A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sao Paulo vs. Santa Elena for Nightlife, Backpackers, Food, and Families

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Santa Elena, 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.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a colorful, cultural, and dynamic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a outdoorsy, scenic, and tranquil town. Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Sao Paulo and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sao Paulo. Although Sao Paulo and Santa Elena are popular destinations, Sao Paulo has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sao Paulo is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Santa Elena attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Santa Elena is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is known for its birdwatching and environmental conservation. Sao Paulo is famous for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. It is also well known for Ibirapuera Park.

How is Sao Paulo different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Elena and Sao Paulo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Sao Paulo is a must-visit destination for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Sao Paulo has many famous sights for visitors. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Is the Food Better in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sao Paulo is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Sao Paulo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

Sao Paulo is a world class party destination. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is a great town for hiking. However, Sao Paulo is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Santa Elena for the hiking trails. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Sao Paulo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Sao Paulo is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many people travel to Sao Paulo specifically to go shopping. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.

Santa Elena is a great destination for shopping. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Santa Elena is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Santa Elena is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Santa Elena. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Sao Paulo is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Santa Elena is a great town for couples. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Santa Elena is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Sao Paulo is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Santa Elena, as it is a very popular town for budget travelers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Students?

Sao Paulo is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Santa Elena is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit Sao Paulo. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.

Santa Elena is not popular with students.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sao Paulo is a must-visit destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.

Sao Paulo has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.

Santa Elena has a few public transit options. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Sao Paulo or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Sao Paulo is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Sao Paulo is a very walkable destination. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.

Santa Elena is somewhat walkable. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

For even more information, also check out Is Sao Paulo Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Elena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Sao Paulo or Santa Elena. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Santa Elena due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sao Paulo, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

Families should spend more time in Santa Elena than Sao Paulo. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Elena, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sao Paulo than Santa Elena. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sao Paulo that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sao Paulo than Santa Elena if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sao Paulo.

One day in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Sao Paulo is a dynamic city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find shopping around the town of Santa Elena. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Sao Paulo is a dynamic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find shopping around the outdoorsy destination of Santa Elena. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

The dynamic city of Sao Paulo offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the tranquil town of Santa Elena. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sao Paulo. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Santa Elena is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena 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 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Sao Paulo or Santa Elena?

Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Sao Paulo is cooler than Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. In January, Sao Paulo usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Elenain July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Sao Paulo is October to March.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

Both Santa Elena and Sao Paulo during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

In the autumn, Sao Paulo is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sao Paulo in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than Santa Elenain October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Sao Paulo. Also, the hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Santa Elena. Most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than Santa Elenain January. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 19°C (66°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In July, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Santa Elenain January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season. February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Santa Elena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Santa Elena. The spring months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

Sao Paulo is cooler than Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.

Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in October than Santa Elenain April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Sao Paulo is the rainy season. Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Sao Paulo