Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Carlos and Auburn, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Carlos: $916 a month against $2,609 in Auburn, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sao Carlos, Brazil
Auburn, WA, United States
Sao Carlos
🇧🇷 Brazil
$916
/mo nomad
Auburn, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,609
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sao Carlos and in Auburn, WA

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

A single person spends $916 per month in Sao Carlos vs $2,609 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Sao Carlos $916
  • Auburn, WA $2,609

A couple spends around $1,600 per month in Sao Carlos vs $4,072 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Sao Carlos $1,600
  • Auburn, WA $4,072

A family of three spends $2,285 per month in Sao Carlos vs $5,536 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Sao Carlos $2,285
  • Auburn, WA $5,536

Sao Carlos is about 65% cheaper than Auburn, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Sao Carlos sits 33% below the global median, while Auburn, WA is 92% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52 R$24.18
$19.69 $19.69
-77.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.74 R$196
$95.6 $95.6
-61.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.57 R$35.13
$11.33 $11.33
-42.01%
Cappuccino
$1.92 R$10.24
$4.63 $4.63
-58.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 R$6.72
$2.02 $2.02
-37.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.66
$1.94 $1.94
-64.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 R$8.19
$5.12 $5.12
-70.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 R$13.89
$7.09 $7.09
-63.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 R$6.65
$0.88 $0.88
40.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 R$9.79
$2.48 $2.48
-26.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 R$9.30
$3.92 $3.92
-55.61%
Eggs
$2.70 R$14.42
$2.96 $2.96
-8.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.65 R$62.3
$8.85 $8.85
31.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.08 R$27.15
$13.92 $13.92
-63.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.77 R$46.86
$18.15 $18.15
-51.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.50 R$13.36
$4.88 $4.88
-48.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 R$9.39
$1.81 $1.81
-2.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 R$8.96
$3.75 $3.75
-55.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 R$9.44
$4.16 $4.16
-57.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.64
$2.97 $2.97
-45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.77
$3.32 $3.32
-61.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 R$5.14
$1.80 $1.80
-46.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 R$5.66
$2.12 $2.12
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 R$16.54
$11.15 $11.15
-72.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.78 R$41.61
$14.88 $14.88
-47.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 R$7.32
$1.60 $1.60
-14.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 R$15.36
$2.90 $2.90
-1.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 R$4.87
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.46 R$120
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 R$7.43
$3.56 $3.56
-60.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 R$4.74
$1.82 $1.82
-51.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 R$17.77
$49.21 $49.21
-93.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 R$6.29
$1.29 $1.29
-8.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K R$97.6K
$25.4K $25.4K
-28.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K R$157.4K
$24.9K $24.9K
18.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.9 R$315
$218 $218
-73.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94 R$69.2
$39.30 $39.30
-67.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.23 R$124
$80.8 $80.8
-71.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.74 R$175
$34.84 $34.84
-6.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.43 R$243
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.02 R$26.85
$14.82 $14.82
-66.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 R$1,503
$1,096 $1,096
-74.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,843 R$15.2K
$16.3K $16.3K
-82.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 R$417
$57.4 $57.4
35.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$89.6 R$479
$47.52 $47.52
88.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 R$705
$78.6 $78.6
67.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 R$818
$80.5 $80.5
89.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$256 R$1,370
$1,472 $1,472
-82.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 R$1,161
$1,397 $1,397
-84.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 R$3,344
$2,339 $2,339
-73.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$629 R$3,362
$2,784 $2,784
-77.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$791 R$4,228
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$699 R$3,738
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Carlos
Auburn, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$629 R$3,363
$6,899 $6,899
-90.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.75
6.59
63.13%

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

Last update for Sao Carlos: October 27, 2026

Last update for Auburn, WA: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Sao Carlos
$226
Auburn, WA
$375 65.9% $149
Accommodation & Living
Sao Carlos
$217
Auburn, WA
$1.4K 543% $1.2K
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Carlos
$204
Auburn, WA
$119 41.6% $85
Eating Out
Sao Carlos
$100
Auburn, WA
$303 204% $203
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Carlos
$95
Auburn, WA
$339 256% $244
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Carlos
$43
Auburn, WA
$64 50.7% $22
Getting Around
Sao Carlos
$32
Auburn, WA
$13 * 60.3% $19

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Sao Carlos versus $1,472 in Auburn, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Auburn, WA are about 11 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Sao Carlos versus $96 in Auburn, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $375 – making Sao Carlos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Carlos
🇺🇸 Auburn, WA
🕒 Local time
01:43 1:43 AM
21:43 9:43 PM
4 h behind Sao Carlos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
254,857
76,143
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Carlos Auburn, WA 10,670 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Carlos
  • Auburn, WA

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
Sao Carlos vs Auburn, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sao Carlos or Auburn, WA?
Auburn, WA costs about 185% more than Sao Carlos, 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 Sao Carlos and in Auburn, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,374 per month in Sao Carlos and $3,913 in Auburn, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sao Carlos or Auburn, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Carlos, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $256 there versus $1,472 in Auburn, WA.
How much does it cost to live in Sao Carlos compared to Auburn, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $916 in Sao Carlos and $2,609 in Auburn, WA. That makes Sao Carlos about 65% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Sao Carlos and in Auburn, WA?
Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Sao Carlos and $1,096 in Auburn, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Sao Carlos or in Auburn, WA?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $916 in Sao Carlos and $2,609 in Auburn, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Sao Carlos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Sao Carlos or to Auburn, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Carlos. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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