😐A single person spends $1,057 per month in Almaty vs $904 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,648 per month in Almaty vs $1,629 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,238 per month in Almaty vs $2,354 in Sao Caetano do Sul, rent included.
😐Almaty costs about 17% more than Sao Caetano do Sul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Almaty and Sao Caetano do Sul are more affordable than the global median – Almaty21% lower, Sao Caetano do Sul33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03₸3,911
$7.22R$36.55
11.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.47₸18.7K
$32.10R$162
19.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.97₸3,396
$6.71R$33.93
3.87%
Cappuccino
$2.40₸1,167
$1.82R$9.19
31.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98₸475
$1.20R$6.09
-18.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57₸276
$0.76R$3.86
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.40₸683
$1.78R$9.02
-21.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99₸1,455
$2.81R$14.20
6.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31₸640
$1.06R$5.36
23.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60₸291
$1.78R$9.02
-66.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54₸751
$1.35R$6.83
14.07%
Eggs
$1.74₸847
$2.40R$12.13
-27.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74₸4,744
$9.87R$49.95
-1.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.70₸2,288
$4.23R$21.40
11.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50₸3,656
$8.65R$43.78
-13.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35₸657
$2.14R$10.85
-36.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98₸964
$1.66R$8.38
19.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95₸951
$1.46R$7.41
33.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07₸1,008
$1.70R$8.60
21.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63₸306
$1.48R$7.49
-57.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₸205
$1.24R$6.26
-66.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24₸604
$0.94R$4.76
31.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₸344
$0.69R$3.47
2.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97₸960
$2.31R$11.68
-14.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.09₸4,917
$8.20R$41.47
23.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₸431
$1.31R$6.64
-32.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04₸993
$2.41R$12.17
-15.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₸117
$0.87R$4.38
-72.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.76₸8,649
$37.82R$191
-53.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16₸564
$1.16R$5.87
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₸341
$0.63R$3.19
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.80₸2,341
$7.76R$39.29
-38.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49₸238
$1.10R$5.55
-55.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K₸11.3M
$21.6KR$109.1K
7.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K₸13.3M
$28.4KR$143.5K
-3.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.8₸31.1K
$54.0R$273
18.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.60₸4,188
$13.29R$67.2
-35.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.83₸6,737
$22.07R$112
-37.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.67₸23.7K
$48.06R$243
1.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.24₸10.3K
$47.38R$240
-55.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.11₸2,490
$7.32R$37.04
-30.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267₸130.0K
$322R$1,627
-17.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9K₸6.3M
$8,894R$45.0K
44.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.0₸40.9K
$52.6R$266
59.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₸21.2K
$43.20R$219
0.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.8₸47.2K
$79.7R$403
21.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119₸58.2K
$77.4R$392
54.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665₸324.0K
$331R$1,672
101.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$420₸204.4K
$280R$1,414
50.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,175₸572.4K
$629R$3,182
86.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773₸376.7K
$907R$4,587
-14.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,143₸1.0M
$1,601R$8,101
33.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,254₸610.9K
$1,170R$5,917
7.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Almaty
Sao Caetano do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$789₸384.6K
$949R$4,803
-16.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.39
11.17
64.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Almaty: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sao Caetano do Sul: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $665 in Almaty versus $331 in Sao Caetano do Sul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 20% higher in Sao Caetano do Sul, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Almaty versus $32.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Almaty vs $202 in Sao Caetano do Sul – so Almaty wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Almaty vs Sao Caetano do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Caetano do Sul cheaper than Almaty?
Yes – Almaty is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,586 per month in Almaty and $1,356 in Sao Caetano do Sul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Caetano do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Almaty or Sao Caetano do Sul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Almaty and $32.00 in Sao Caetano do Sul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Almaty vs Sao Caetano do Sul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,057 in Almaty and $904 in Sao Caetano do Sul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Almaty or Sao Caetano do Sul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Caetano do Sul, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Almaty at $1,057. In Sao Caetano do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Almaty it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Almaty or Sao Caetano do Sul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sao Caetano do Sul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Caetano do Sul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Almaty makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.