Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Sao Luis Cost of Living Comparison Between Belem and Sao Luis

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Belem versus $764 in Sao Luis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Belem versus $1,164 in Sao Luis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,724 in Belem versus $1,564 in Sao Luis.

Living in Belem is roughly 2% more expensive than in Sao Luis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Belem 41% lower, Sao Luis 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 R$22.66

$4.92 R$25.16

-9.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.89 R$148

$30.38 R$155

-4.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.26 R$32.02

$7.40 R$37.83

-15.41%

Cappuccino

$1.60 R$8.16

$2.06 R$10.52

-22.33%

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

$0.93 R$4.73

$0.96 R$4.89

-3.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 R$2.38

$0.60 R$3.05

-21.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.60 R$8.16

$1.86 R$9.52

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 R$17.93

$3.20 R$16.33

9.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 R$5.90

$0.98 R$5.00

17.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.11 R$10.79

$1.88 R$9.62

12.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 R$6.36

$0.99 R$5.05

26.26%

Eggs

$1.98 R$10.11

$1.87 R$9.53

5.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.31 R$52.7

$9.40 R$48.04

9.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 R$20.18

$3.78 R$19.32

4.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.71 R$34.28

$7.37 R$37.67

-8.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 R$8.74

$1.94 R$9.92

-11.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 R$8.83

$1.27 R$6.49

36.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 R$6.59

$0.99 R$5.07

30.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 R$7.47

$1.35 R$6.92

8.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 R$4.72

$1.16 R$5.92

-20.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 R$2.81

$1.25 R$6.37

-56.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 R$5.27

$0.77 R$3.95

33.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 R$6.88

$0.62 R$3.15

117.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 R$12.74

$2.05 R$10.48

21.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 R$50.5

$7.96 R$40.70

24.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 R$6.70

$1.15 R$5.89

13.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 R$23.32

$1.92 R$9.80

137.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 R$3.80

$0.77 R$3.95

-3.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.48 R$110

$34.77 R$178

-38.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.67

$0.93 R$4.73

19.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 R$3.79

$0.49 R$2.50

51.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.84 R$45.17

$6.29 R$32.17

40.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 R$5.30

$0.98 R$4.99

6.12%

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

$16.1K R$82.3K

$17.0K R$87.1K

-5.49%

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

$29.0K R$148.0K

$25.2K R$128.7K

14.97%

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

$111 R$568

$82.4 R$421

34.80%

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

$14.53 R$74.3

$17.31 R$88.5

-16.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.28 R$109

$16.28 R$83.2

30.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.25 R$109

$18.44 R$94.2

15.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.56 R$110

$15.44 R$78.9

39.64%

Cinema Ticket

$6.21 R$31.76

$6.24 R$31.91

-0.48%

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

$101 R$514

$205 R$1,046

-50.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,082 R$15.7K

$4,348 R$22.2K

-29.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.98 R$169

$44.44 R$227

-25.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 R$148

$46.93 R$240

-38.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.8 R$387

$53.7 R$274

41.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.88 R$214

$53.7 R$275

-22.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 R$2,225

$388 R$1,982

12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 R$962

$208 R$1,061

-9.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 R$4,091

$519 R$2,652

54.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 R$2,382

$299 R$1,531

55.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,951 R$9,972

$1,470 R$7,514

32.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,369 R$6,995

$715 R$3,655

91.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$409 R$2,090

$375 R$1,916

9.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.2

10.92

11.72%

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

Last update for Belem: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sao Luis: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Belem and $388 in Sao Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Belem pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Belem vs $30.00 in Sao Luis. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $179, with Sao Luis cheaper for home cooking.

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

Belem vs Sao Luis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sao Luis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 9% higher in Belem, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Belem versus $388 in Sao Luis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sao Luis runs roughly 62% less than in Belem. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $101 in Belem versus $205 in Sao Luis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sao Luis gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Sao Luis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Belem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.