Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montreal and Sao Bernardo do Campo

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Bernardo do Campo: $864 a month against $2,018 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,018
/mo nomad
Sao Bernardo do Campo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$864
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montreal and in Sao Bernardo do Campo

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

A single person spends $2,018 per month in Montreal vs $864 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, rent included.

  • Montreal $2,018
  • Sao Bernardo do Campo $864

A couple spends around $3,085 per month in Montreal vs $1,353 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, rent included.

  • Montreal $3,085
  • Sao Bernardo do Campo $1,353

A family of three spends $4,152 per month in Montreal vs $1,841 in Sao Bernardo do Campo, rent included.

  • Montreal $4,152
  • Sao Bernardo do Campo $1,841

Montreal costs about 134% more than Sao Bernardo do Campo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Montreal sits 49% above the global median, while Sao Bernardo do Campo is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.82 CA$26.61
$7.15 R$36.26
163.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 CA$99.4
$29.48 R$149
138.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 CA$15.06
$9.18 R$46.52
16.12%
Cappuccino
$3.84 CA$5.43
$1.83 R$9.27
109.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.71
$1.29 R$6.54
48.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 CA$2.18
$0.73 R$3.68
110.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 CA$8.81
$2.43 R$12.31
156.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10 CA$10.03
$3.91 R$19.81
81.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$1.02 R$5.18
126.47%
White Bread (500g)
$3.14 CA$4.44
$1.92 R$9.74
63.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$1.38 R$6.98
132.61%
Eggs
$3.52 CA$4.97
$2.01 R$10.21
75.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 CA$18.11
$10.85 R$55.0
18.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 CA$16.20
$4.60 R$23.30
149.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.39 CA$18.92
$10.53 R$53.4
27.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$2.37 R$12.04
32.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 CA$2.03
$1.64 R$8.30
-12.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$1.38 R$6.99
151.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.34
$1.35 R$6.86
127.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 CA$2.69
$1.28 R$6.47
48.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$0.98 R$4.99
80.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 CA$3.31
$0.92 R$4.67
154.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$0.88 R$4.44
76.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.38 CA$16.09
$2.23 R$11.29
410.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 CA$15.03
$6.69 R$33.90
58.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 CA$3.21
$1.31 R$6.62
73.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$2.57 R$13.05
9.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 CA$3.76
$1.12 R$5.70
137.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.3 CA$109
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 CA$4.53
$1.18 R$5.96
171.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.09
$0.61 R$3.12
142.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.88 CA$46.48
$3.09 R$15.67
964.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 CA$1.90
$1.19 R$6.02
12.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.8K
$24.2K R$122.6K
16.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K CA$27.8K
$32.3K R$163.6K
-39.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.0 CA$107
$67.5 R$342
12.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.95 CA$48.00
$14.78 R$74.9
129.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.31 CA$59.8
$20.70 R$105
104.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.76 CA$42.07
$24.62 R$125
20.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.28 CA$28.67
$33.67 R$171
-39.77%
Cinema Ticket
$11.15 CA$15.77
$7.01 R$35.56
59.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$717
$339 R$1,717
49.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K CA$22.7K
$6,468 R$32.8K
148.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 CA$81.4
$38.86 R$197
48.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.58 CA$53.1
$48.51 R$246
-22.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.9 CA$130
$91.3 R$463
0.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 CA$155
$77.3 R$392
41.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 CA$1,782
$338 R$1,715
272.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$948 CA$1,340
$255 R$1,292
271.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 CA$3,021
$1,001 R$5,074
113.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 CA$2,281
$440 R$2,229
266.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,960 CA$7,011
$1,610 R$8,163
208.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,838 CA$5,425
$1,098 R$5,565
249.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montreal
Sao Bernardo do Campo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 CA$3,997
$397 R$2,014
611.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
10.81
-58.56%

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

Last update for Montreal: October 12, 2026

Last update for Sao Bernardo do Campo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Montreal
$948
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$255 73.1% $693
Groceries & Markets
Montreal
$346
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$209 39.6% $137
Eating Out
Montreal
$288
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$135 53.2% $153
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montreal
$152
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$103 32.4% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Montreal
$133
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$115 13.7% $18
Getting Around
Montreal
$99
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$8.8 * 91.1% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Montreal
$52
Sao Bernardo do Campo
$39 25.8% $13

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Montreal versus $338 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. 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 612% higher in Montreal, 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 $70.0 in Montreal versus $29.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $209 – making Sao Bernardo do Campo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Montreal
🇧🇷 Sao Bernardo do Campo
🕒 Local time
22:54 10:54 PM
23:54 11:54 PM
1 h ahead of Montreal
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,762,949
810,729
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 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
  • Montreal Sao Bernardo do Campo 8,170 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montreal
  • Sao Bernardo do Campo

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
Montreal vs Sao Bernardo do Campo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Montreal or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Montreal costs about 134% more than Sao Bernardo do Campo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montreal and in Sao Bernardo do Campo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,027 per month in Montreal and $1,296 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montreal or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Bernardo do Campo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Montreal and in Sao Bernardo do Campo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Montreal and $29.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montreal or in Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Montreal, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Montreal or in Sao Bernardo do Campo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sao Bernardo do Campo, where all-in costs run around $864, than in Montreal at $2,018. In Sao Bernardo do Campo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montreal or Sao Bernardo do Campo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sao Bernardo do Campo costs $864 versus $2,018 in Montreal. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Montreal compared to Sao Bernardo do Campo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Montreal or to Sao Bernardo do Campo?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Bernardo do Campo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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