao Paulo 25°C (77°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Saint John in the Autumn?
Both Saint John and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than Saint Johnin October. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 22°C (72°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In April, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Saint Johnin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSao Paulo 22°C (72°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Sao Paulo during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Sao Paulo is cooler than Saint John in the winter. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.
Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in July than Saint Johnin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySao Paulo 19°C (66°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or Saint John in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Sao Paulo is cooler than Saint John. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sao Paulo in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Saint John averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
In October, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Saint Johnin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSao Paulo 21°C (70°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Sao Paulo
| Sao Paulo | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
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.