Comparison · Montevideo vs São Paulo · Uruguay / Brazil
Montevideo 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: Eduardo Ruggieri, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Montevideo for Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and beaches; 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 1,563 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,563 km
- Less expensive
- São Paulo
- Best time for Montevideo
- November–March
- Best time for São Paulo
- April–May and August–October
Side by side
| Montevideo | São Paulo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Uruguay | Brazil |
| Known for | Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and Chivito sandwich | Avenida Paulista, MASP and Ibirapuera Park |
| Best time to visit | November–March | April–May and August–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$230 | $100–$180 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | January, 28°C (82°F) | February, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 14°C (57°F) | June, 22°C (72°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | Playa Pocitos | — |
| Airports | MVD | GRU, CGH, VCP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Montevideo for…
Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and beaches. Uruguay's capital lines the north shore of the Río de la Plata, with a waterfront promenade, the Rambla, running for over 20 km past city beaches from the old port to Carrasco. The Ciudad Vieja and the Centro around Plaza Independencia hold the art deco and…
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
| # | Montevideo | São Paulo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Rambla | Avenida Paulista |
| 2 | Plaza Independencia and Artigas Mausoleum | MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art |
| 3 | Palacio Salvo | Ibirapuera Park |
| 4 | Teatro Solís | Pinacoteca de São Paulo |
| 5 | Mercado del Puerto | Museu da Língua Portuguesa |
Food compared
| Montevideo | São Paulo |
|---|---|
| Chivito | Pastel de feira |
| Asado | Mortadella sandwich |
| Choripán | Coxinha |
| Medio y medio | 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 $130–$230 in Montevideo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). São Paulo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,563 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Montevideo or São Paulo cheaper?
São Paulo is usually less expensive: about $100–$180 a day mid-range against $130–$230 (estimates).
+Is Montevideo or São Paulo better for a first trip?
Pick Montevideo for Rambla waterfront, Asado and parrillas and beaches, or São Paulo for Avenida Paulista, MASP, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter.
+How far is Montevideo from São Paulo?
About 1,563 km in a straight line.