Cost of Living in Sao Paulo

Summary of cost of living in Sao Paulo, Brazil:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 40.00 R$ 25.00-60.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 215.00 R$ 140.00-400.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 38.00 R$ 35.00-45.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 10.00 R$ 6.50-16.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 20.00 R$ 15.00-30.00
Cappuccino (regular) 9.72 R$ 5.00-15.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 6.39 R$ 5.00-10.00
Water (12 oz small bottle) 4.50 R$ 3.00-8.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 20.08 R$ 16.28-26.50
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 8.82 R$ 5.44-13.61
Rice (white), (1 lb) 2.99 R$ 2.27-5.44
Eggs (regular) (12) 13.39 R$ 6.00-18.00
Local Cheese (1 lb) 23.39 R$ 15.88-40.82
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 9.74 R$ 6.35-13.61
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 19.84 R$ 13.61-27.22
Apples (1 lb) 5.46 R$ 2.72-8.62
Banana (1 lb) 3.99 R$ 2.27-6.00
Oranges (1 lb) 2.90 R$ 1.36-5.44
Tomato (1 lb) 4.09 R$ 2.72-6.80
Potato (1 lb) 2.74 R$ 1.36-3.63
Onion (1 lb) 2.65 R$ 1.59-4.08
Lettuce (1 head) 4.96 R$ 2.00-7.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 4.03 R$ 2.37-6.00
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 47.00 R$ 25.00-80.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 7.67 R$ 4.53-12.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 15.84 R$ 7.59-25.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 12.00 R$ 11.00-15.00
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 5.00 R$ 4.40-5.00
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 240.00 R$ 130.43-338.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 6.00 R$ 5.50-10.00
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 6.84 R$ 6.44-11.27
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 49.00 R$ 33.00-65.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 20.57 R$ 18.93-22.22
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 116,495.00 R$ 91,000.00-150,000.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 151,573.85 R$ 140,000.00-160,000.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 326.74 R$ 191.25-800.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 80.64 R$ 40.00-200.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 110.82 R$ 95.00-150.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 153.67 R$ 100.00-350.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 193.04 R$ 100.00-250.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 40.00 R$ 30.00-50.00
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 2,292.19 R$ 1,000.00-4,000.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 65,105.26 R$ 48,000.00-100,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 300.28 R$ 150.00-500.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 283.07 R$ 150.00-500.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 454.26 R$ 250.00-800.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 388.63 R$ 200.00-600.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 2,961.36 R$ 2,000.00-5,000.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 2,001.47 R$ 1,200.00-3,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 5,700.00 R$ 3,500.00-10,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 3,800.00 R$ 2,500.00-6,500.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,257.32 R$ 929.02-1,858.05
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 858.40 R$ 637.77-1,207.73
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 2,358.21 R$
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 10.81 8.00-13.00

Prices in Sao Paulo

This city had 2873 entries in the past 12 months by 297 different contributors.
Last update: March 2024
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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25 Comments so far
Gustavo Mafra on Dec 10, 2023:
I heard you can buy a small shack in a central favela (Cidade Nova Heliópolis) for BRL 50k (USD 10k), so I guess renting would be around ~500 BRL. Some googling taught me Paraisópolis is ~800 BRL / month. For food I think one person would spend at an absolute minimum ~500 BRL / month if you cook every day with budget ingredients, and never eat red meat - your only protein would be chicken, maybe eggs. Drink tap water at your own risk of intoxication. I think public transport is covered by the govt for very poor people. So I'd estimate minimum wage is enough to avoid starvation and have a very precarious roof
Anonymous on Jul 28, 2023:
I wonder how much it would cost for a single person (Brazilian, no children, no relatives in Sao Paulo) to live in a tiny shack in a local shanty town. Not that I am aiming for that; but would even that little be possible for someone making minimum wage? Does anyone have an idea?
Anonymous on Jan 02, 2023:
White lung is fatal people normally die within 3 days it's uncurable and fatal.Millions will die in Brazil best news yet
Anonymous on Jan 02, 2023:
Since Brazil is so happy doing business with china so much and letting Chinese visit whenever they want to here's a factual piece of recent news that will change Brazil.Currently China has over 267 million new infections.Over 130 new strains of micron are uncurable and fatal
Anonymous on Sep 28, 2022:
Brazil is being punished by the USA for their about face into Putins arms.There's four things about the USA that's well known.The USA never forgets, never forgives, holds a grudge,and will crush anything in its path.No countries want to dance with the richest most powerful place on earth.But while we have your attention while millions of Brazilians stand in soup kitchen lines throughout Brazil and unemployed remember this you are done.
Anonymous on Sep 11, 2022:
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 11,2022

The European union plus united Kingdom are sending Brazilians back to Brazil. Far too much civil unrest Brazilians were causing with their relentless violent protesting
Anonymous on Jul 12, 2022:
São Paulo is for rich person.

If you are thinking going to SaoPaulo, your wage must be at least r$10k per month if you want to have a minimally worthy quality of life. At least!!!

However, minimum wage is only r$1284,00.

Rent 40m square for 1 person (monthly) in a well located spot ( Vila Olimpia, Brooklyn, Itaim Bibi, Pinheiros, Vila Madalena) = r$4000 (not near to the center / because the city center is dangerous, ugly, stinky, lots of drug addictcs, not safe) (and not so far, otherwise, you Will loose more than 1,5h to get to the economic center due to traffic jam).
Cell Phone, Internet and TV, eletricity, gás, Water (monthly) = r$600,00.
Supermarket monthly expenses = r$2000.
Gym (monthly) = r$100.
Launch in a mid restaurant (per person) = around r$40 to r$100.
1 liter gasoline = r$7.

If you get The minimum wage in Sao Paulo, unfortunattely, you Will live far away, in bad and more unsafe areas, Will have to share a small apartment with other persons, Will loose at least 1,5hours to go to work, and another 1,5h to go back home. You Will only afford cheap and bad quality products in the supermarket, and you Will be out of money to use for culture, leisure, shoppings, cinema, theater. Sometimes, you wont even gonna have money to buy food for The rest of The month, or medicines, in case you need. Millions are paid the minimum wage.
Its deffinetely not a way to live.
Your life Will be a misery!!!

That is why thousands of brazilians are trying luck in europe. You can find brazilians working in bars, restaurants, supermarkets, construction. If they get the minimum wage in europe, at least they have a minimum quality o life there. In Brazil, you Will suffer.
Anonymous on Jul 11, 2022:
Brazil prides itself on arrogance and they always have. However over 85% of Brazilians are eating out of soup kitchens now.Im sure you know which soups are served daily SABRINA
Anonymous on Jul 11, 2022:
WELL SABRINA

Evidently your math skills are severely lacking but Brazilians are normally lacking in all areas everyone knows that. Bogota has 16 million not counting the burbs.
Andrew on May 22, 2022:
Don't listen to the idiots complaining about Brazil. The only areas that are bad are the favelas. Once you go into the regular tourist/rich areas, there's no issue. I'm an American living in São Paulo.
Chloe on Feb 11, 2022:
Well i just bought an three-bedroom apartment for 350.000R$, and it's not far away from to the city center.
Anonymous on Feb 01, 2022:
Dead women on the beach dieing of covid and not even cold yet in tiny bikinis the possibilities are endless no foreplay needed just ram it.
Anonymous on Nov 11, 2021:
CARLOS SILVA May 29 2021

Told the truth about Sao Paulo just like JOAO April 21 2021 did among others about how dangerous Sao Paulo is.I moved to a remote area far away from Sao Paulo but I still live in Brazil. Honestly I thought it'd be much better but I soon found out it's just as dangerous day or night. Unfortunately the mindset of the majority is like murder someone to get paid instead of earning money honestly. I'm a native Brazilian I'm beyond ashamed of how violent all of Brazil really is. No protection from the Police they're just as bad with a license to murder.
Ricardo Mode on Jul 24, 2021:
Be careful with comments here based on opinions and not facts. São Paulo is the best city to live in Brazil. São Paulo and Rio are not even on the top ten most violent cities in Brazil. São Paulo is too big and some regions are safer as safe as countries like Sweden and other regions yes very dangerous. In São Paulo you will find fantastic things to see, to do, best restaurants and museums. Brazil is a third world country so guess what: there are several problems everywhere. Visit also the country side of the state of São Paulo. It is gorgeous with fantastic resorts.
Carlos Silva on May 29, 2021:
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are definitely the worst Brazilian cities to live in. The homicide rate is surreal, people kill each other for trivial reasons and there's no "adequate punishment". Not to mention that there's an underworld of criminal factions.

Naturally, if you want to immigrate to Brazil, I suggest researching another city. But keep in mind, this country has big problems like: lack of security, poor education, corruption, drug trafficking, criminal factions, etc.

Now, if you are from a developed country and think about coming here, it'll certainly be your biggest regret.
João on Apr 21, 2021:
I owe an explanation on why it is so.

Brazilians are the ones that make this country hopelessly poor, violent and uneducated.

You can never have as much access to plenty of goods as in more developed countries because prices are staggering high but wages are lamentably low so you will suffer the indignities of poverty unless you are a member of a very restricted elite.

It is one of the most crime-ridden places on Earth. Homicide, burglary, drug trade, corruption at every setting, you name it. It is very easy to get mugged and even killed for the most trivial reasons. For some reason the population is very prone to being selfish, murderous and below any form of honest work.

They are uneducated and thus never forced to use what little brainpower they have. So they are but slightly above unthinking beasts. Whether it is by driving drunk, neighbors making noise for 8 hours straight on a day, or not being able to carry the simplest dialogues, Brazilians will drive you insane.

They are very jealous, envious, insensitive, malicious, arrogant, undisciplined, love idleness, shameless.

It doesn't take much to despair of life if you are forced to live among people so abject and degraded in every sense.
João on Apr 21, 2021:
It would have been better not to be born, or die right at birth, than to be born in Brazil, even in if in Sao Paulo, the least bad of cities.

I am sure half of why I feel like dying everyday is the fact that I was thrown into existence in a place like this. I pray nonstop for a cancer or a stroke that will put an end to my misery.

The land is a huge expanse and rich in resources but it is inhabited by a type of human called Brazilians and they are the ones who will make you wish you could disintegrate into inexistence.

There ARE good ones. But they are few. Very few. A certain city was destroyed because there were less than 10 righteous people in it.

If you have read this far, can I make a request? Pray that I will die soon. Or cheer for me. Whatever it is. I just want to die. Thanks.
Anonymous on Mar 18, 2021:
Comments on anonymous post Mar 16 2021

A mild flu as you call it has killed 286,000 so far in Brazil and the numbers get higher each day. The U S population dwarfs Brazil obviously besides so many immigrants want to move to the U S replacing the dead would be a matter of one month or less.Call it a scamdemic if you like your opinion. The comment about not bowing is your opinion too. But I don't think Brazilians can bow much lower especially since 2021 minimum monthly wage is 1,100 brl and average monthly wage is 1,730 brl.
Live your lives in fear or any other way you choose your choice. Brazil has a fairly large population. What surprises me is the lack of motivation to move ahead financially and not allowing Vietnam to surpass Brazil as they've done already with monthly wages.
Anonymous on Mar 16, 2021:
Brazil is not going to bow to the globalist scamdemic nonsense. Far few deaths than the U.S. with a larger population. It's a mild flu that affects senior citizens and the obese more severely. We are sorry we refuse to live in fear.
Anonymous on Mar 05, 2021:
Hopefully Brazil will continue with its bad economy and high death rates from covid19. Long before the virus showed up infighting was always an issue between neighbors businesses and government throughout Brazil.
Brazilians are self-destructive egotistical arrogant infidels. Actually Brazil cannot get along with any neighboring countries and they don't want to either. Nobody needs to visit from any countries to spread covid19 any worse than it already is,Brazil has done that on their own minus any help from any countries. Massive amounts of Brazilians are dieing daily so hopefully within the next year or two there'll be no Brazilians left.
Paraiso Tropical on Feb 19, 2021:
- The unemployment rate reaches 14.3% and reaches 14.1 million people
- 2020 - Record number of indebtedness and defaults in Brazilian families
- The default rate on loans for the acquisition of real estate fluctuates on average between 1.4% to 2.1%
- More than 4.4 million companies with arrears (55% of companies actively operating)
- The score for the level of Corruption in Brazil - 38 - is higher than the global average and in Latin America
- Brazil has the ninth highest homicide rate in the world, Brazilian rates are five times the world average of homicides
- Brazil still has 11 million illiterates
- Before the pandemic, the country had 52 million people living below the poverty line
- Hat Brazil is a country with one of the highest rates in Taxes (highest number of direct and indirect taxes) and with one of the highest percentages on the Planet (when buying a simple needle we pay 40% taxes)
- 125th position in business environment ranking
- The number 14 position in the tax burden ranking is Brazil. In other words, Brazilians are the people of Latin America who pay the most taxes.
- Return of Well-Being to Society: 30th (last place among the countries with the highest tax burden in the world)
- 99ºin in the human development index
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Anonymous on Jan 12, 2021:
Now would be an opportune time to buy a house especially since many are cash strapped wanting to sell.We bought a house last month cheap but normally it would've been twice as much.I recommend finding a reputable real-estate agency before visiting Brazil. Look at some houses online and confirm there's no back taxes owed and most importantly there's only one owner.
Andre on Dec 18, 2020:
I am a retired Man, looking to buy a 3 bedroom home between 1700 - 2000 SQF.
Anonymous on Dec 09, 2020:
Brazil is nothing more than a broken down dangerous country full of wannabe nothings.
Mohan Kj on May 14, 2020:
The bigest liar in all Brazil is this person (Anonymous) !!!