Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Sao Carlos Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Sao Carlos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,566 per month in Auburn, WA vs $969 in Sao Carlos, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,051 per month in Auburn, WA vs $1,679 in Sao Carlos, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,535 per month in Auburn, WA vs $2,389 in Sao Carlos, rent included.

Auburn, WA costs about 165% more than Sao Carlos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Auburn, WA sits 87% above the global median, while Sao Carlos is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.10 $19.10

$4.72 R$24.16

304.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.6 $90.6

$39.17 R$201

131.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 $10.90

$6.72 R$34.44

62.20%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$2.08 R$10.68

115.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.29 R$6.59

58.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.76 R$3.92

169.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.77 $4.77

$1.56 R$7.98

205.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 $7.05

$2.64 R$13.54

167.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.35 R$6.90

-33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.89 R$9.69

37.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.80 R$9.21

109.44%

Eggs

$3.06 $3.06

$2.88 R$14.78

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 $8.65

$12.06 R$61.8

-28.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.87 $13.87

$5.25 R$26.88

164.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.03 $18.03

$9.29 R$47.62

94.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$2.66 R$13.63

78.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.82 R$9.33

-2.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.73 R$8.88

128.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.85 R$9.47

118.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.66 R$8.52

85.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$1.37 R$7.03

135.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.92 R$4.70

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.14 R$5.83

89.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.16 $11.16

$3.16 R$16.21

253.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 $14.97

$8.05 R$41.25

85.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.43 R$7.32

16.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.95 R$15.13

-2.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 R$4.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.38 R$120

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.49 R$7.65

136.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$0.93 R$4.75

95.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.3 $50.3

$3.53 R$18.11

1324.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.23 R$6.28

1.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.0K $34.0K

$19.1K R$97.9K

78.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.1K $24.1K

$30.7K R$157.4K

-21.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$216 $216

$61.2 R$313

253.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$40.63 $40.63

$13.48 R$69.1

201.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.3 $80.3

$24.27 R$124

230.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.87 $34.87

$32.74 R$168

6.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.41 R$238

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$5.42 R$27.76

175.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,087 $1,087

$286 R$1,464

280.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K $16.3K

$2,914 R$14.9K

460.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$80.3 R$411

-30.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.22 $47.22

$93.1 R$477

-49.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 $79.6

$137 R$704

-42.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 $78.4

$160 R$817

-50.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$261 R$1,339

474.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 $1,374

$222 R$1,139

518.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,264 $2,264

$662 R$3,393

241.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,750 $2,750

$642 R$3,289

328.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$815 R$4,178

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$723 R$3,702

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,874 $6,874

$654 R$3,351

951.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

10.75

-43.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Auburn, WA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sao Carlos: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in Auburn, WA versus $261 in Sao Carlos. 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 951% higher in Auburn, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $91.0 in Auburn, WA versus $39.00 in Sao Carlos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $236 – making Sao Carlos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Auburn, WA vs Sao Carlos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Auburn, WA costs about 165% more than Sao Carlos, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,849 per month in Auburn, WA and $1,453 in Sao Carlos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Carlos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,566 in Auburn, WA and $969 in Sao Carlos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,087 per month in Auburn, WA and $286 in Sao Carlos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Carlos, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Auburn, WA at $2,566. In Sao Carlos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Auburn, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Carlos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sao Carlos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.