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

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Tamarindo, 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 cultural, dynamic, and vibrant city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a scenic, laid back, and chill town. Tamarindo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Tamarindo travel costs.

Sao Paulo and Tamarindo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sao Paulo. Although Sao Paulo and Tamarindo are both popular with visitors, Sao Paulo has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Sao Paulo is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Tamarindo is known for its beaches and impressive beauty. Tamarindo is more touristy than Sao Paulo and is popular for its surfing, wildlife, and leatherback sea turtles. Sao Paulo is popular for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. It is also home to Ibirapuera Park.

How is Sao Paulo different from Tamarindo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Sao Paulo is an amazing city to visit for its sights and museums. However, Tamarindo is not a good town for its museums and history.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Sao Paulo are among the most recognizable in the world. 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

While most people don't head to Tamarindo specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Aside from a few art galleries, there aren't many real museums around town.

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

Sao Paulo is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Tamarindo is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Sao Paulo. 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).

Tamarindo is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There's a combination of beach bars and restaurants in town that offer local cuisine and international options. Many places have a laid back vibe that fits with the town's atmosphere but you'll also find some more upscale options.

Is Sao Paulo or Tamarindo Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is an amazing city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Tamarindo is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its evening party scene.

Sao Paulo has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

Tamarindo has a large number of nightlife venues. The town has beach bars, dance clubs, and regular parties that attract tourists and locals alike. The evening has a vibrant atmosphere that is perfect for unwinding after a day of surfing or swimming.

Is Sao Paulo or Tamarindo Better for Beaches?

Tamarindo is a great town for the beach. However, Sao Paulo is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Tamarindo. The beaches are popular with surfers but the currents can be strong so swimmers should use caution. The golden sand and beautiful setting make this a fun and chill beach destination. There are also plenty of water sports to choose from.

Sao Paulo is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

Sao Paulo is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Tamarindo is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Sao Paulo make it a world-class shopping destination. 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.

Tamarindo has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find most of the souvenir shops along Diria Grand Boulevard. There are a few upscale clothing boutiques and jewelry shops as well.

Is Sao Paulo or Tamarindo More Beautiful?

Tamarindo is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Tamarindo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The golden sand beaches offer a beautiful setting where you can relax and soak up a chill beachfront vibe.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sao Paulo or Tamarindo Better for Families?

Tamarindo is a great town 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 Tamarindo. The golden beaches offer a great escape for families. The surf can be a bit strong, but the kids will love seeing the sea turtles or going horseback riding. There are also beginning surfing lessons available.

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 Tamarindo Better for Couples?

Tamarindo is a great town for couples. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Tamarindo is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples will enjoy romantic horseback rides along the beach, sunset cruises, and romantic meals. For the adventurous, there's surfing lessons and wildlife tours.

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 Tamarindo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tamarindo is a great town 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 Tamarindo. There are plenty of hostels in the area and many wonderful activities that let you experience everything that Costa Rica has to offer.

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 Tamarindo Better for Students?

Sao Paulo is a nice place to visit for students. However, Tamarindo is not popular with students.

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.

Tamarindo is not popular with students.

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

Sao Paulo is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Tamarindo is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Sao Paulo is top-notch. 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.

Tamarindo has some public transit options. There are three public bus lines through town.

Is Sao Paulo or Tamarindo a more walkable city?

Sao Paulo and Tamarindo are superb when it comes to walkability.

Sao Paulo is a very walkable destination. 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.

Tamarindo is very walkable. The town is easy to walk around and explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Tamarindo or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

In either Sao Paulo or Tamarindo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo.

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

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

One day in Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

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 food and shopping around the town of Tamarindo. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Tamarindo?

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 shopping and nightlife around the chill destination of Tamarindo. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the colorful 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 laid back town of Tamarindo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this town makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer.

A week in Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

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.

Tamarindo is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.

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

When is the best time to visit Sao Paulo or Tamarindo?

Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tamarindo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Tamarindo in the Summer?

Both Tamarindo and Sao Paulo during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tamarindo year-round.

In January, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than Tamarindoin July. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 25°C (77°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Tamarindoin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Tamarindo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Tamarindo. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Sao Paulo is cooler than Tamarindo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.

Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Tamarindoin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season. December to May in Tamarindo is the dry season. The hurricane season in Tamarindo is June to November.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Tamarindo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Tamarindo. Many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.

In the winter, Sao Paulo is cooler than Tamarindo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sao Paulo in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F)in January.

Sao Paulo usually gets more rain in July than Tamarindoin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Tamarindo in the Spring?

Both Tamarindo and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Sao Paulo in the spring for the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than Tamarindoin April. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 21°C (70°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

In October, Sao Paulo usually receives more rain than Tamarindoin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Sao Paulo is October to March. The dry season in Tamarindo is December to May. June to November is the hurricane season in Tamarindo.

Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Sao Paulo