Which place is cheaper, San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or San Carlos de Bariloche, 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 San Carlos de Bariloche?
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.
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
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 Eco Tours in Argentina, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina.
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Sao Paulo Prices
Brazil PricesSan Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $64San Carlos de Bariloche $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $64, while the average daily cost in San Carlos de Bariloche is $84. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30San Carlos de Bariloche $68
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60San Carlos de Bariloche $136
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and San Carlos de Bariloche
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or San Carlos de Bariloche? 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 $6.18San Carlos de Bariloche $2.69
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Private Transfer from Bariloche Airport to Villa La Angostura: $277
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $190
- Bariloche: Snow Day at Piedras Blancas Winter Park+Transfer: $180
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Hotel Tronador: $171
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Cascada Los Alerces: $171
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Villa Traful: $171
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Pampa Linda: $171
- Bariloche Airport BRC to Cerro Catedral RoundTrip Transfer: $160
- BARILOCHE: PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER: $145
- Bariloche Airport Round Trip PrivateTransfer: $145
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Lago Correntoso: $143
- Private Transfer from Bariloche (BRC) Airport to Villa La Angostura: $143
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Prices for flights to both San Carlos de Bariloche 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 $26San Carlos de Bariloche $5.93
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 San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: TRE Experience – “Three-Course Dinner. Catena Zapata”: $135
- Bariloche: El Mallín. Dinner with Tango Show: $185
- Bariloche: Winter Night – Evening Activities in the Snow with Dinner and Show: $275
- Bariloche Nordic Night: Quad Bike Ride and Dinner on Cerro Otto: $410
- Bariloche: Snowmobile Ride with 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Snow Adventure and 4-Course Dinner: $425
- Bariloche: Evening Snowmobile Ride with Dinner at La Cueva Catedral: $428
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.17San Carlos de Bariloche $32
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 San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Adventure motorcycle and snow on Otto Hill: $39
- Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Black Ventisquero from Bariloche: $135
- Bariloche Chocolate Sightseeing Tour: Patagonian Flavors Walking Tour: $60
- Bariloche Circuito Chico Trekking and Colonia Suiza Tour: $110
- Bariloche Flavours Tasting Walking Tour: $100
- Bariloche Football Experience with Locals & Traditional BBQ: $60
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $215
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes: $95
- Bariloche: Andean Region Tour to El Bolsón & Lago Puelo: $70
- Bariloche: Beer Experience 'Discover the World of Craft Beer': $150
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.63San Carlos de Bariloche $8.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- 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 San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $122
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and San Carlos de Bariloche, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or San Carlos de Bariloche?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of San Carlos de Bariloche. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and San Carlos de Bariloche, 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.