Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

For one person, living is cheaper in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais: $815 a month against $1,222 in Sao Paulo, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,222
/mo nomad
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
🇧🇷 Brazil
$815
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sao Paulo and in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

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 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,222 in Sao Paulo versus $815 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.

  • Sao Paulo $1,222
  • Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais $815

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,044 in Sao Paulo versus $1,262 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.

  • Sao Paulo $2,044
  • Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais $1,262

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Sao Paulo versus $1,709 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.

  • Sao Paulo $2,867
  • Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais $1,709

Living in Sao Paulo is roughly 50% more expensive than in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sao Paulo 10% lower, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.71 R$44.15
$4.62 R$23.40
88.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.61 R$246
$15.98 R$81.0
204.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.03 R$45.77
$7.03 R$35.64
28.45%
Cappuccino
$2.55 R$12.94
$1.78 R$9.03
43.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 R$6.83
$1.43 R$7.26
-5.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 R$4.63
$0.59 R$2.99
54.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 R$15.55
$1.16 R$5.90
164.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 R$22.21
$2.35 R$11.91
86.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R$6.05
$0.95 R$4.79
25.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 R$9.14
$1.56 R$7.90
15.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 R$7.51
$1.39 R$7.03
6.47%
Eggs
$2.82 R$14.31
$2.02 R$10.26
39.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.61 R$63.9
$9.08 R$46.03
38.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.40 R$27.36
$3.52 R$17.83
53.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.76 R$54.6
$9.71 R$49.21
10.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 R$14.28
$1.88 R$9.55
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 R$9.25
$1.15 R$5.81
58.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$8.14
$0.99 R$5.03
61.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 R$10.28
$1.26 R$6.39
61.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.40
$0.70 R$3.54
108.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.35
$0.83 R$4.21
50.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 R$6.32
$0.54 R$2.72
131.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 R$4.98
$0.82 R$4.16
19.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 R$15.18
$1.62 R$8.20
85.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.71 R$49.22
$6.15 R$31.18
57.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 R$9.32
$0.98 R$4.97
87.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 R$12.80
$1.43 R$7.27
76.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 R$5.41
$1.04 R$5.25
2.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.26 R$240
$43.65 R$221
8.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 R$9.16
$1.44 R$7.28
25.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 R$5.14
$0.74 R$3.77
36.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.24 R$51.9
$3.90 R$19.77
162.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R$6.52
$1.35 R$6.85
-4.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K R$119.3K
$12.2K R$61.8K
93.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K R$174.9K
$30.0K R$152.3K
14.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 R$527
$59.4 R$301
75.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.60 R$84.1
$9.87 R$50.1
68.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.04 R$112
$19.00 R$96.3
16.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.43 R$185
$26.09 R$132
39.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.29 R$240
$27.68 R$140
70.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.69 R$49.12
$6.85 R$34.74
41.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$573 R$2,906
$143 R$726
300.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K R$85.8K
$1,980 R$10.0K
755.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.3 R$336
$70.6 R$358
-6.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1 R$310
$82.6 R$419
-26.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 R$501
$66.4 R$336
48.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 R$463
$48.64 R$247
87.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$654 R$3,316
$354 R$1,795
84.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$418 R$2,120
$240 R$1,217
74.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,524 R$7,724
$671 R$3,403
126.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$992 R$5,028
$450 R$2,280
120.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,670 R$13.5K
$1,681 R$8,523
58.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,019 R$10.2K
$1,193 R$6,045
69.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Paulo
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$900 R$4,563
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.68
10.67
9.47%

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

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
$418
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$240 42.6% $178
Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
$243
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$175 28% $68
Eating Out
Sao Paulo
$161
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$98 38.9% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
$143
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$121 15.5% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
$143
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$88 38.1% $54
Getting Around
Sao Paulo
$58
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$53 9.3% $5.5
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
$56
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
$40 28.7% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $654 in Sao Paulo and $354 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Sao Paulo vs $16.00 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $175 per month, with Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais
🕒 Local time
05:50 5:50 AM
05:50 5:50 AM
Same time as Sao Paulo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,451,999
74,821
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Paulo Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 480 km
From you
  • Sao Paulo
  • Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

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 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais cheaper than Sao Paulo?
Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,833 in Sao Paulo and $1,222 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Sao Paulo and Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais?
Rent for a central apartment: $654 in Sao Paulo versus $354 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais runs roughly 8% less than in Sao Paulo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $573 in Sao Paulo versus $143 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sao Paulo or in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais?
At $815 in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais versus $1,222 in Sao Paulo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais but tight or insufficient in Sao Paulo. The gap between the two cities makes Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sao Paulo or Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais more family-friendly?
For families, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sao Paulo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Sao Paulo or Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais?
Safety-wise, Sao Paulo and Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Sao Paulo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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