Comparison · Buenos Aires vs São Paulo · Argentina / Brazil
Buenos Aires vs São Paulo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Buenos Aires for Tango and Steak and Malbec; choose São Paulo for Avenida Paulista, MASP, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. São Paulo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,675 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,675 km
- Less expensive
- São Paulo
- Best time for Buenos Aires
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for São Paulo
- April–May and August–October
Side by side
| Buenos Aires | São Paulo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Argentina | Brazil |
| Known for | Tango, Steak and Malbec and Recoleta Cemetery | Avenida Paulista, MASP and Ibirapuera Park |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | April–May and August–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$220 | $100–$180 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | January, 30°C (86°F) | February, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 15°C (59°F) | June, 22°C (72°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | EZE, AEP | GRU, CGH, VCP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Buenos Aires for…
Tango and Steak and Malbec. Buenos Aires spreads along the Río de la Plata in a grid of barrios, each with its own character: the colonial streets of San Telmo, the mansions and cemetery of Recoleta, the boutiques and restaurants of Palermo and the government buildings around Plaza de…
Choose São Paulo for…
Avenida Paulista, MASP, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. São Paulo is the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere, a grid of high-rises on a plateau about 70 km from the Atlantic. Visitors come for its museums along Avenida Paulista, Niemeyer's buildings in Ibirapuera Park, the street art of Vila Madalena and a…
Top sights compared
| # | Buenos Aires | São Paulo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recoleta Cemetery | Avenida Paulista |
| 2 | Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada | MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art |
| 3 | Teatro Colón | Ibirapuera Park |
| 4 | Caminito, La Boca | Pinacoteca de São Paulo |
| 5 | La Bombonera and the Boca Juniors museum | Museu da Língua Portuguesa |
Food compared
| Buenos Aires | São Paulo |
|---|---|
| Asado and bife de chorizo | Pastel de feira |
| Empanadas | Mortadella sandwich |
| Choripán | Coxinha |
| Provoleta | Pão de queijo |
Which is cheaper?
São Paulo is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$180 per person there, against $110–$220 in Buenos Aires (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). São Paulo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,675 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Buenos Aires or São Paulo cheaper?
São Paulo is usually less expensive: about $100–$180 a day mid-range against $110–$220 (estimates).
+Is Buenos Aires or São Paulo better for a first trip?
Pick Buenos Aires for Tango and Steak and Malbec, or São Paulo for Avenida Paulista, MASP, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter.
+How far is Buenos Aires from São Paulo?
About 1,675 km in a straight line.