Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Sao Paulo Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Sao Paulo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Quito vs $1,188 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Quito vs $1,960 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Quito vs $2,732 in Sao Paulo, rent included.

Quito is about 17% cheaper than Sao Paulo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quito and Sao Paulo are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Sao Paulo 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.98 $4.98

$8.60 R$44.30

-42.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 $51.1

$49.05 R$253

4.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 $7.35

$8.44 R$43.50

-12.91%

Cappuccino

$3.28 $3.28

$2.47 R$12.72

32.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.34 R$6.91

5.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.86 R$4.41

33.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.88 R$14.84

23.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.29 R$22.12

18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.13 R$5.82

1.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.79 R$9.23

-11.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.37 R$7.06

13.87%

Eggs

$2.15 $2.15

$2.78 R$14.35

-22.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$11.64 R$60.0

-45.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$4.93 R$25.42

14.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$10.34 R$53.3

-26.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.72 R$14.01

-18.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.80 R$9.26

-32.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.54 R$7.95

-13.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.81 R$9.31

-37.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.39 R$7.15

-9.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.24 R$6.41

-17.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.18 R$6.07

-22.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.85 R$4.35

23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 $5.85

$2.93 R$15.10

99.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$9.58 R$49.36

3.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.62 R$8.34

-6.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.63 R$13.53

15.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$1.05 R$5.40

-67.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.21 $21.21

$47.17 R$243

-55.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.69 R$8.73

-10.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.92 R$4.74

60.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 $10.15

$9.96 R$51.3

1.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.26 R$6.47

-32.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.9K $20.9K

$23.1K R$118.9K

-9.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K $28.0K

$32.2K R$165.9K

-13.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$28.70 $28.70

$103 R$529

-72.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.14 $18.14

$15.65 R$80.6

15.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 $28.97

$21.86 R$113

32.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.73 $45.73

$35.14 R$181

30.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.64 $17.64

$44.92 R$231

-60.73%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 $6.70

$9.62 R$49.59

-30.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$734 $734

$492 R$2,535

49.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,986 $8,986

$15.8K R$81.5K

-43.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$60.6 R$312

8.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 $49.77

$59.7 R$308

-16.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$92.0 R$474

24.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$84.0 R$433

27.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 $477

$642 R$3,306

-25.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 $310

$404 R$2,082

-23.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 $958

$1,460 R$7,525

-34.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$955 R$4,919

-42.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,786 $1,786

$2,706 R$13.9K

-34.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$715 $715

$2,014 R$10.4K

-64.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 $599

$889 R$4,582

-32.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

12.04

-15.95%

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

Last update for Quito: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sao Paulo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Quito versus $642 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 49% higher in Sao Paulo, 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 $51.0 in Quito versus $49.00 in Sao Paulo. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Quito vs $230 in Sao Paulo – so Quito wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Quito vs Sao Paulo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sao Paulo is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,474 per month in Quito and $1,782 in Sao Paulo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 122% less in Quito. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $734 per month in Quito and $492 in Sao Paulo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Sao Paulo at $1,188. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sao Paulo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Quito. 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.