Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo or Wellington?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Wellington or Sao Paulo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Wellington or Sao Paulo? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Wellington or Sao Paulo?
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, 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 dayWellington $104Sao Paulo $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Wellington is $104, while the average daily cost in Sao Paulo 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 Wellington and Sao Paulo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWellington $61Sao Paulo $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWellington $122Sao Paulo $60
Compare Hotels in Wellington and Sao Paulo
Looking for a hotel in Wellington or Sao Paulo? 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: Wellington Hotel Prices and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Wellington $12Sao Paulo $5.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer: $78
- Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $75
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $72
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $61
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $26
- Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
- Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- airport transfer: $113
- Viracopos Airport VCP to Poços de Caldas Thermal Arrival Transfer: $80
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to São Pedro Thermal Arrival Transfer: $38
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-RoundTrip Transfer: $77
- Viracopos Airport (VCP) to Águas de Lindoia-Arrival Transfer: $38
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in São Paulo HTL-APT(GRU): $61
- Transfer from São Paulo to Port of Santos: $139
- Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $64
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $36
- Sao Paulo to Campinas Viracopos Airport (VCP) - Private Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo hotels to Campinas Airport (VCP) - Departure Transfer: $38
- Sao Paulo Airport to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Wellington or Sao Paulo?
Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo and Wellington 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 dayWellington $30Sao Paulo $15
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$9.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $151
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $185
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.Wellington $16Sao Paulo $4.08
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5 hour Wellington City Heights Shared tour: $90
- A Taste of Kapiti - Kapiti Foodie Delights Tour: $288
- From Cave to Coast Wellington Highlights Tour: $118
- From Source to Sea Remutaka Mountain Bike Cycle Tour: $103
- From Half-Day Foodie Tour of the Wairarapa: $106
- From Taste Buds Tour of Petone: $167
- Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: $178
- Full Day Tour of Wellington: $178
- Full-Day Wellington Self-Guided Electric Bike Tour: $51
- Fully customizable tours: $148
- Guided Small Group Walking Tour in Wellington: $45
- Guided Wellington Sightseeing Tour by Electric Bike: $78
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- 2 Hours Private São Paulo Museum of Modern Art Tour: $240
- 3 Beaches Hiking Santo Amaro Island - Paradise Route Tour from São Paulo: $125
- 3H CITY TOUR (pick up / delivery within Sao Paulo city limits): $151
- 4-Hour Private Tour in Sao Paulo: $300
- 4-hour Sum-up Private Tour Of São Paulo Including Its Major Attractions : $134
- 4WD One Day Tour visiting Water Fall and the Big Stone from Sao Paulo: $260
- 5 Hour City Tour in São Paulo: $91
- 5-hour Pelé Private Tour: The King of Football : $162
- 5-hour Private Street Art Tour Of São Paulo – The Coolest Urban Art Scenes: $174
- 5-hour Private Tour Of São Paulo With Its Main Sights – Optional Airport Pickup: $162
- 5-hour private tour in São Paulo (departures from hotels and airport): $155
- 5h City Tour (pick up & delivery within SaoPaulo city): $249
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWellington $12Sao Paulo $3.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour: $93
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $96
- 5 hour Martinborough shared Chefs Wine Tour with Gourmet lunch: $151
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $169
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $361
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!: $49
- Half Day Private Wine Tour from São Roque: $54
- Wine Tour in São Roque by car - tour with local guides: $98
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wellington and Sao Paulo, we can see that Wellington is more expensive. And not only is Sao Paulo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Wellington is in Pacific and Sao Paulo is in South 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 Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington 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 Wellington Expensive? and Is Sao Paulo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Wellington or Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Wellington and Sao Paulo, 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 Wellington or Sao Paulo?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.
Should I visit Wellington or Sao Paulo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Wellington and Sao Paulo. Many travelers come to Wellington for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Wellington is cooler than Sao Paulo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Wellington in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 25°C (77°F).
Sao Paulo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Wellington usually receives less rain than Sao Paulo. Wellington gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JanuaryWellington 18°C (64°F)Sao Paulo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Sao Paulo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Wellington as well as Sao Paulo. Many visitors come to Wellington in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In April, Wellington is generally much colder than Sao Paulo. Daily temperatures in Wellington average around 15°C (58°F), and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Wellington usually gets more rain in April than Sao Paulo. Wellington gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures AprilWellington 15°C (58°F)Sao Paulo 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Sao Paulo in the Winter?
Both Sao Paulo and Wellington are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Wellington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Wellington is much colder than Sao Paulo in the winter. The daily temperature in Wellington averages around 10°C (49°F) in July, and Sao Paulo fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite rainy in Wellington. In July, Wellington usually receives more rain than Sao Paulo. Wellington gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JulyWellington 10°C (49°F)Sao Paulo 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Wellington or Sao Paulo in the Spring?
Both Sao Paulo and Wellington during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Wellington because of the beaches.
In the spring, Wellington is much colder than Sao Paulo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Wellington in October average around 13°C (55°F), and Sao Paulo averages at about 21°C (70°F).
Wellington usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Sao Paulo. Wellington gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Sao Paulo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures OctoberWellington 13°C (55°F)Sao Paulo 21°C (70°F)
Typical Weather for Sao Paulo and Wellington
| Wellington | Sao Paulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Aug | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 150 mm (5.9 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.