Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and Sao Paulo

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,235 a month against $1,596 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,596
/mo nomad
Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,235
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon 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 Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and in Sao Paulo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,596 per month in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon vs $1,235 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon $1,596
  • Sao Paulo $1,235

A couple spends around $2,398 per month in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon vs $2,073 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon $2,398
  • Sao Paulo $2,073

A family of three spends $3,200 per month in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon vs $2,911 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

  • Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon $3,200
  • Sao Paulo $2,911

Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon costs about 29% more than Sao Paulo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon sits 18% above the global median, while Sao Paulo is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 ₡5,353
$8.81 R$44.68
35.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.58 ₡20.0K
$49.37 R$250
-9.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.82 ₡4,855
$8.80 R$44.63
22.95%
Cappuccino
$4.03 ₡1,808
$2.49 R$12.63
61.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₡1,067
$1.42 R$7.19
67.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ₡819
$0.85 R$4.31
115.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 ₡1,510
$2.98 R$15.11
13.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 ₡1,800
$4.34 R$22.02
-7.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 ₡931
$1.24 R$6.28
67.74%
White Bread (500g)
$3.16 ₡1,418
$1.91 R$9.66
65.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 ₡1,089
$1.43 R$7.25
69.93%
Eggs
$3.07 ₡1,378
$2.81 R$14.23
9.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.56 ₡2,942
$12.74 R$64.6
-48.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.76 ₡3,479
$5.41 R$27.44
43.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 ₡6,350
$10.64 R$54.0
33.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 ₡1,161
$2.75 R$13.95
-5.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 ₡504
$1.81 R$9.19
-38.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ₡576
$1.63 R$8.27
-20.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 ₡781
$2.00 R$10.16
-13.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 ₡1,165
$1.40 R$7.10
85.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 ₡881
$1.27 R$6.43
55.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 ₡311
$1.28 R$6.47
-46.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 ₡898
$0.95 R$4.83
110.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.12 ₡1,398
$2.99 R$15.15
4.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.10 ₡6,773
$9.96 R$50.5
51.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 ₡1,284
$1.85 R$9.37
54.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ₡1,663
$2.54 R$12.90
46.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.30 ₡582
$1.09 R$5.50
19.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.11 ₡19.3K
$48.78 R$247
-11.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 ₡825
$1.85 R$9.39
-0.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 ₡693
$0.99 R$4.99
55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.50 ₡3,814
$10.29 R$52.2
-17.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ₡674
$1.34 R$6.78
11.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K ₡10.0M
$24.4K R$123.8K
-8.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K ₡15.7M
$33.9K R$172.1K
3.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.5 ₡42.8K
$104 R$529
-8.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.40 ₡15.9K
$16.71 R$84.7
111.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.86 ₡14.7K
$22.18 R$112
48.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.5 ₡33.0K
$35.82 R$182
105.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$47.28 R$240
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.71 ₡3,458
$10.06 R$51.0
-23.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$972 ₡435.8K
$579 R$2,936
67.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K ₡7.7M
$17.1K R$86.6K
-0.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.6 ₡29.0K
$65.7 R$333
-1.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.92 ₡11.6K
$61.0 R$309
-57.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.0 ₡43.5K
$100 R$509
-3.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5 ₡24.4K
$92.1 R$467
-40.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$690 ₡309.3K
$659 R$3,341
4.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ₡295.6K
$428 R$2,170
54.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,981 ₡888.2K
$1,515 R$7,678
30.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,135 ₡508.8K
$1,026 R$5,201
10.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,773 R$14.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,007 R$10.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
Sao Paulo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$976 ₡437.6K
$909 R$4,609
7.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
11.68
-26.20%

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

Last update for Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon: October 13, 2026

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$659
Sao Paulo
$428 35.1% $231
Groceries & Markets
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$299
Sao Paulo
$244 18.4% $55
Eating Out
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$218
Sao Paulo
$159 26.8% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$164
Sao Paulo
$143 12.5% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$109
Sao Paulo
$144 31.9% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$89
Sao Paulo
$56 37.1% $33
Getting Around
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
$58
Sao Paulo
$60 3.5% $2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $690 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon 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 7% higher in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, 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 $45.00 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon versus $49.00 in Sao Paulo. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon vs $244 in Sao Paulo – so Sao Paulo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🕒 Local time
13:32 1:32 PM
16:32 4:32 PM
3 h ahead of Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,451,999
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon Sao Paulo 5,690 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon
  • 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
Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon vs Sao Paulo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and in Sao Paulo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,596 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon, $1,235 in Sao Paulo – roughly 29% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon compared to Sao Paulo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,394 per month in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and $1,852 in Sao Paulo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and Sao Paulo?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and in Sao Paulo?
Public transport costs about 13% less in Sao Paulo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and Sao Paulo?
Kindergarten costs $972 per month in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and $579 in Sao Paulo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Paulo, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon at $1,596. In Sao Paulo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and Sao Paulo?
It depends on your priorities. Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,235 in Sao Paulo to $1,596 in Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon and Sao Paulo?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Paulo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puerto Viejo - de Talamanca, Limon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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