Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Luis and Zhongshan Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Luis and Zhongshan

😐 Solo nomad: Sao Luis is 10.6% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 21.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sao Luis is 3.1% more expensive than Zhongshan without rent, and 15.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 R$25.22
$2.84 ¥19.66
69.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.14 R$158
$16.53 ¥114
82.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.36 R$38.65
$4.15 ¥28.67
77.35%
Cappuccino
$2.13 R$11.20
$2.76 ¥19.09
-22.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.28
$0.40 ¥2.79
152.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.88
$0.27 ¥1.85
103.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.87 R$9.79
$0.68 ¥4.68
175.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 R$16.74
$1.69 ¥11.70
88.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 R$5.14
$1.81 ¥12.51
-45.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 R$10.02
$1.73 ¥11.95
10.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 R$5.31
$0.97 ¥6.68
4.12%
Eggs
$1.94 R$10.19
$1.59 ¥10.97
22.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.00 R$47.27
$12.71 ¥87.9
-29.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.70 R$19.44
$2.69 ¥18.56
37.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.39 R$38.81
$12.29 ¥84.9
-39.87%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 R$10.33
$1.86 ¥12.87
5.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.70
$1.01 ¥6.99
26.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 R$4.92
$0.64 ¥4.42
46.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.37
$1.39 ¥9.60
0.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 R$5.91
$0.50 ¥3.47
126.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.23
$0.69 ¥4.76
72.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 R$3.90
$0.36 ¥2.50
105.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 R$2.99
$0.48 ¥3.30
18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01 R$10.58
$2.77 ¥19.13
-27.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 R$41.41
$13.67 ¥94.5
-42.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 R$5.76
$0.65 ¥4.50
69.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 R$9.90
$1.91 ¥13.17
-1.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 R$3.79
$0.29 ¥2.01
148.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.78 R$183
$14.20 ¥98.1
144.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 R$4.51
$1.24 ¥8.55
-30.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 R$2.62
$0.37 ¥2.58
35.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.38 R$33.49
$6.83 ¥47.21
-6.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 R$5.00
$1.14 ¥7.85
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K R$88.1K
$23.3K ¥160.9K
-27.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K R$134.9K
$20.5K ¥141.9K
25.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 R$448
$38.55 ¥266
121.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.41 R$91.4
$8.47 ¥58.5
105.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.44 R$86.3
$11.97 ¥82.7
37.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.54 R$97.4
$62.0 ¥428
-70.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.12 R$79.4
$6.85 ¥47.33
120.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 R$31.99
$5.46 ¥37.70
11.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$203 R$1,068
$300 ¥2,072
-32.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,283 R$22.5K
$12.4K ¥85.6K
-65.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.14 R$232
$43.97 ¥304
0.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.58 R$250
$30.55 ¥211
55.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.0 R$284
$56.7 ¥392
-4.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.2 R$285
$70.1 ¥484
-22.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$395 R$2,076
$199 ¥1,372
99.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 R$1,124
$118 ¥812
82.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$522 R$2,740
$349 ¥2,410
49.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$300 R$1,577
$198 ¥1,366
51.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,509 R$7,920
$2,403 ¥16.6K
-37.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$697 R$3,661
$1,466 ¥10.1K
-52.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Luis
Zhongshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$373 R$1,957
$824 ¥5,696
-54.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
3.83
185.12%

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

Last update for Sao Luis: March 1, 2026

Last update for Zhongshan: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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