Brasília vs São Paulo Cost of Living

Brasília (Brazil) · Overall index 32.2São Paulo (Brazil) · Overall index 35.9

Summary

  • Overall, São Paulo is 11% more expensive than Brasília.
  • Rent in São Paulo is 16% more expensive than in Brasília.
  • Dining out in São Paulo is 14% more expensive than in Brasília.
ItemBrasíliaSão PauloDiff
Rent+16%
1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$976$966-1%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$562$665+18%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$1,892$2,186+16%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$1,038$1,366+32%
Groceries+10%
Milk (1L)$0.53$0.55+4%
White bread (500g)$1.86$1.73-7%
Rice (1kg)$2.36$2.360%
Eggs (12)$2.17$2.35+8%
Local cheese (1kg)$5.29$7.12+35%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$4.96$6.35+28%
Beef round (1kg)$8.71$8.01-8%
Apples (1kg)$2.27$2.5+10%
Bananas (1kg)$0.82$1.05+28%
Oranges (1kg)$1.78$1.99+12%
Tomatoes (1kg)$2.51$2.58+3%
Potatoes (1kg)$1.12$1.33+19%
Onions (1kg)$1.13$1.38+22%
Lettuce (1 head)$1.12$1.07-4%
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.98$1.12+14%
Bottle of wine (mid-range)$6.36$6.84+8%
Transport+11%
Public transport, one-way ticket$0.85$0.91+7%
Public transport, monthly pass$38.4$42.2+10%
Taxi, base fare$1.33$1.64+23%
Taxi, per km$0.7$0.64-9%
Gasoline (1L)$0.3$0.37+23%
New compact car (e.g., VW Golf)$9,484$10,655+12%
Dining out+14%
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$7.31$8.37+15%
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)$37.4$48.8+30%
Fast food combo meal$4.33$4.92+14%
Cappuccino$1.85$2.15+16%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant)$0.93$1.15+24%
Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant)$2.67$2.74+3%
Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant)$2.64$3.05+16%
Water (0.33L, restaurant)$0.77$0.75-3%
Telecom+4%
Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly)$31.2$33.7+8%
Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly)$29.7$33+11%
Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min)$0.16$0.18+12%
Video streaming subscription (monthly)$8.16$7.35-10%
Utilities & household+13%
Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly)$68.5$88.5+29%
Electricity (1 kWh)$0.1$0.11+10%
Tap water (1m³)$1.76$2.26+28%
Natural gas (1m³)$0.62$0.64+3%
Waste collection (monthly)$8.64$10.7+24%
Fitness club (monthly)$33.5$34+1%
Cinema ticket (1 seat)$6.14$6.59+7%
Men's haircut$14.2$13.8-3%
Domestic cleaning (1 hour)$11.3$12.6+12%
Private kindergarten (monthly)$846$1,022+21%

2,980 total data points · Price data as of 2026-07-01 · Exchange rates as of 2026-07-15

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