😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $988 in Curitiba versus $797 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,578 in Curitiba versus $1,244 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Curitiba versus $1,691 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.
🌍Living in Curitiba is roughly 24% more expensive than in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba28% lower, Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.77R$39.61
$4.27R$21.80
81.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.20R$195
$26.22R$134
45.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42R$42.96
$8.10R$41.33
3.95%
Cappuccino
$2.65R$13.50
$2.23R$11.37
18.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17R$5.98
$1.27R$6.49
-7.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R$4.42
$0.73R$3.72
19.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66R$13.58
$1.97R$10.06
35.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16R$21.24
$3.44R$17.55
20.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.12
$1.02R$5.19
-1.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81R$9.25
$1.79R$9.13
1.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31R$6.68
$1.18R$6.01
11.02%
Eggs
$2.34R$11.92
$1.96R$9.99
19.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.59R$48.90
$6.67R$34.01
43.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.85R$24.76
$4.10R$20.92
18.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.98R$50.9
$6.26R$31.94
59.42%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60R$8.17
$2.29R$11.67
-30.13%
Banana(1kg)
$0.99R$5.04
$1.12R$5.72
-11.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01R$5.13
$0.74R$3.78
36.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.80
$1.49R$7.59
-23.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86R$4.41
$1.23R$6.26
-30.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74R$3.77
$1.20R$6.13
-38.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76R$3.90
$0.94R$4.78
-19.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.41
$0.65R$3.33
32.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88R$14.67
$1.90R$9.67
51.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54R$38.45
$6.83R$34.81
10.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37R$6.98
$1.10R$5.61
24.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57R$13.10
$2.26R$11.54
13.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15R$5.86
$0.97R$4.97
18.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.3R$349
$29.30R$149
133.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28R$6.54
$0.57R$2.89
124.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73R$3.74
$0.74R$3.75
-1.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91R$30.12
$6.58R$33.56
-10.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32R$6.75
$1.20R$6.13
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KR$117.2K
$18.7KR$95.5K
22.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KR$162.1K
$29.8KR$152.1K
6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.6R$503
$63.6R$324
55.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.65R$74.7
$13.28R$67.7
10.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53R$115
$18.15R$92.6
24.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.08R$138
$20.85R$106
29.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22R$87.8
$18.96R$96.7
-9.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68R$34.06
$3.76R$19.18
77.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$368R$1,877
$275R$1,404
33.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KR$54.8K
$7,665R$39.1K
40.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0R$285
$64.9R$331
-13.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.73R$254
$55.5R$283
-10.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.2R$460
$90.5R$462
-0.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1R$383
$44.41R$227
69.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479R$2,445
$418R$2,134
14.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$277R$1,414
$258R$1,315
7.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$782R$3,990
$583R$2,974
34.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$522R$2,662
$447R$2,279
16.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,375R$12.1K
$2,097R$10.7K
13.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,744R$8,893
$799R$4,076
118.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$650R$3,317
$525R$2,675
24.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.54
8.23
40.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Curitiba and $418 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 24% 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: $38.00 in Curitiba vs $26.00 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $170 per month, with Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP 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
Curitiba vs Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Curitiba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Average pay runs 24% higher in Curitiba, 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 compared to Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Rent for a central apartment: $479 in Curitiba versus $418 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba compared to Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
A monthly transit pass in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP runs roughly 133% 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 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Childcare runs $368 in Curitiba versus $275 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Curitiba or in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
At $797 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP versus $988 in Curitiba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP but tight or insufficient in Curitiba. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Curitiba or Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $797 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.