Cost of Living in Sao Paulo

Summary about cost of living in Sao Paulo, Brazil:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 38.00 R$ 25.00-60.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 200.00 R$ 130.00-300.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 35.00 R$ 31.00-40.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 12.00 R$ 7.00-20.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 18.00 R$ 12.00-28.00
Cappuccino (regular) 8.87 R$ 5.00-15.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 6.30 R$ 4.50-10.00
Water (12 oz small bottle) 4.47 R$ 3.00-7.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 23.97 R$ 18.89-32.18
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 7.88 R$ 4.54-13.61
Rice (white), (1 lb) 2.97 R$ 1.99-4.99
Eggs (regular) (12) 12.06 R$ 7.20-15.60
Local Cheese (1 lb) 24.96 R$ 15.88-44.45
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 10.70 R$ 7.26-13.61
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 22.68 R$ 15.42-31.75
Apples (1 lb) 5.16 R$ 2.72-6.80
Banana (1 lb) 3.92 R$ 2.27-6.80
Oranges (1 lb) 2.58 R$ 1.63-4.54
Tomato (1 lb) 4.40 R$ 2.27-6.80
Potato (1 lb) 3.14 R$ 1.36-4.54
Onion (1 lb) 3.14 R$ 1.81-4.99
Lettuce (1 head) 4.75 R$ 2.50-7.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 3.18 R$ 2.00-5.00
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 40.00 R$ 25.00-65.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 7.69 R$ 4.00-13.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 15.65 R$ 8.00-22.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 12.00 R$ 10.00-15.00
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 4.47 R$ 4.40-5.00
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 240.00 R$ 210.00-338.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 5.75 R$ 5.50-8.00
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 6.44 R$ 5.63-11.27
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 49.00 R$ 33.00-70.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 21.73 R$ 17.75-26.84
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 112,000.00 R$ 91,000.00-130,000.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 147,222.41 R$ 134,000.00-160,000.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 347.53 R$ 200.00-618.18
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) 1.57 R$ 1.00-2.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 111.70 R$ 100.00-150.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 137.68 R$ 80.00-300.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 180.86 R$ 100.00-250.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 40.00 R$ 30.00-58.16
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 2,456.06 R$ 1,200.00-4,500.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 55,591.30 R$ 30,000.00-100,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 308.58 R$ 150.00-450.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 281.19 R$ 150.00-450.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 432.62 R$ 250.00-700.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 357.34 R$ 199.99-500.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 2,952.22 R$ 2,000.00-4,200.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 1,808.27 R$ 1,200.00-3,200.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 5,488.21 R$ 3,900.00-10,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 3,751.79 R$ 2,500.00-6,500.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,229.33 R$ 929.02-1,858.05
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 838.22 R$ 603.86-1,300.63
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 2,378.30 R$
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 9.78 8.00-13.00

Prices in Sao Paulo

This city had 4588 entries in the past 12 months by 442 different contributors.
Last update: April 2023
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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40 Comments so far
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.
Sabrina on Jun 01, 2022:
Okay, let's be honest.
São Paulo is the largest city in Latin America and has 12 million inhabitants, if we count the metropolitan region, this number goes to 22 million. The city has problems with violence in some regions and in the center due to the high concentration of drug addicts, something like LA Skid Row (Republica, Santa Ifigenia and Vila Buarque).
The metropolitan region has many job opportunities but you must choose (Barueri - good security and expensive rent | Osasco, Carapicuiba, Jandira - cheaper rent and more violence). Cell phone thefts are very common in traffic and when walking.

The city has a hell of a traffic and an overloaded metro at peak times, but you can get around easily using the metro.
In addition, the city has excellent services, if you earn around 12k reais it is enough for a couple without children to live comfortably in SP.

Rent around 2k, free public health, free universities, the city has many opportunities
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
-
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) !!!
Jonathan Job on Feb 29, 2020:
#Allikat, you can have a good Life If your employer provide home and School.
AlliKat on Jan 17, 2020:
Would a salary of roughly 2200USD monthly be sufficient for a family of 4 (apartment, insurances and school tuition provided by employer) for a good quality of life and a small amount of savings?
Majd on Jan 15, 2020:
I would like to run a Turkish chicken kebab shop in Sao Paulo. Hoe much do i need roughly?
Matheus on Aug 27, 2019:
If you receive a promise to live here and it's more than 2.000 USD Dollar a month then you'll live comfortably here, if you are a single person or have a partner, but no children.
Matheus on Aug 27, 2019:
I was born in São Paulo and lived here my entire life, if you earn more than 4,000R$ a month (which is not hard depending on your profession, I myself work with IT) you can live confortably, but not with luxury. Transport here costs 4,30R$, but if you take a bus (4,30) and then the metro, the metro will cost (2,96), and if you take a bus within 2 hours from the first one it'll be for free.
Food here is really expensive, a normal mc donalds combo is around 30R$+. Housing is also expensive.
Anon on Jul 21, 2019:
#Ali It depends on your lifestyle. I recently landed on my first job, therefore I can't tell too much what it is like to live alone, and pay bills. Although, from I could Gather info from my experience. It depends on your lifestyle you are used to, if you are economic, have a long-term financial plan, invest on the stock market over here; then, sure you can live comfortably.

If you had a lavish lifestyle where you lived, then you probably should ask your wife to work for the monthly wager. Because things can get really expensive if you want to live a first-world style (taxes on foreign products are the killers around here), and a good education for your children is no laughing
matter for your bank account.So, you need to make some sacrifices if come here; and be mindful, the rich life-style over here (considering HDI, Human Development Index), it's the middle lifestyle of the USA (dunno where you are from, just made a personal comparison to exemplify how "poor" we are to other "big name countries").

Hope this helps.

TL;DR: It depends on your lifestyle.
Ali on Jul 20, 2019:
Hello nice people from Brasil.I am going to make a decision to live with my wife and two children (10 % 12 years old) in Sao Paolo. My Salary would R$ 8,377.50 per month in food research institute. Is the salary sufficient for me and my whole family for two years? Thanks for your help and guidance.
Edo on Jun 23, 2019:
Hello, I am a young man and I was living in Sao Paulo since I was born, I am exausted of living here and I am making plans to moveout, the city is horrible. The average salary for a common job is R$1,200. You will not find a rasonable place to rent for less than 700, away from city center. Next to the center the rents are next to R$2000... Eletricity and water bills are expensive, you will expend at least R$100-200 on Eletricity if it just a couple, and a minimum R$50-100 on water. Transportation is expensive too, a single ticket for metro or bus cost R$4,30 and probably you will need to buy twice because the transportation system is not well connected, it is overcrowded and nothing confortable, R$20,00 daily to go and come back, R$300 monthly. It is an absurd, I was using only bicycle, it is better because traffic jams here steal too many time and life quality, gas here is expensive too, up to R$4,00 a liter, it cost R$150 to fill a tank. To eat is expensive too, 1kg of med quality meat - around R$20,1 liter of milk - R$4,1 dozen of eggs - R$5,2 liter coca-cola - R$8
On supermarket it is normal you almost have an heart attack, you take a few things and pay a huge bill, a purchase of R$100-200 should be enought for just a week(if it a couple).
eat out? Clothes? Fun? Really expensive too. A common single meal at a low-cost restaurant cost around R$20, a mc donalds combo around R$30, a Pizza, R$30-70. To a mid restaurant R$50-100 per person. A brand tshirt at least R$70, a brand jeans at least R$90, a brand pair of shoes R$100-400. A brand sunglasses R$120-600. A ticket to Cinema R$15-50, a liter of low quality beer R$12, the entrance of a nighclub R$20-100... most people on here are struggling to survive, there's no quality of life, theres rude people everywhere, 20 millions, on sp and neighbours citys, the city is dirty, ugly and stinky. You need at least R$6000 net income to life here in couple without luxury, do not move to here! Child school? Around R$1000 monthly, school transportation? Around R$300. A taxi race, at least R$30... Theres a shit river in middle of city and the city infrastructure is faling apart, bridges and viaducts are nearly of colapse, theres concrete everywhere the streets are confuse and not planned, theres a lot of crime and drug abuse, it is not a good place for children, even the police is corrupt, facist and homicidal. There are public services but most of then have a horrible quality and does not suppress the demand. The beach is near but you will not spend less than R$150 to arive there on car. Politicians just worry about themselvs, the people are ignorant and can't vote right, they believe everything it is said on globos national news and fantastico. The quality of life in sao Paulo is terrible do not leave where you are... It is really hard to be happy here, the people become drugs and alcohol addict, or get depressed, or run to religions and churchs... there's a lot of people to know and a lot of job and study opportunities, but I don't known if it worth, life quality is really bad and cost of life really expensive.
I hope have helped you, good luck
Anonymous on Jun 19, 2019:
I think he meant to say "if born baby get cold right?" Would be more obvious than assuming he's selling his baby..... (smh)
Anonymous on May 13, 2019:
#Ali It's illegal to sell children anywhere in Brazil.If you try that you and your wife will be in prison for 25 years without parole plus pay a fine of one million USD each to the Brazilian government,it's strictly forbidden." WHAT A LOWLIFE PERSON YOU AND YOUR WIFE ARE "
ali on May 12, 2019:
What hospital in Brazil is cheap for delivery?
  Which city is cheap rent and cheap?
ali on May 12, 2019:
Hello , I live in Iran. we are going to Brazil with my wife. I want to give birth to Brazil for a decent price. I do not need a vaccine. after born baby get sold right?
Anonymous on May 04, 2019:
#Anand FYI that's $13,000 USD per month per villa and that's just the rent nothing else included.
Anonymous on May 04, 2019:
# Anand I've lived in Sao Paulo all of my life here are up to date costs honestly for what you requested.$4,000 USD apartment, utilities $600 USD high end school $1,200 usd,$150 medium priced restaurant per month,$600 usd food at home,$150 movie expenses,$600 taxi transport,bus transportation $300. These prices are all per month.Sao Paulo and Barcelona are the most expensive areas of Brazil.For the most part Brazil is very expensive.It'd cost you a minimum of $7,500 to $8,000 USD per month for the lifestyle you described.I have two villas I rent for $13,000 USD per month to foreigners.Hope my honesty helped you.
Anand on May 01, 2019:
Dear friends,

I am 50 years old qualified engineer from India and am on the verge of taking a new assignment. The company is Indian having their operations in Sao Paulo too. I have the choice of joining the Indian operations (will get a monthly salary of US $ 4000, in this one can a have a really good life style and also save US $ 2000) or the Brazilian operations. My choice will purely be based on quality of living and saving potential. We are a family of three, child is school going and nine years old. Please help me out with following approximate monthly expenses.

1. Apartment rent (city area, good locality, 80-90 sqm area)
2. Ulility charges
3. Schooling expenses, really a top end school
4. Eating out, once a week, four times a month
5. Food expenses at home
6. Movie expenses, four times a month
7. Public transport

I shall be grateful and highly obliged if somebody can help. Thanking you in advance.
Anonymous on Mar 14, 2019:
Brazil currency is screwed nothing is cheap RACHAEL is right 1,881 R$ no way in city center