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

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Vancouver, 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. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Vancouver

Vancouver is a diverse, friendly, and outdoorsy city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. With stunning beauty, Vancouver attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Vancouver travel costs.

Sao Paulo and Vancouver: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Vancouver than Sao Paulo. While Sao Paulo is larger than Vancouver, Vancouver has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Vancouver is better known for its hiking and impressive beauty, while Sao Paulo is more popular for its nightlife. Vancouver is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is known for its beautiful setting, sweeping views, and welcoming atmosphere. Also, Vancouver is famous for Stanley Park. Sao Paulo is well known for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene.

How is Sao Paulo different from Vancouver?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vancouver 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 Vancouver?

You'll find a number of world-class museums and attractions in both Vancouver and Sao Paulo.

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

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Vancouver that are not to be missed. There are tons of museums and sights around town such as the Vancouver Aquarium, the Museum of Anthropology, the Museum of Vancouver, and Science World. Also make sure you take a walk over the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

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

Foodies will find both Sao Paulo and Vancouver both to be great destinations.

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).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Vancouver makes for a great culinary experience. You'll find diverse restaurants and fresh ingredients. Local seafood is a staple in many restaurants so make sure you try the prawns, salmon, and even sea urchin. Asian food is also excellent around town. Sushi, Japanese hot dogs, and dim sum are all worth sampling.

Is Sao Paulo or Vancouver Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is a must-visit destination for nightlife. Also, Vancouver is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

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.

Vancouver has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The city has a vibrant nightlife scene. Most of the activity is centered around The Granville Entertainment District in the downtown area. It runs along Granville Street between Robson Street and Davie Street. In the area you'll find a high concentration of bars and nightclubs.

Is Sao Paulo or Vancouver Better for Hiking?

Vancouver is a world-class destination for hiking. However, Sao Paulo is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Vancouver draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The city is surrounded by water and mountains, making it one of the best hiking cities in the world. You don't have to go far to enjoy spectacular vistas, serene rainforests, and rugged coastline. The trails range from casual strolls to more strenuous day long hikes.

Sao Paulo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

If you're looking to go shopping, Sao Paulo and Vancouver both offer plenty of world-class spots.

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.

Vancouver is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. You can enjoy strolling through Chinatown, hitting up a public market, or wandering around a large shopping mall.

Is Sao Paulo or Vancouver More Beautiful?

Vancouver is a great city for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Vancouver attracts visitors from all around. It sits between the Pacific Ocean and high reaching mountains, so the city offers spectacular views.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sao Paulo or Vancouver Better for Families?

Vancouver is a great city 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 Vancouver. There are great kid-friendly museums like the Science Museum, as well as outdoor markets, public parks, and easy access to the nearby nature. A visit to Grouse Mountain is a must for many families. You can see the bears, take a gondola, and see the a lumberjack show.

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 Vancouver Better for Couples?

Vancouver is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Vancouver has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Most of the activities take advantage of the beautiful outdoor setting. You can take a carriage ride in Stanley Park or visit the Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden. Eat dim sum in Chinatown and then wander through the diverse neighborhood. End the day with a show at Orpheum Theater.

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 Vancouver Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Vancouver is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Vancouver. It's a favorite city for backpackers who enjoy the many outdoor activities. There are also many hostels available around town.

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 Vancouver Better for Students?

Vancouver is a great city for its student-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Vancouver is a great city to visit as a student. The cities friendly personality and fun energy make it a great place to study.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for students. 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.

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

Sao Paulo and Vancouver both offer world-class public transit to get you around.

With a huge network, the transit system in Sao Paulo can get you around easily. 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.

Visitors in Vancouver can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. Public transit is efficient and comfortable. The Translink system includes buses, the SeaBus ferry, and the SkyTrain light rail system.

Is Sao Paulo or Vancouver a more walkable city?

Vancouver is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Vancouver is a very easy city to get around on foot. The downtown area is very compact and fun to explore on foot.

Sao Paulo is very walkable. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Vancouver or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

In either Sao Paulo or Vancouver, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Vancouver than Sao Paulo because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Sao Paulo, and 3-5 days is enough time in Vancouver.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vancouver than Sao Paulo 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 Vancouver.

One day in Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

People visit Sao Paulo because there is so much to do. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Vancouver. 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 Vancouver?

People visit Sao Paulo because there is so much to do. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the outdoorsy big city of Vancouver. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the dynamic city of Sao Paulo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find nightlife and food around the diverse city of Vancouver. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

Sao Paulo is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Vancouver 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 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

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

Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or Vancouver?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Vancouver. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Sao Paulo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Vancouver has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Vancouver in the Summer?

Both Vancouver 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. Also, many visitors come to Vancouver in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Sao Paulo is a little warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sao Paulo in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Vancouver averages at about 18°C (64°F)in July.

It's quite rainy in Sao Paulo. In January, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Vancouverin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Sao Paulo is October to March.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Vancouver in the Autumn?

Both Vancouver 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Vancouver for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In April, Sao Paulo is generally much warmer than Vancouverin October. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 22°C (72°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than Vancouverin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Vancouver in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Vancouver. Most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Vancouver because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Vancouver can be very cold. Sao Paulo is much warmer than Vancouver in the winter. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F)in January.

Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Vancouverin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter. June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Vancouver in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Vancouver. The spring months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the activities around the city. Additionally, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Vancouver this time of year.

In the spring, Sao Paulo is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sao Paulo in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Vancouver averages at about 9°C (49°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in October than Vancouverin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Sao Paulo is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Vancouver and Sao Paulo