Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Vila Velha

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz: $639 a month against $995 in Vila Velha, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Santa Cruz
🇧🇴 Bolivia
$639
/mo nomad
Vila Velha
🇧🇷 Brazil
$995
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Santa Cruz and in Vila Velha

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

A single person spends $639 per month in Santa Cruz vs $995 in Vila Velha, rent included.

  • Santa Cruz $639
  • Vila Velha $995

A couple spends around $1,172 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,609 in Vila Velha, rent included.

  • Santa Cruz $1,172
  • Vila Velha $1,609

A family of three spends $1,704 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,223 in Vila Velha, rent included.

  • Santa Cruz $1,704
  • Vila Velha $2,223

Santa Cruz is about 36% cheaper than Vila Velha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Santa Cruz and Vila Velha are more affordable than the global median – Santa Cruz 53% lower, Vila Velha 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.00 BOB 23.19
$9.40 R$47.66
-78.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.80 BOB 195
$39.36 R$200
-57.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.10 BOB 59.2
$8.18 R$41.47
-37.65%
Cappuccino
$1.77 BOB 20.52
$2.39 R$12.14
-25.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 BOB 5.72
$1.37 R$6.93
-64.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 BOB 4.97
$0.56 R$2.84
-23.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 BOB 9.97
$2.04 R$10.35
-57.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 BOB 14.35
$2.93 R$14.83
-57.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.71 BOB 8.23
$1.09 R$5.50
-34.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 BOB 10.88
$1.64 R$8.30
-42.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 BOB 11.93
$1.97 R$9.97
-47.72%
Eggs
$1.06 BOB 12.27
$2.42 R$12.27
-56.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.15 BOB 36.56
$9.44 R$47.86
-66.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.58 BOB 29.92
$4.53 R$22.96
-43.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.98 BOB 57.8
$9.35 R$47.40
-46.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 BOB 21.12
$1.97 R$10.00
-7.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.62 BOB 7.24
$1.00 R$5.07
-38.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.76 BOB 8.81
$1.22 R$6.17
-37.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73 BOB 8.48
$1.31 R$6.64
-44.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 BOB 8.55
$1.27 R$6.44
-41.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 BOB 7.75
$1.31 R$6.65
-48.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 BOB 6.66
$0.46 R$2.35
23.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 BOB 7.36
$0.78 R$3.96
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 BOB 22.25
$3.36 R$17.05
-42.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.32 BOB 50.2
$9.01 R$45.67
-52.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 BOB 11.86
$1.81 R$9.16
-43.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 BOB 19.01
$2.27 R$11.51
-27.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 BOB 2.78
$0.98 R$4.97
-75.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.48 BOB 261
$52.2 R$264
-56.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.64 BOB 19.05
$1.44 R$7.28
13.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 BOB 10.58
$0.85 R$4.33
7.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.31 BOB 73.3
$13.13 R$66.6
-51.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.57 BOB 6.59
$1.24 R$6.28
-54.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1K BOB 163.3K
$34.2K R$173.2K
-58.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K BOB 223.6K
$32.8K R$166.3K
-41.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.84 BOB 405
$116 R$590
-70.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.67 BOB 228
$17.83 R$90.4
10.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.53 BOB 204
$15.30 R$77.6
14.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.56 BOB 227
$27.78 R$141
-29.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 BOB 149
$27.25 R$138
-52.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86 BOB 68.1
$6.83 R$34.61
-14.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 BOB 1,303
$433 R$2,193
-74.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,950 BOB 34.2K
$15.0K R$76.0K
-80.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.21 BOB 316
$79.3 R$402
-65.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.79 BOB 416
$52.4 R$266
-31.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.3 BOB 769
$84.2 R$427
-21.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.3 BOB 677
$77.2 R$391
-24.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 BOB 3,105
$314 R$1,591
-14.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$247 BOB 2,869
$258 R$1,308
-4.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$909 BOB 10.6K
$593 R$3,004
53.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 BOB 9,630
$567 R$2,875
46.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,299 BOB 15.1K
$2,065 R$10.5K
-37.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$737 BOB 8,551
$2,060 R$10.4K
-64.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Vila Velha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$276 BOB 3,204
$421 R$2,136
-34.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.17
11.33
-45.54%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 12, 2026

Last update for Vila Velha: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
$247
Vila Velha
$258 4.4% $11
Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
$112
Vila Velha
$200 78.8% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
$84
Vila Velha
$132 56.3% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
$72
Vila Velha
$149 107% $77
Eating Out
Santa Cruz
$63
Vila Velha
$152 142% $89
Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
$31
Vila Velha
$41 32.4% $10
Getting Around
Santa Cruz
$30
Vila Velha
$62 108% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Santa Cruz versus $314 in Vila Velha. 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 53% higher in Vila Velha, 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 $17.00 in Santa Cruz versus $39.00 in Vila Velha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $112 vs $200 – making Santa Cruz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇴 Santa Cruz
🇧🇷 Vila Velha
🕒 Local time
04:00 4:00 AM
05:00 5:00 AM
1 h ahead of Santa Cruz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,800,000
467,722
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to BOB – Bolivian Boliviano Converter

Bolivian Boliviano exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 11.61 BOB (100 BOB = 8.61 USD). 1 EUR = 13.05 BOB (100 BOB = 7.66 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 18, 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
  • Santa Cruz Vila Velha 2,420 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Santa Cruz
  • Vila Velha

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
Santa Cruz vs Vila Velha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vila Velha cheaper than Santa Cruz?
Yes – Vila Velha is pricier by about 56%, 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 $959 per month in Santa Cruz and $1,493 in Vila Velha. 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 Santa Cruz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Santa Cruz and in Vila Velha?
Groceries cost about 79% more in Vila Velha, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Santa Cruz or in Vila Velha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Santa Cruz and $39.00 in Vila Velha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Santa Cruz or Vila Velha?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $639 in Santa Cruz and $995 in Vila Velha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Santa Cruz or Vila Velha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz – 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 Santa Cruz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vila Velha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Santa Cruz vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?