Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Charlottetown

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,137 a month against $1,889 in Charlottetown, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sao Paulo, Brazil
Charlottetown, Canada
Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,137
/mo nomad
Charlottetown
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,889
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Charlottetown actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,137 per month in Sao Paulo vs $1,889 in Charlottetown, rent included.

  • Sao Paulo $1,137
  • Charlottetown $1,889

A couple spends around $1,898 per month in Sao Paulo vs $2,834 in Charlottetown, rent included.

  • Sao Paulo $1,898
  • Charlottetown $2,834

A family of three spends $2,660 per month in Sao Paulo vs $3,779 in Charlottetown, rent included.

  • Sao Paulo $2,660
  • Charlottetown $3,779

Sao Paulo is about 40% cheaper than Charlottetown, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Sao Paulo sits 16% below the global median, while Charlottetown is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 R$44.53
$14.24 CA$20.02
-43.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.75 R$257
$60.1 CA$84.5
-22.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 R$45.10
$9.78 CA$13.75
-16.26%
Cappuccino
$2.34 R$12.90
$3.57 CA$5.01
-34.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 R$7.42
$1.75 CA$2.46
-22.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R$4.45
$1.36 CA$1.92
-40.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.83 R$15.56
$5.57 CA$7.84
-49.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 R$22.46
$5.68 CA$7.98
-28.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 R$6.08
$2.35 CA$3.30
-53.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 R$9.54
$3.16 CA$4.45
-45.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 R$8.11
$4.93 CA$6.93
-70.18%
Eggs
$2.55 R$14.01
$3.97 CA$5.59
-35.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.49 R$63.3
$11.77 CA$16.55
-2.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 R$26.52
$15.37 CA$21.62
-68.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.03 R$55.2
$17.25 CA$24.26
-41.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 R$13.25
$3.58 CA$5.03
-32.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 R$8.81
$1.49 CA$2.10
7.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 R$7.56
$3.88 CA$5.46
-64.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.77 R$9.76
$4.97 CA$6.99
-64.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 R$7.21
$1.68 CA$2.36
-22.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 R$6.32
$3.21 CA$4.51
-64.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 R$6.37
$2.80 CA$3.94
-58.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 R$4.80
$1.97 CA$2.77
-55.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.70 R$14.87
$18.20 CA$25.60
-85.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.28 R$51.1
$13.77 CA$19.36
-32.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 R$8.93
$3.26 CA$4.58
-50.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$13.18
$3.22 CA$4.53
-25.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 R$5.27
$1.46 CA$2.05
-34.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.95 R$242
$14.56 CA$20.47
201.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 R$6.93
$7.38 CA$10.38
-82.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 R$4.92
$2.20 CA$3.10
-59.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.10 R$55.6
$28.88 CA$40.61
-65.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 R$6.47
$1.27 CA$1.79
-7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K R$118.0K
$28.4K CA$39.9K
-24.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K R$177.8K
$21.5K CA$30.3K
49.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.0 R$512
$127 CA$179
-26.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.28 R$84.1
$33.64 CA$47.31
-54.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.65 R$108
$74.8 CA$105
-73.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.16 R$171
$60.0 CA$84.4
-48.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.29 R$260
$3.66 CA$5.15
1192.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.36 R$51.5
$10.68 CA$15.02
-12.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$564 R$3,102
$159 CA$223
254.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.1K R$138.0K
$8,116 CA$11.4K
208.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2 R$326
$40.30 CA$56.7
46.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 R$308
$33.57 CA$47.21
66.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.3 R$530
$84.8 CA$119
13.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 R$479
$131 CA$184
-33.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$602 R$3,313
$1,003 CA$1,410
-39.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 R$2,206
$747 CA$1,050
-46.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,343 R$7,392
$1,680 CA$2,363
-20.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$925 R$5,093
$1,241 CA$1,745
-25.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,514 R$13.8K
$2,976 CA$4,185
-15.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,866 R$10.3K
$1,924 CA$2,706
-3.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Paulo
Charlottetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$863 R$4,750
$2,408 CA$3,387
-64.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
4.58
151.09%

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

Last update for Sao Paulo: November 2, 2026

Last update for Charlottetown: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
$401
Charlottetown
$747 86.3% $346
Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
$222
Charlottetown
$418 88.6% $197
Eating Out
Sao Paulo
$148
Charlottetown
$238 60.2% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
$134
Charlottetown
$130 3% $4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
$128
Charlottetown
$236 84.3% $108
Getting Around
Sao Paulo
$54
Charlottetown
$39 27.5% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
$50
Charlottetown
$81 63.2% $32

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $602 in Sao Paulo versus $1,003 in Charlottetown. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Charlottetown are about 2.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Sao Paulo versus $60 in Charlottetown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $418 – making Sao Paulo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🇨🇦 Charlottetown
🕒 Local time
16:42 4:42 PM
15:42 3:42 PM
1 h behind Sao Paulo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,451,999
38,809
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 5.5 BRL (1 BRL = 0.182 USD). 1 EUR = 6.15 BRL (1 BRL = 0.163 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.711 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.636 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Paulo Charlottetown 7,940 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Paulo
  • Charlottetown

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 Charlottetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sao Paulo or Charlottetown?
Charlottetown costs about 66% more than Sao Paulo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Paulo and in Charlottetown?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,705 per month in Sao Paulo and $2,834 in Charlottetown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sao Paulo or Charlottetown?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Paulo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $602 there versus $1,003 in Charlottetown.
How much does it cost to live in Sao Paulo compared to Charlottetown?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,137 in Sao Paulo and $1,889 in Charlottetown. That makes Sao Paulo about 40% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Sao Paulo compared to Charlottetown?
Public transport costs about 67% less in Charlottetown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Sao Paulo or in Charlottetown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Paulo, where all-in costs run around $1,137, than in Charlottetown at $1,889. In Sao Paulo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Charlottetown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Sao Paulo or Charlottetown?
It depends on your priorities. Sao Paulo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,137 in Sao Paulo to $1,889 in Charlottetown. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Sao Paulo or to Charlottetown?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Paulo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Charlottetown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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