Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Sao Paulo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur?
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 Juan del Sur, 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 Juan del Sur?
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 Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $52San Juan del Sur $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $52, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is $53. 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 Juan del Sur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30San Juan del Sur $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60San Juan del Sur $42
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and San Juan del Sur
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur? 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 and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $5.90San Juan del Sur $18
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 San Juan del Sur?
Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur 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 $15San Juan del Sur $18
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 $4.05San Juan del Sur $15
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 San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.52San Juan del Sur $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:
- 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 comparing the travel costs between Sao Paulo and San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Juan del Sur is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Sao Paulo is in South America and San Juan del Sur is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Juan del Sur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 1290 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and San Juan del Sur, 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 San Juan del Sur?
Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.
In January, Sao Paulo is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Surin July. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 25°C (77°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Sao Paulo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in January than San Juan del Surin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySao Paulo 25°C (77°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?
Both San Juan del Sur and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Sao Paulo is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In April, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSao Paulo 22°C (72°F)San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?
Both San Juan del Sur and Sao Paulo during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
In the winter, Sao Paulo is cooler than San Juan del Sur. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sao Paulo in July average around 19°C (66°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Surin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySao Paulo 19°C (66°F)San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Sao Paulo or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than San Juan del Surin April. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 21°C (70°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
In October, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSao Paulo 21°C (70°F)San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Sao Paulo
| Sao Paulo | San Juan del Sur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 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.