São Paulo

The questions people ask first about São Paulo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

• Cash or card?Currency is the Brazilian real (BRL, R$).Brazil-wide
• SIM or eSIMVivo, Claro and TIM cover the country; buying a prepaid SIM needs a passport and sometimes a CPF — an eSIM before you fly is easier.Brazil-wide
• Tap waterDo not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels.Brazil-wide
• TippingRestaurant: 10% service (serviço) usually on the bill; optional but normal.Brazil-wide
• Plugs & powerSockets C/N. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Brazil-wide
• SafetySão Paulo is safer than its reputation for the areas you will actually use, but it is a big city with real street crime: keep the phone out of sight…

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

• CoffeeCoffee (café com leite or espresso)R$8–18 (≈ US$2–4)
• Sit-down mealDinner at a mid-range restaurantR$70–150 (≈ US$13–30) per person
• Beerdraught in a bar / can at a marketR$12–20 (≈ US$3–4)R$5–8 (≈ US$1–2)
• Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) ride-hailing trip3.1 mi (5 km) ride-hailing tripR$20–35 (≈ US$4–7)
• Metro or bus rideR$5.40 (≈ US$1) (check)
• Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (MASP, Ibirapuera)R$30–75 (≈ US$6–14)
• Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personR$70 (≈ US$13)
• Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomR$420 (≈ US$80)
• High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomR$800 (≈ US$150)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget R$200 (≈ US$40) · Mid R$450 (≈ US$85) · High R$900 (≈ US$170)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Airports

GRU São Paulo–Guarulhos International (About 40 km (25 mi) from the centre; airport shuttle buses to Paulista, República, Tietê and Barra Funda, or the Airport Express train to Luz.) · CGH São Paulo–Congonhas (About 15 km (9.3 mi) from downtown; domestic mostly, including the São Paulo–Rio shuttle. Bus along Avenida Paulista, or metro to São Judas then bus.) · VCP Viracopos International (In Campinas, about 100 km (62 mi) out; Azul hub with free bus transfers for its passengers.)GRU São Paulo–Guarulhos International (About 25 mi (40 km) from the centre; airport shuttle buses to Paulista, República, Tietê and Barra Funda, or the Airport Express train to Luz.) · CGH São Paulo–Congonhas (About 9.3 mi (15 km) from downtown; domestic mostly, including the São Paulo–Rio shuttle. Bus along Avenida Paulista, or metro to São Judas then bus.) · VCP Viracopos International (In Campinas, about 62 mi (100 km) out; Azul hub with free bus transfers for its passengers.)

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Budget

R$180–300 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed

Mid

R$350–600 (≈ US$65–120) excl. bed

High

R$700 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed

• Street crime is opportunistic: phone snatching on Avenida Paulista, in República and on crowded buses. Keep the phone in a pocket, not in your hand.
• Do not walk the Downtown streets (República, Sé, Luz, Santa Ifigênia) after dark; take a taxi or ride-hailing car door to door.
• Summer downpours (Dec–Feb) flood underpasses and the Tietê and Pinheiros margins; avoid driving through standing water.
• Card cloning and ATM skimming happen: use bank ATMs inside malls or branches, and cover the keypad.
• If you are robbed, hand over the phone or cash — do not resist.