😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $848 in Curitiba versus $780 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,333 in Curitiba versus $1,259 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,818 in Curitiba versus $1,739 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.
😐Living in Curitiba is roughly 9% more expensive than Sao Bernardo do Campo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba37% lower, Sao Bernardo do Campo42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35R$27.11
$6.31R$31.96
-15.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.23R$163
$25.45R$129
26.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16R$31.19
$7.94R$40.21
-22.42%
Cappuccino
$2.07R$10.47
$1.45R$7.34
42.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.70
$1.14R$5.76
-0.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69R$3.49
$0.54R$2.75
27.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22R$11.23
$2.49R$12.63
-10.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31R$16.74
$4.60R$23.28
-28.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97R$4.91
$0.91R$4.62
6.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48R$7.49
$1.34R$6.78
10.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14R$5.80
$1.18R$5.98
-3.39%
Eggs
$2.05R$10.40
$1.80R$9.14
13.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.15R$41.25
$9.57R$48.44
-14.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76R$19.03
$4.26R$21.55
-11.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54R$38.16
$7.38R$37.35
2.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13R$10.80
$1.86R$9.43
14.52%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93R$4.72
$1.64R$8.31
-43.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96R$4.87
$1.02R$5.16
-5.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21R$6.12
$1.25R$6.35
-3.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04R$5.24
$1.06R$5.39
-1.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87R$4.42
$0.94R$4.75
-7.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59R$3.01
$0.82R$4.17
-28.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.34
$0.64R$3.26
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11R$10.67
$2.13R$10.79
-0.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92R$40.13
$6.69R$33.88
18.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18R$5.99
$1.09R$5.50
8.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15R$10.90
$2.58R$13.08
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07R$5.40
$0.94R$4.75
13.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.33R$240
$38.50R$195
22.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.58
$1.11R$5.60
-0.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.50
$0.50R$2.52
38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.38R$32.31
$6.31R$31.93
1.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22R$6.20
$1.04R$5.27
17.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KR$94.8K
$20.4KR$103.2K
-8.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KR$132.7K
$30.2KR$152.8K
-13.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.4R$366
$67.0R$339
8.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.52R$58.3
$22.36R$113
-48.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29R$108
$16.79R$85.0
26.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.34R$128
$22.26R$113
13.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.61R$84.1
$29.87R$151
-44.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43R$32.54
$7.37R$37.33
-12.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286R$1,446
$305R$1,546
-6.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,389R$32.4K
$5,885R$29.8K
8.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2R$274
$28.00R$142
93.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.55R$226
$44.43R$225
0.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9R$420
$89.8R$455
-7.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.5R$347
$68.3R$346
0.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$354R$1,794
$301R$1,522
17.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246R$1,247
$201R$1,018
22.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$674R$3,415
$645R$3,264
4.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495R$2,506
$404R$2,046
22.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,354R$11.9K
$1,561R$7,906
50.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,721R$8,717
$1,106R$5,600
55.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$656R$3,321
$402R$2,038
63.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
10.92
0.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sao Bernardo do Campo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Curitiba and $301 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 63% 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: $32.00 in Curitiba vs $25.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Groceries flip the comparison at $170 vs $176, with Curitiba 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
Curitiba vs Sao Bernardo do Campo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Sao Bernardo do Campo wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Curitiba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sao Bernardo do Campo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Curitiba pays 63% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Curitiba vs Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Curitiba versus $301 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba vs Sao Bernardo do Campo?
A monthly transit pass in Sao Bernardo do Campo runs roughly 23% less than in Curitiba. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Curitiba and Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Childcare runs $286 in Curitiba versus $305 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Curitiba or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Curitiba or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sao Bernardo do Campo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $780 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sao Bernardo do Campo hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sao Bernardo do Campo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.