Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Stony Hill

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,235 a month against $1,614 in Stony Hill, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,235
/mo nomad
Stony Hill
🇯🇲 Jamaica
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sao Paulo and in Stony Hill

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Sao Paulo versus $1,614 in Stony Hill.

  • Sao Paulo $1,235
  • Stony Hill $1,614

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,073 in Sao Paulo versus $2,808 in Stony Hill.

  • Sao Paulo $2,073
  • Stony Hill $2,808

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,911 in Sao Paulo versus $4,002 in Stony Hill.

  • Sao Paulo $2,911
  • Stony Hill $4,002

Living in Sao Paulo costs roughly 23% less than in Stony Hill, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sao Paulo is 9% below, Stony Hill is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.81 R$44.68
$13.54 JMD 2,140
-34.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.37 R$250
$75.1 JMD 11.9K
-34.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 R$44.63
$8.37 JMD 1,322
5.14%
Cappuccino
$2.49 R$12.63
$5.37 JMD 849
-53.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 R$7.19
$1.14 JMD 180
24.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 R$4.31
$0.60 JMD 94.8
41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 R$15.11
$1.86 JMD 293
60.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 R$22.02
$3.22 JMD 509
34.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 R$6.28
$3.08 JMD 487
-59.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 R$9.66
$1.55 JMD 245
23.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 R$7.25
$1.65 JMD 260
-13.33%
Eggs
$2.81 R$14.23
$3.47 JMD 548
-19.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 R$64.6
$11.50 JMD 1,817
10.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 R$27.44
$4.92 JMD 777
9.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.64 R$54.0
$2.87 JMD 454
270.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 R$13.95
$5.89 JMD 931
-53.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 R$9.19
$3.76 JMD 594
-51.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 R$8.27
$4.12 JMD 652
-60.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 R$10.16
$2.45 JMD 388
-18.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.10
$2.75 JMD 435
-49.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.43
$1.90 JMD 300
-33.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 R$6.47
$1.61 JMD 255
-20.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 R$4.83
$1.45 JMD 229
-34.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 R$15.15
$9.45 JMD 1,493
-68.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.96 R$50.5
$11.13 JMD 1,759
-10.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 R$9.37
$2.79 JMD 440
-33.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R$12.90
$3.90 JMD 616
-34.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 R$5.50
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.78 R$247
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 R$9.39
$1.16 JMD 183
59.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 R$4.99
$3.21 JMD 506
-69.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.29 R$52.2
$6.29 JMD 993
63.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 R$6.78
$0.72 JMD 113
86.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K R$123.8K
$31.7K JMD 5.0M
-22.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K R$172.1K
$25.3K JMD 4.0M
34.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 R$529
$46.98 JMD 7,422
122.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.71 R$84.7
$21.73 JMD 3,433
-23.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.18 R$112
$41.54 JMD 6,563
-46.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.82 R$182
$75.6 JMD 11.9K
-52.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.28 R$240
$19.10 JMD 3,017
147.54%
Cinema Ticket
$10.06 R$51.0
$12.63 JMD 1,996
-20.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$579 R$2,936
$360 JMD 56.9K
60.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K R$86.6K
$8,318 JMD 1.3M
105.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 R$333
$23.28 JMD 3,678
182.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0 R$309
$31.45 JMD 4,969
94.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 R$509
$75.0 JMD 11.8K
33.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 R$467
$104 JMD 16.5K
-11.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$659 R$3,341
$937 JMD 148.0K
-29.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 R$2,170
$764 JMD 120.7K
-43.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,515 R$7,678
$2,225 JMD 351.5K
-31.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,026 R$5,201
$1,877 JMD 296.5K
-45.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,773 R$14.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,007 R$10.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Paulo
Stony Hill
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$909 R$4,609
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.68
9
29.78%

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

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 13, 2026

Last update for Stony Hill: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
$428
Stony Hill
$764 78.5% $336
Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
$244
Stony Hill
$295 20.8% $51
Eating Out
Sao Paulo
$159
Stony Hill
$221 38.3% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
$144
Stony Hill
$105 26.7% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
$143
Stony Hill
$110 23.1% $33
Getting Around
Sao Paulo
$60
Stony Hill
$17 * 71.3% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
$56
Stony Hill
$101 80.2% $45

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $659 in Sao Paulo and $937 in Stony Hill. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Sao Paulo vs $75.0 in Stony Hill for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $295 per month, with Sao Paulo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🇯🇲 Stony Hill
🕒 Local time
01:23 1:23 AM
23:23 11:23 PM
2 h behind Sao Paulo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,451,999
8,551
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JMD, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Jamaican Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JMD (1,000 JMD = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JMD (1,000 JMD = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Paulo Stony Hill 5,670 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Paulo
  • Stony Hill

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 Stony Hill: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stony Hill cheaper than Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,852 in Sao Paulo and $2,420 in Stony Hill 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 Stony Hill?
Rent for a central apartment: $659 in Sao Paulo versus $937 in Stony Hill. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $579 in Sao Paulo versus $360 in Stony Hill. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Sao Paulo or in Stony Hill?
Dining out is cheaper in Sao Paulo – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $75.0 in Stony Hill. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sao Paulo or in Stony Hill?
At $1,235 in Sao Paulo versus $1,614 in Stony Hill, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sao Paulo but tight or insufficient in Stony Hill. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Paulo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sao Paulo or Stony Hill more family-friendly?
For families, Sao Paulo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stony Hill, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sao Paulo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Stony Hill. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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