Fair prices in Βραζιλία — what things really cost

Buy the combined transport and entry ticket from the official channels for the van or cog train. Prices rise at peak times, and buying on site can mean long waits.

The return cable car ticket covers both stages. Book online to skip the ticket queue, and aim for late afternoon to catch the view in daylight and at sunset.

Use the official taxi rank or a ride-hailing app rather than drivers approaching you inside. A metered or app fare to the Zona Sul beaches is reasonable; agree or check it first.

The metro is clean, safe and cheap, linking the centre with Copacabana and Ipanema. Buy a rechargeable card and top it up to avoid queues at each ride.

Eat a street back from the beachfront for better prices. Many places sell food by weight per kilo at lunch, which is good value if you serve yourself sensibly.

Brazil's classic lime and cane-spirit cocktail is cheap at local bars and beach kiosks. Prices climb at tourist-facing venues, so check before ordering a round.

Chilled coconut water from a beach kiosk is refreshing and cheap. Confirm the price before it is opened, as a few vendors quote more to visitors.

The official Airport Bus Service runs comfortable coaches from Guarulhos (GRU) to Paulista Avenue, Praça da República, the Tietê bus terminal and Congonhas for roughly R$30–50. It is far cheaper than a taxi and the smart budget choice if you are not in a rush.

A metered or fixed-fare taxi from Guarulhos runs about R$66–85 to the historic centre and R$130–180 to Paulista Avenue and the Jardins, where most hotels are. Use the official rank or an app so you get an honest fare; agree or check the price before you set off.

The 'prato feito' — a plate of rice, beans, a protein and salad — is the classic working lunch and averages around R$31–39 in the city. Self-service 'por quilo' (pay-by-weight) buffets are just as good value; both are far cheaper than dinner in the same neighbourhood.

A small, strong Brazilian coffee costs only a few reais at a padaria (bakery) counter, around R$6 for a little cup. Prices climb at trendy specialty cafes on Paulista and in Pinheiros, but the corner bakery cafezinho is a bargain and an institution.

A single metro or CPTM train ride is a flat R$5.40 (about US$1) no matter the distance, one of the great travel bargains here. Buy or top up a Bilhete Único card to move seamlessly between the metro, trains and city buses.

A bottle of water is only a couple of reais from a supermarket, bakery or newsstand, and large 1.5-litre bottles are cheaper still. Tap water is generally treated but most visitors stick to bottled or filtered water to be safe.

A dinner main at a good mid-range restaurant runs roughly R$60–150 per person, and São Paulo's food scene rewards you at every level from Japanese Liberdade to Italian Bixiga. A 10% service charge (couvert/gorjeta) is usually added to the bill.

Ride apps like Uber and 99 are cheap, reliable and safer than hailing a street taxi, with typical city rides around R$15–25. The price is fixed in the app before you travel, which removes any haggling or meter tricks.