Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belleville, IL and Sao Paulo

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,235 a month against $2,265 in Belleville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Belleville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,265
/mo nomad
Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,235
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belleville, IL and in Sao Paulo

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

A single person spends $2,265 per month in Belleville, IL vs $1,235 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Belleville, IL $2,265
  • Sao Paulo $1,235

A couple spends around $3,396 per month in Belleville, IL vs $2,073 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Belleville, IL $3,396
  • Sao Paulo $2,073

A family of three spends $4,526 per month in Belleville, IL vs $2,911 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Belleville, IL $4,526
  • Sao Paulo $2,911

Belleville, IL costs about 83% more than Sao Paulo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Belleville, IL sits 68% above the global median, while Sao Paulo is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.89 $17.89
$8.81 R$44.68
103.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4 $65.4
$49.37 R$250
32.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.26 $9.26
$8.80 R$44.63
5.23%
Cappuccino
$4.16 $4.16
$2.49 R$12.63
67.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.42 R$7.19
54.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$0.85 R$4.31
98.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 $4.62
$2.98 R$15.11
55.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.04 $5.04
$4.34 R$22.02
16.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.24 R$6.28
-20.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.91 R$9.66
20.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.53 $3.53
$1.43 R$7.25
146.85%
Eggs
$3.92 $3.92
$2.81 R$14.23
39.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.89 $11.89
$12.74 R$64.6
-6.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.28 $15.28
$5.41 R$27.44
182.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.11 $13.11
$10.64 R$54.0
23.21%
Apples (1kg)
$6.94 $6.94
$2.75 R$13.95
152.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.81 R$9.19
25.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$1.63 R$8.27
165.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.00 R$10.16
87.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.40 R$7.10
20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.27 R$6.43
69.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.28 R$6.47
38.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$0.95 R$4.83
142.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87 $7.87
$2.99 R$15.15
163.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.86 $14.86
$9.96 R$50.5
49.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.85 R$9.37
15.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.54 R$12.90
16.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.09 R$5.50
-5.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.2 $77.2
$48.78 R$247
58.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$1.85 R$9.39
90.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 $2.51
$0.99 R$4.99
153.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.79 $17.79
$10.29 R$52.2
72.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.34 R$6.78
-29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K $37.1K
$24.4K R$123.8K
51.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K $24.4K
$33.9K R$172.1K
-27.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$242 $242
$104 R$529
131.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.9 $68.9
$16.71 R$84.7
312.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 $66.3
$22.18 R$112
198.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.69 $35.69
$35.82 R$182
-0.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.50 $30.50
$47.28 R$240
-35.49%
Cinema Ticket
$14.19 $14.19
$10.06 R$51.0
41.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,053 $1,053
$579 R$2,936
81.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K $12.5K
$17.1K R$86.6K
-26.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$65.7 R$333
-11.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.73 $24.73
$61.0 R$309
-59.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 $88.5
$100 R$509
-11.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$92.1 R$467
13.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 $1,284
$659 R$3,341
94.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$944 $944
$428 R$2,170
120.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,091 $2,091
$1,515 R$7,678
38.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 $1,681
$1,026 R$5,201
63.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,430 $2,430
$2,773 R$14.1K
-12.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,882 $1,882
$2,007 R$10.2K
-6.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belleville, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,389 $6,389
$909 R$4,609
602.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.72
11.68
-42.47%

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

Last update for Belleville, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belleville, IL
$944
Sao Paulo
$428 54.7% $516
Groceries & Markets
Belleville, IL
$389
Sao Paulo
$244 37.2% $145
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belleville, IL
$377
Sao Paulo
$143 62% $234
Eating Out
Belleville, IL
$270
Sao Paulo
$159 40.8% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Belleville, IL
$124
Sao Paulo
$144 15.7% $20
Getting Around
Belleville, IL
$97
Sao Paulo
$60 38.5% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Belleville, IL
$64
Sao Paulo
$56 12.7% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,284 in Belleville, IL versus $659 in Sao Paulo. 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 603% higher in Belleville, IL, 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 $65.0 in Belleville, IL versus $49.00 in Sao Paulo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $244 – making Sao Paulo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Belleville, IL
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🕒 Local time
23:04 11:04 PM
01:04 1:04 AM
2 h ahead of Belleville, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,404
11,451,999
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Belleville, IL Sao Paulo 8,250 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Belleville, IL
  • Sao Paulo

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
Belleville, IL vs Sao Paulo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Belleville, IL or Sao Paulo?
Belleville, IL costs about 83% more than Sao Paulo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Belleville, IL and in Sao Paulo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,398 per month in Belleville, IL and $1,852 in Sao Paulo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Belleville, IL or Sao Paulo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Paulo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Belleville, IL and in Sao Paulo?
Kindergarten costs $1,053 per month in Belleville, IL and $579 in Sao Paulo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Belleville, IL or in Sao Paulo?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Belleville, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Belleville, IL or in Sao Paulo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Paulo, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Belleville, IL at $2,265. In Sao Paulo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belleville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Belleville, IL or Sao Paulo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sao Paulo costs $1,235 versus $2,265 in Belleville, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Belleville, IL compared to Sao Paulo?
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 Belleville, IL or to Sao Paulo?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Paulo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belleville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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