Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Sao Bernardo do Campo Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Sao Bernardo do Campo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $780 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,259 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,739 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 11% more expensive than Sao Bernardo do Campo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Sao Bernardo do Campo 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$36.29

$6.31 R$32.64

11.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$201

$25.45 R$132

52.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.69

$7.94 R$41.06

-20.40%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$10.13

$1.45 R$7.50

35.17%

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

$1.18 R$6.09

$1.14 R$5.88

3.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.44

$0.54 R$2.81

59.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.59

$2.49 R$12.89

-25.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.42

$4.60 R$23.77

-30.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.14

$0.91 R$4.72

8.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.26

$1.34 R$6.92

19.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.30

$1.18 R$6.11

19.49%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.53

$1.80 R$9.33

13.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$48.89

$9.57 R$49.47

-1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.57

$4.26 R$22.01

-20.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$36.39

$7.38 R$38.14

-4.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$10.14

$1.86 R$9.63

5.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.26

$1.64 R$8.48

-14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.22

$1.02 R$5.27

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.57

$1.25 R$6.48

32.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.41

$1.06 R$5.51

16.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.75

$0.94 R$4.85

39.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.17

$0.82 R$4.26

-1.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.26

$0.64 R$3.33

-1.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$11.01

$2.13 R$11.02

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$46.66

$6.69 R$34.60

34.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.71

$1.09 R$5.62

0.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.34

$2.58 R$13.35

-7.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.32

$0.94 R$4.85

9.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$230

$38.50 R$199

15.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.88

$1.11 R$5.72

-15.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.16

$0.50 R$2.57

62.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.81

$6.31 R$32.60

-11.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.80

$1.04 R$5.38

7.69%

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

$25.0K R$129.3K

$20.4K R$105.3K

22.76%

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

$29.1K R$150.5K

$30.2K R$156.1K

-3.54%

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

$72.2 R$374

$67.0 R$346

7.85%

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

$13.08 R$67.6

$22.36 R$116

-41.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$105

$16.79 R$86.8

21.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$129

$22.26 R$115

12.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$110

$29.87 R$154

-28.72%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$36.60

$7.37 R$38.12

-3.93%

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

$488 R$2,525

$305 R$1,579

59.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$77.5K

$5,885 R$30.4K

154.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$301

$28.00 R$145

108.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$217

$44.43 R$230

-5.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$361

$89.8 R$464

-22.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$337

$68.3 R$353

-4.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,108

$301 R$1,554

35.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,346

$201 R$1,040

29.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,905

$645 R$3,333

47.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,905

$404 R$2,090

39.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$13.1K

$1,561 R$8,074

62.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,862

$1,106 R$5,719

54.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,376

$402 R$2,081

110.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

10.92

8.70%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sao Bernardo do Campo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $301 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 110% 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: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $25.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $176 per month, with Sao Bernardo do Campo cheaper across the board.

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

Brasilia vs Sao Bernardo do Campo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Sao Bernardo do Campo differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $780 including rent). Sao Bernardo do Campo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 110% more on average, 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: $408 in Brasilia versus $301 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Sao Bernardo do Campo – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $862 per month in Brasilia versus $780 in Sao Bernardo do Campo – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Sao Bernardo do Campo 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 Bernardo do Campo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.