๐A single person spends $700 per month in Ilheus vs $1,059 in Sao Paulo, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,101 per month in Ilheus vs $1,691 in Sao Paulo, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,502 per month in Ilheus vs $2,323 in Sao Paulo, rent included.
๐Ilheus is about 34% cheaper than Sao Paulo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Ilheus and Sao Paulo are more affordable than the global median โ Ilheus48% lower, Sao Paulo21% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98R$19.80
$7.36R$36.57
-45.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.60R$132
$39.25R$195
-32.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.27R$31.17
$7.06R$35.08
-11.19%
Cappuccino
$1.72R$8.55
$2.00R$9.94
-14.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11R$5.52
$1.19R$5.91
-6.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.34
$0.83R$4.12
-19.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.12
$2.11R$10.51
-12.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62R$13.04
$2.84R$14.09
-7.75%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94R$4.69
$1.06R$5.25
-11.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44R$7.16
$1.83R$9.09
-21.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18R$5.84
$1.29R$6.43
-8.53%
Eggs
$2.01R$10.00
$2.41R$11.96
-16.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.08R$84.9
$11.04R$54.9
54.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57R$17.72
$4.18R$20.75
-14.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.14R$35.48
$9.22R$45.83
-22.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06R$10.24
$2.85R$14.17
-27.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R$6.44
$1.92R$9.53
-32.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19R$5.90
$1.70R$8.47
-30.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46R$7.25
$1.78R$8.87
-17.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.68
$1.43R$7.09
-20.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07R$5.32
$1.24R$6.17
-13.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75R$3.75
$1.02R$5.05
-26.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.10
$0.74R$3.66
-16.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19R$10.89
$2.59R$12.87
-15.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.73R$38.40
$10.15R$50.5
-23.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.29
$1.35R$6.69
-5.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01R$9.99
$2.37R$11.79
-15.19%
๐ Getting Around
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.29
$0.94R$4.69
-8.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.14R$190
$45.42R$226
-16.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.47
$1.06R$5.26
3.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75R$3.75
$0.75R$3.72
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.54R$32.50
$9.32R$46.34
-29.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98R$4.88
$1.11R$5.53
-11.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KR$103.7K
$21.3KR$105.7K
-1.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KR$139.4K
$28.4KR$141.2K
-1.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.4R$300
$53.6R$266
12.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.44R$66.8
$13.41R$66.7
0.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.09R$94.9
$19.96R$99.2
-4.36%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.42R$111
$29.18R$145
-23.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.28R$106
$35.88R$178
-40.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47R$32.17
$7.92R$39.37
-18.31%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$270R$1,339
$506R$2,517
-46.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,472R$32.2K
$15.1KR$75.2K
-57.26%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98R$248
$51.0R$253
-1.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.72R$212
$43.22R$215
-1.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.8R$377
$79.3R$394
-4.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.2R$324
$74.3R$369
-12.32%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170R$843
$661R$3,286
-74.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$119R$591
$406R$2,017
-70.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,543
$1,279R$6,357
-75.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$223R$1,109
$746R$3,709
-70.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,669R$8,293
$2,984R$14.8K
-44.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,320R$6,558
$2,181R$10.8K
-39.49%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Sao Paulo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$872R$4,334
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.56
-5.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilheus: April 20, 2026
Last update for Sao Paulo: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $170 in Ilheus versus $661 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $27 in Ilheus versus $39 in Sao Paulo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $218 โ making Ilheus the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Ilheus vs Sao Paulo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ilheus and Sao Paulo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $700 in Ilheus, $1,059 in Sao Paulo โ roughly 51% apart. Sao Paulo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ilheus compared to Sao Paulo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,050 per month in Ilheus and $1,588 in Sao Paulo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ilheus and Sao Paulo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ilheus, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Sao Paulo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Ilheus and $39.00 in Sao Paulo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ilheus, where all-in costs run around $700, than in Sao Paulo at $1,059. In Ilheus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sao Paulo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ilheus and Sao Paulo?
It depends on your priorities. Ilheus has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $700 in Ilheus to $1,059 in Sao Paulo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Ilheus and Sao Paulo?
If budget matters most, go with Ilheus. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sao Paulo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.