Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Auburn, WA and Sao Carlos

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Carlos: $982 a month against $2,589 in Auburn, WA, rent and utilities included – about $19,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Auburn, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,589
/mo nomad
Sao Carlos
🇧🇷 Brazil
$982
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Auburn, WA and in Sao Carlos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Auburn, WA and in Sao Carlos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,589 per month in Auburn, WA vs $982 in Sao Carlos, rent included.

  • Auburn, WA $2,589
  • Sao Carlos $982

A couple spends around $4,092 per month in Auburn, WA vs $1,709 in Sao Carlos, rent included.

  • Auburn, WA $4,092
  • Sao Carlos $1,709

A family of three spends $5,595 per month in Auburn, WA vs $2,436 in Sao Carlos, rent included.

  • Auburn, WA $5,595
  • Sao Carlos $2,436

Auburn, WA costs about 164% more than Sao Carlos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Auburn, WA sits 91% above the global median, while Sao Carlos is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.69 $19.69
$4.98 R$25.25
295.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.2 $96.2
$40.05 R$203
140.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 $11.71
$6.77 R$34.33
72.97%
Cappuccino
$4.46 $4.46
$2.12 R$10.74
110.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.34 R$6.78
52.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.79 R$3.98
154.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$1.63 R$8.24
202.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$2.83 R$14.36
153.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.34 R$6.80
-33.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.96 R$9.96
30.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.78 R$9.03
110.67%
Eggs
$3.04 $3.04
$2.95 R$14.94
3.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 $8.58
$12.48 R$63.3
-31.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.75 $13.75
$5.25 R$26.61
161.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.56 $18.56
$9.22 R$46.72
101.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$2.71 R$13.72
75.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.84 R$9.33
-2.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$1.78 R$9.01
114.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.96 R$9.95
111.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.74 R$8.84
78.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.36 R$6.88
139.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.01 R$5.14
81.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.16 R$5.88
81.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.79 $10.79
$3.19 R$16.18
238.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.03 $15.03
$8.46 R$42.91
77.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.48 R$7.50
14.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.91 R$14.73
0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.98 R$4.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$23.86 R$121
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.48 R$7.48
139.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.01 R$5.11
82.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.2 $50.2
$3.64 R$18.45
1279.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.25 R$6.32
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$20.2K R$102.2K
27.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$31.5K R$159.5K
-22.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$62.4 R$316
247.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.51 $40.51
$13.74 R$69.6
194.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.5 $79.5
$24.07 R$122
230.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.39 $34.39
$34.77 R$176
-1.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$48.31 R$245
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.77 $14.77
$5.38 R$27.29
174.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,077 $1,077
$302 R$1,531
256.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K $16.8K
$3,032 R$15.4K
452.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$84.7 R$429
-34.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.82 $46.82
$96.7 R$490
-51.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 $78.9
$139 R$705
-43.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.3 $81.3
$163 R$826
-50.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,470 $1,470
$272 R$1,377
441.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,381 $1,381
$236 R$1,197
485.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,298 $2,298
$673 R$3,410
241.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,844 $2,844
$663 R$3,358
329.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$849 R$4,303
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$730 R$3,698
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Auburn, WA
Sao Carlos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,864 $6,864
$681 R$3,453
907.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
10.75
-38.70%

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

Last update for Auburn, WA: October 20, 2026

Last update for Sao Carlos: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Auburn, WA
$1.4K
Sao Carlos
$236 82.9% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Auburn, WA
$375
Sao Carlos
$241 35.8% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Auburn, WA
$336
Sao Carlos
$100 70.2% $236
Eating Out
Auburn, WA
$301
Sao Carlos
$108 64.2% $194
Clothing & Footwear
Auburn, WA
$118
Sao Carlos
$218 84.1% $99
Sport & Entertainment
Auburn, WA
$64
Sao Carlos
$46 28.8% $18
Getting Around
Auburn, WA
$13 *
Sao Carlos
$34 169% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,470 in Auburn, WA versus $272 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 908% 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 $96.0 in Auburn, WA versus $40.00 in Sao Carlos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $241 – making Sao Carlos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Auburn, WA
🇧🇷 Sao Carlos
🕒 Local time
10:39 10:39 AM
14:39 2:39 PM
4 h ahead of Auburn, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
76,143
254,857
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Auburn, WA Sao Carlos 10,670 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Auburn, WA
  • Sao Carlos

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Auburn, WA or Sao Carlos?
Auburn, WA costs about 164% more than Sao Carlos, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Auburn, WA and in Sao Carlos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,884 per month in Auburn, WA and $1,474 in Sao Carlos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Auburn, WA or Sao Carlos?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Auburn, WA compared to Sao Carlos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,589 in Auburn, WA and $982 in Sao Carlos. That's a gap of about 164%.
How do childcare costs compare in Auburn, WA and in Sao Carlos?
Kindergarten costs $1,077 per month in Auburn, WA and $302 in Sao Carlos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Auburn, WA or in Sao Carlos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Carlos, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Auburn, WA at $2,589. In Sao Carlos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Auburn, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Auburn, WA compared to Sao Carlos?
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.
Should I move to Auburn, WA or to Sao Carlos?
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.

Auburn, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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