Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Fortaleza Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Fortaleza

😐 Solo nomad: Sao Paulo is 13.4% more expensive than Fortaleza without rent, and 31.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Sao Paulo is 15.3% more expensive than Fortaleza without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13 R$39.55
$5.29 R$29.38
34.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.76 R$221
$33.85 R$188
17.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 R$41
$6.88 R$38.18
7.41%
Cappuccino
$2.04 R$11.32
$2.13 R$11.85
-4.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 R$6.69
$1.1 R$6.12
10.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 R$4.77
$0.63 R$3.48
36.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 R$11.9
$1.96 R$10.86
9.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 R$15.76
$3.7 R$20.55
-23.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 R$5.7
$1.13 R$6.28
-8.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 R$9.75
$1.89 R$10.47
-6.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$7.19
$1.13 R$6.25
14.16%
Eggs
$2.41 R$13.35
$1.8 R$10
33.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.96 R$60.8
$6.99 R$38.81
56.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 R$23.97
$3.31 R$18.37
30.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.01 R$49.99
$7.87 R$43.71
14.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 R$15.41
$2.53 R$14.06
9.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 R$10.25
$1.19 R$6.63
55.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 R$9.3
$0.79 R$4.36
112.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 R$9.78
$1.46 R$8.09
20.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 R$8.01
$1.3 R$7.23
10.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.93
$1.05 R$5.83
19.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 R$5.59
$0.96 R$5.33
5.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.7 R$3.88
$0.78 R$4.31
-10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49 R$13.8
$2.16 R$11.97
15.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.12 R$50.6
$6.35 R$35.25
43.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$7.52
$1.34 R$7.45
1.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 R$12.74
$1.55 R$8.59
47.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$5.2
$0.84 R$4.67
11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.21 R$245
$30.51 R$169
44.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.1 R$6.12
$1.05 R$5.84
4.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 R$4.21
$0.75 R$4.15
1.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.96 R$49.72
$6.04 R$33.5
48.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.1 R$6.1
$1.09 R$6.05
0.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22K R$121.8K
$20.4K R$113.3K
7.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K R$157.7K
$27.7K R$153.8K
2.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.8 R$298
$109 R$605
-50.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 R$74.2
$15.68 R$87
-14.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.19 R$112
$18.07 R$100
11.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.33 R$163
$22.42 R$124
30.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.52 R$197
$42.68 R$237
-16.78%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89 R$43.78
$6.35 R$35.27
24.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$506 R$2,806
$228 R$1,263
122.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K R$84.5K
$2,176 R$12.1K
599.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 R$291
$48.64 R$270
7.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.78 R$232
$44.27 R$246
-5.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.4 R$441
$90.1 R$500
-11.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 R$414
$57.3 R$318
30.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$678 R$3,761
$314 R$1,744
115.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 R$2,252
$197 R$1,091
106.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,267 R$7,033
$370 R$2,055
242.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 R$4,214
$347 R$1,927
118.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,965 R$16.5K
$1,397 R$7,756
112.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,984 R$11K
$781 R$4,335
153.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Paulo
Fortaleza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$713 R$3,959
$348 R$1,933
104.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.56
11.79
-1.95%

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

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 28, 2025

Last update for Fortaleza: October 29, 2025

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