Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Carrefour

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,244 a month against $1,802 in Carrefour, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,244
/mo nomad
Carrefour
🇭🇹 Haiti
$1,802
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sao Paulo and in Carrefour

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,244 in Sao Paulo versus $1,802 in Carrefour.

  • Sao Paulo $1,244
  • Carrefour $1,802

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,085 in Sao Paulo versus $2,666 in Carrefour.

  • Sao Paulo $2,085
  • Carrefour $2,666

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,926 in Sao Paulo versus $3,530 in Carrefour.

  • Sao Paulo $2,926
  • Carrefour $3,530

Living in Sao Paulo costs roughly 31% less than in Carrefour, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sao Paulo is 7% below, Carrefour is 34% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.94 R$44.64
$15.12 HTG 1,973
-40.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.46 R$247
$90.7 HTG 11.8K
-45.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 R$46.01
$7.12 HTG 929
29.49%
Cappuccino
$2.54 R$12.70
$1.61 HTG 211
57.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 R$7.25
$1.57 HTG 205
-7.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 R$4.55
$1.46 HTG 191
-37.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 R$15.31
$5.10 HTG 666
-39.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 R$21.75
$6.83 HTG 891
-36.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 R$6.32
$1.54 HTG 201
-17.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 R$9.17
$2.24 HTG 292
-17.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.05
$3.15 HTG 411
-55.24%
Eggs
$2.84 R$14.20
$2.79 HTG 364
1.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 R$62.7
$7.68 HTG 1,002
63.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 R$26.81
$5.86 HTG 764
-8.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.72 R$53.5
$11.89 HTG 1,552
-9.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 R$13.67
$1.81 HTG 236
51.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 R$9.03
$2.49 HTG 325
-27.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 R$7.74
$0.89 HTG 116
74.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 R$9.90
$2.36 HTG 308
-16.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 R$7.34
$6.27 HTG 818
-76.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.20
$1.02 HTG 133
21.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 R$6.35
$0.70 HTG 91.6
81.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R$4.79
$0.97 HTG 127
-1.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 R$15.16
$4.06 HTG 530
-25.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.19 R$50.8
$11.48 HTG 1,498
-11.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 R$8.64
$0.89 HTG 116
94.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 R$13.19
$1.57 HTG 205
68.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 R$5.18
$0.21 HTG 27.48
395.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.10 R$240
$20.40 HTG 2,661
135.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 R$9.07
$0.37 HTG 47.89
391.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 R$5.07
$0.39 HTG 50.6
161.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.16 R$50.7
$20.17 HTG 2,632
-49.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 R$6.35
$1.28 HTG 166
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K R$121.4K
$39.3K HTG 5.1M
-38.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K R$169.8K
$45.4K HTG 5.9M
-25.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 R$519
$99.6 HTG 13.0K
4.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.16 R$80.7
$49.10 HTG 6,407
-67.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.59 R$113
$164 HTG 21.4K
-86.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.27 R$181
$70.2 HTG 9,163
-48.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.78 R$239
$20.05 HTG 2,616
138.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.85 R$49.19
$10.10 HTG 1,318
-2.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$525 R$2,622
$101 HTG 13.2K
419.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K R$82.8K
$7,098 HTG 926.1K
133.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9 R$334
$81.1 HTG 10.6K
-17.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3 R$311
$74.5 HTG 9,718
-16.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 R$505
$119 HTG 15.5K
-14.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9 R$454
$148 HTG 19.3K
-38.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$663 R$3,309
$882 HTG 115.1K
-24.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 R$2,110
$740 HTG 96.6K
-42.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,527 R$7,622
$1,295 HTG 168.9K
17.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 R$5,035
$1,070 HTG 139.6K
-5.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,744 R$13.7K
$760 HTG 99.2K
261.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,068 R$10.3K
$596 HTG 77.8K
246.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Paulo
Carrefour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$881 R$4,396
$1,387 HTG 181.0K
-36.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.68
15
-22.13%

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

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 6, 2026

Last update for Carrefour: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
$423
Carrefour
$740 75.1% $317
Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
$243
Carrefour
$255 4.7% $11
Eating Out
Sao Paulo
$163
Carrefour
$213 30.5% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
$145
Carrefour
$190 31.4% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
$143
Carrefour
$313 119% $170
Getting Around
Sao Paulo
$59
Carrefour
$24 60.2% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
$56
Carrefour
$90 61.5% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Sao Paulo and $882 in Carrefour. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Carrefour pays 58% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Sao Paulo vs $91.0 in Carrefour for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $255 per month, with Sao Paulo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🇭🇹 Carrefour
🕒 Local time
07:34 7:34 AM
06:34 6:34 AM
1 h behind Sao Paulo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,451,999
511,345
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

HTG, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

Haitian Gourde exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 130 HTG (1,000 HTG = 7.66 USD). 1 EUR = 146 HTG (1,000 HTG = 6.84 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Paulo Carrefour 5,450 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Paulo
  • Carrefour

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 Paulo vs Carrefour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sao Paulo and in Carrefour?
Sao Paulo and Carrefour differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,244 vs $1,802 including rent). Sao Paulo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Carrefour. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sao Paulo and in Carrefour?
Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Sao Paulo versus $882 in Carrefour. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sao Paulo and Carrefour?
Childcare runs $525 in Sao Paulo versus $101 in Carrefour. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Carrefour. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,244 in Sao Paulo versus $1,802 in Carrefour, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sao Paulo but tight or insufficient in Carrefour. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Paulo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sao Paulo and Carrefour?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Sao Paulo or Carrefour?
Expats usually find Sao Paulo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Carrefour. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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