Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Decatur, IL and Sao Paulo

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,235 a month against $1,725 in Decatur, IL, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Decatur, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,725
/mo nomad
Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,235
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Decatur, IL and in Sao Paulo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Decatur, IL and in Sao Paulo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,725 per month in Decatur, IL vs $1,235 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Decatur, IL $1,725
  • Sao Paulo $1,235

A couple spends around $2,654 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,073 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Decatur, IL $2,654
  • Sao Paulo $2,073

A family of three spends $3,582 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,911 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Decatur, IL $3,582
  • Sao Paulo $2,911

Decatur, IL costs about 40% more than Sao Paulo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Decatur, IL sits 28% above the global median, while Sao Paulo is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.96 $19.96
$8.81 R$44.68
126.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.4 $83.4
$49.37 R$250
69.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 $8.74
$8.80 R$44.63
-0.68%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$2.49 R$12.63
117.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.42 R$7.19
57.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.85 R$4.31
95.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 $5.02
$2.98 R$15.11
68.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.12 $6.12
$4.34 R$22.02
41.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.24 R$6.28
8.06%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.91 R$9.66
60.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.43 R$7.25
41.96%
Eggs
$4.74 $4.74
$2.81 R$14.23
68.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.87 $13.87
$12.74 R$64.6
8.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.86 $14.86
$5.41 R$27.44
174.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$10.64 R$54.0
22.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.75 R$13.95
56.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.81 R$9.19
11.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.03 $4.03
$1.63 R$8.27
147.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$2.00 R$10.16
63.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.40 R$7.10
-35.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.27 R$6.43
-14.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.28 R$6.47
15.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$0.95 R$4.83
223.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.87 $15.87
$2.99 R$15.15
430.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.81 $14.81
$9.96 R$50.5
48.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.85 R$9.37
18.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.54 R$12.90
-21.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.09 R$5.50
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$48.78 R$247
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 $3.17
$1.85 R$9.39
71.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$0.99 R$4.99
43.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.28 $25.28
$10.29 R$52.2
145.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.34 R$6.78
-13.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K $37.0K
$24.4K R$123.8K
51.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$33.9K R$172.1K
-24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.6 $85.6
$104 R$529
-18.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.2 $67.2
$16.71 R$84.7
302.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$22.18 R$112
171.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$74.7 $74.7
$35.82 R$182
108.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$47.28 R$240
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.82 $11.82
$10.06 R$51.0
17.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,525 $1,525
$579 R$2,936
163.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$32.0K $32.0K
$17.1K R$86.6K
87.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1 $68.1
$65.7 R$333
3.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5 $51.5
$61.0 R$309
-15.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$100 R$509
1.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 $144
$92.1 R$467
56.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$867 $867
$659 R$3,341
31.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 $551
$428 R$2,170
28.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$993 $993
$1,515 R$7,678
-34.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$805 $805
$1,026 R$5,201
-21.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$940 $940
$2,773 R$14.1K
-66.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$941 $941
$2,007 R$10.2K
-53.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Decatur, IL
Sao Paulo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,599 $4,599
$909 R$4,609
405.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.77
11.68
-42.04%

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

Last update for Decatur, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Decatur, IL
$551
Sao Paulo
$428 22.3% $123
Groceries & Markets
Decatur, IL
$385
Sao Paulo
$244 36.5% $140
Eating Out
Decatur, IL
$304
Sao Paulo
$159 47.5% $144
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Decatur, IL
$213
Sao Paulo
$143 32.7% $70
Clothing & Footwear
Decatur, IL
$164
Sao Paulo
$144 12.5% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Decatur, IL
$98
Sao Paulo
$56 43.1% $42
Getting Around
Decatur, IL
$10 *
Sao Paulo
$60 483% $50

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $867 in Decatur, IL versus $659 in Sao Paulo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 406% higher in Decatur, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Decatur, IL versus $49.00 in Sao Paulo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $244 – making Sao Paulo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Decatur, IL
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🕒 Local time
18:07 6:07 PM
20:07 8:07 PM
2 h ahead of Decatur, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
77,047
11,451,999
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Decatur, IL Sao Paulo 8,300 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Decatur, IL
  • 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
Decatur, IL vs Sao Paulo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Paulo cheaper than Decatur, IL?
Yes – Decatur, IL is pricier by about 40%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,588 per month in Decatur, IL and $1,852 in Sao Paulo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Paulo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Decatur, IL or in Sao Paulo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Decatur, IL and $49.00 in Sao Paulo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Decatur, IL and in Sao Paulo?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Decatur, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Decatur, IL or in Sao Paulo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Paulo, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Decatur, IL at $1,725. In Sao Paulo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Decatur, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Decatur, IL or Sao Paulo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sao Paulo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Paulo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Decatur, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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