Comparison · Mexico City vs São Paulo · Mexico / Brazil
Mexico City 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
Photo: Gobierno CDMX, CC0
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Quick answer
Choose Mexico City for Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights; choose São Paulo for Avenida Paulista, MASP and lower day-to-day costs. São Paulo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 7,432 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 7,432 km
- Less expensive
- São Paulo
- Best time for Mexico City
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for São Paulo
- April–May and August–October
Side by side
| Mexico City | São Paulo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Brazil |
| Known for | Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and Frida Kahlo | Avenida Paulista, MASP and Ibirapuera Park |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | April–May and August–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $100–$180 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 27°C (81°F) | February, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 21°C (70°F) | June, 22°C (72°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MEX, NLU, TLC | GRU, CGH, VCP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Mexico City for…
Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights. Mexico City sits at about 2,240 metres in a high valley ringed by volcanoes, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. Its historic centre around the Zócalo holds the Templo Mayor ruins, the cathedral and Diego Rivera's murals, while Chapultepec…
Choose São Paulo for…
Avenida Paulista, MASP and lower day-to-day costs. 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
| # | Mexico City | São Paulo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zócalo | Avenida Paulista |
| 2 | Metropolitan Cathedral | MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art |
| 3 | Templo Mayor | Ibirapuera Park |
| 4 | National Palace murals | Pinacoteca de São Paulo |
| 5 | Palacio de Bellas Artes | Museu da Língua Portuguesa |
Food compared
| Mexico City | São Paulo |
|---|---|
| Tacos al pastor | Pastel de feira |
| Chilaquiles | Mortadella sandwich |
| Tamales and atole | Coxinha |
| Tlacoyos | 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 $120–$220 in Mexico City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). São Paulo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 7,432 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Mexico City or São Paulo cheaper?
São Paulo is usually less expensive: about $100–$180 a day mid-range against $120–$220 (estimates).
+Is Mexico City or São Paulo better for a first trip?
Pick Mexico City for Tacos al pastor, National Museum of Anthropology and free sights, or São Paulo for Avenida Paulista, MASP and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Mexico City from São Paulo?
About 7,432 km in a straight line.