🇮🇹 Italy
89
Cost of Living Index in Italy
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Sao Paulo
For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,244 a month against $1,735 in Costa Rica, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 40.4% more expensive than Sao Paulo without rent, and 39.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 35.7% more expensive than Sao Paulo without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 ₡5,312
$8.94 R$44.64
31.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 ₡25.0K
$49.46 R$247
12.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 ₡4,831
$9.22 R$46.01
16.27%
Cappuccino
$4.49 ₡2,023
$2.54 R$12.70
76.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 ₡1,051
$1.45 R$7.25
60.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₡815
$0.91 R$4.55
98.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 ₡1,455
$3.07 R$15.31
5.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 ₡1,992
$4.36 R$21.75
1.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 ₡1,037
$1.27 R$6.32
81.10%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 ₡1,600
$1.84 R$9.17
92.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 ₡1,221
$1.41 R$7.05
92.20%
Eggs
$4.05 ₡1,825
$2.84 R$14.20
42.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 ₡4,473
$12.56 R$62.7
-21.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.49 ₡4,729
$5.37 R$26.81
95.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ₡6,111
$10.72 R$53.5
26.49%
Apples (1kg)
$5.13 ₡2,312
$2.74 R$13.67
87.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ₡758
$1.81 R$9.03
-7.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 ₡1,639
$1.55 R$7.74
134.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 ₡1,463
$1.98 R$9.90
63.64%
Potato (1kg)
$3.40 ₡1,534
$1.47 R$7.34
131.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 ₡1,394
$1.24 R$6.20
149.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₡501
$1.27 R$6.35
-12.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₡1,192
$0.96 R$4.79
175.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,446
$3.04 R$15.16
78.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 ₡7,048
$10.19 R$50.8
53.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,238
$1.73 R$8.64
58.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 ₡1,472
$2.64 R$13.19
23.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₡480
$1.04 R$5.18
2.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 ₡29.4K
$48.10 R$240
35.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₡981
$1.82 R$9.07
19.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ₡916
$1.02 R$5.07
99.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.82 ₡3,977
$10.16 R$50.7
-13.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 ₡688
$1.27 R$6.35
20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K ₡14.8M
$24.3K R$121.4K
34.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K ₡16.2M
$34.0K R$169.8K
5.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.1K
$104 R$519
-10.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.19 ₡13.6K
$16.16 R$80.7
86.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1 ₡25.7K
$22.59 R$113
152.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ₡29.3K
$36.27 R$181
79.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.13 ₡9,976
$47.78 R$239
-53.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 ₡3,645
$9.85 R$49.19
-17.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$740 ₡333.8K
$525 R$2,622
40.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.6K ₡5.7M
$16.6K R$82.8K
-24.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 ₡34.0K
$66.9 R$334
12.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6 ₡24.6K
$62.3 R$311
-12.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 ₡57.4K
$101 R$505
25.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡48.3K
$90.9 R$454
18.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 ₡375.3K
$663 R$3,309
25.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 ₡289.1K
$423 R$2,110
51.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 ₡800.8K
$1,527 R$7,622
16.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,191 ₡536.9K
$1,009 R$5,035
18.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,437 ₡1.1M
$2,744 R$13.7K
-11.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,631 ₡735.2K
$2,068 R$10.3K
-21.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Costa Rica
Sao Paulo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,033 ₡465.8K
$881 R$4,396
17.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
11.68
-18.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Costa Rica: October 5, 2026
Last update for Sao Paulo: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $641 36.7%
Sao Paulo $423 34.3% 34.1% $219
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $379 21.7%
Sao Paulo $243 19.8% 35.8% $136
Eating Out
Costa Rica $222 12.7%
Sao Paulo $163 13.3% 26.4% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $181 10.3%
Sao Paulo $143 11.6% 21% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $164 9.4%
Sao Paulo $145 11.7% 11.9% $20
Getting Around
Costa Rica $82 4.7%
Sao Paulo $59 4.8% 27.8% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $81 4.6%
Sao Paulo $56 4.6% 31.1% $25
Accommodation & Living
Costa Rica $1.2K 32.2%
Sao Paulo $1K 34.8% 15.3% $182
Groceries & Markets
Costa Rica $864 23.3%
Sao Paulo $559 19.3% 35.3% $305
Eating Out
Costa Rica $719 19.4%
Sao Paulo $572 19.7% 20.5% $148
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Costa Rica $211 5.7%
Sao Paulo $159 5.5% 24.7% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Costa Rica $365 9.9%
Sao Paulo $321 11.1% 11.9% $43
Getting Around
Costa Rica $166 4.5%
Sao Paulo $120 4.2% 27.4% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Costa Rica $185 5%
Sao Paulo $160 5.5% 13.5% $25
Good to know
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
Weather
Population
5,044,197
11,451,999
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Costa Rica Sao Paulo 5,520 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
- Costa Rica
- 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
Costa Rica vs other spots: cost of living compared
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