Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Sao Carlos Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Sao Carlos

😐 Solo nomad: Brasilia is 2.7% more expensive than Sao Carlos without rent, and 5.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Brasilia is 3.8% more expensive than Sao Carlos without rent, and 6.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.04 R$35.05
$4.38 R$21.82
60.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17 R$200
$32.98 R$164
21.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.40 R$31.86
$6.74 R$33.58
-5.04%
Cappuccino
$1.92 R$9.56
$1.74 R$8.68
10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 R$6.08
$1.12 R$5.55
8.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 R$4.34
$0.67 R$3.36
29.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 R$8.85
$1.42 R$7.06
25.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 R$15.97
$2.91 R$14.47
10.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 R$4.96
$1.09 R$5.45
-8.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 R$8.12
$1.57 R$7.82
3.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 R$7.09
$2.57 R$12.80
-44.75%
Eggs
$2.00 R$9.97
$2.24 R$11.14
-10.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 R$46.67
$9.45 R$47.08
-0.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 R$16.20
$4.17 R$20.75
-22.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.95 R$34.62
$7.81 R$38.88
-11.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 R$9.77
$2.31 R$11.50
-15.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R$7.08
$1.46 R$7.26
-2.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.78
$1.47 R$7.31
-21.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.99
$1.89 R$9.42
-15.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.44
$1.53 R$7.61
-15.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.19
$1.24 R$6.16
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 R$4.01
$0.89 R$4.45
-8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.31
$0.72 R$3.61
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19 R$10.92
$2.10 R$10.44
4.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.98 R$49.69
$8.29 R$41.31
20.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 R$5.33
$1.25 R$6.24
-14.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 R$11.63
$2.46 R$12.23
-4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 R$4.73
$0.87 R$4.31
9.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.98 R$219
$21.75 R$108
102.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 R$4.96
$1.38 R$6.85
-27.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 R$3.89
$0.91 R$4.52
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.59 R$27.83
$3.30 R$16.45
69.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.43
$1.01 R$5.01
7.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K R$123.8K
$28.4K R$141.6K
-12.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K R$142.7K
$29.3K R$145.9K
-2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.7 R$357
$70.5 R$351
1.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.22 R$65.8
$14.94 R$74.4
-11.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.34 R$101
$18.22 R$90.7
11.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.07 R$125
$20.46 R$102
22.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.54 R$107
$39.83 R$198
-45.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.03 R$35.03
$4.15 R$20.67
69.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 R$2,396
$311 R$1,548
54.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.4K R$76.5K
$2,659 R$13.2K
477.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 R$296
$45.31 R$226
31.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.60 R$207
$37.34 R$186
11.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.1 R$344
$103 R$515
-33.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.9 R$323
$91.2 R$454
-28.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$411 R$2,045
$222 R$1,103
85.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$254 R$1,263
$221 R$1,098
15.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 R$4,794
$445 R$2,218
116.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 R$2,749
$486 R$2,423
13.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,758 R$13.7K
$725 R$3,613
280.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,809 R$9,007
$883 R$4,397
104.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Sao Carlos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$753 R$3,749
$686 R$3,418
9.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.87
10.67
11.25%

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

Last update for Brasilia: April 13, 2026

Last update for Sao Carlos: April 12, 2026

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

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