Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Paulo and Sudbury

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Paulo: $1,235 a month against $2,418 in Sudbury, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sao Paulo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,235
/mo nomad
Sudbury
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,418
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Sao Paulo versus $2,418 in Sudbury.

  • Sao Paulo $1,235
  • Sudbury $2,418

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,073 in Sao Paulo versus $3,538 in Sudbury.

  • Sao Paulo $2,073
  • Sudbury $3,538

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,911 in Sao Paulo versus $4,658 in Sudbury.

  • Sao Paulo $2,911
  • Sudbury $4,658

Living in Sao Paulo costs roughly 49% less than in Sudbury, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sao Paulo is 9% below, Sudbury is 79% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.81 R$44.49
$17.34 CA$24.64
-49.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.37 R$249
$68.7 CA$97.6
-28.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 R$44.44
$10.47 CA$14.88
-15.95%
Cappuccino
$2.49 R$12.57
$3.05 CA$4.33
-18.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 R$7.16
$2.01 CA$2.86
-29.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 R$4.29
$1.64 CA$2.33
-48.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 R$15.04
$5.28 CA$7.51
-43.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 R$21.92
$6.66 CA$9.47
-34.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 R$6.25
$2.33 CA$3.32
-46.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 R$9.62
$1.99 CA$2.83
-4.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 R$7.22
$4.45 CA$6.32
-67.87%
Eggs
$2.81 R$14.17
$3.60 CA$5.12
-21.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 R$64.3
$10.93 CA$15.53
16.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.41 R$27.32
$13.51 CA$19.21
-59.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.64 R$53.7
$12.60 CA$17.91
-15.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 R$13.89
$4.24 CA$6.02
-35.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 R$9.15
$1.23 CA$1.75
47.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 R$8.23
$3.71 CA$5.27
-56.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 R$10.11
$4.09 CA$5.81
-51.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.07
$3.86 CA$5.49
-63.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.41
$2.70 CA$3.84
-52.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 R$6.44
$1.94 CA$2.75
-34.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 R$4.81
$2.23 CA$3.17
-57.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 R$15.08
$14.24 CA$20.24
-79.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.96 R$50.3
$13.90 CA$19.76
-28.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 R$9.33
$3.10 CA$4.40
-40.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R$12.84
$2.68 CA$3.81
-5.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 R$5.48
$2.82 CA$4.00
-61.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.78 R$246
$71.2 CA$101
-31.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 R$9.35
$3.21 CA$4.56
-42.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 R$4.97
$2.28 CA$3.24
-56.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.29 R$51.9
$26.88 CA$38.20
-61.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 R$6.75
$1.19 CA$1.70
12.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K R$123.2K
$27.9K CA$39.6K
-12.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K R$171.3K
$18.4K CA$26.1K
84.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 R$527
$172 CA$245
-39.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.71 R$84.4
$50.2 CA$71.4
-66.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.18 R$112
$72.4 CA$103
-69.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.82 R$181
$56.6 CA$80.5
-36.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.28 R$239
$14.15 CA$20.11
234.13%
Cinema Ticket
$10.06 R$50.8
$11.53 CA$16.38
-12.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$579 R$2,924
$527 CA$749
9.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K R$86.2K
$8,346 CA$11.9K
104.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 R$331
$55.2 CA$78.4
18.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0 R$308
$32.48 CA$46.17
87.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 R$507
$101 CA$143
-0.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 R$465
$145 CA$206
-36.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$659 R$3,327
$1,348 CA$1,916
-51.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 R$2,161
$1,158 CA$1,646
-63.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,515 R$7,645
$1,865 CA$2,651
-18.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,026 R$5,178
$1,879 CA$2,670
-45.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,773 R$14.0K
$2,613 CA$3,714
6.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,007 R$10.1K
$1,921 CA$2,731
4.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Paulo
Sudbury
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$909 R$4,589
$2,927 CA$4,160
-68.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.68
5.01
133.13%

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

Last update for Sao Paulo: October 13, 2026

Last update for Sudbury: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sao Paulo
$428
Sudbury
$1.2K 171% $730
Groceries & Markets
Sao Paulo
$244
Sudbury
$378 54.6% $133
Eating Out
Sao Paulo
$159
Sudbury
$261 63.7% $102
Clothing & Footwear
Sao Paulo
$144
Sudbury
$150 4.3% $6.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Paulo
$143
Sudbury
$295 106% $151
Getting Around
Sao Paulo
$60
Sudbury
$97 62% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Sao Paulo
$56
Sudbury
$80 42.4% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $659 in Sao Paulo and $1,348 in Sudbury. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sudbury pays 222% 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 $69.0 in Sudbury for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $378 per month, with Sao Paulo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Sao Paulo
🇨🇦 Sudbury
🕒 Local time
01:19 1:19 AM
00:19 12:19 AM
1 h behind Sao Paulo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,451,999
161,531
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 5.05 BRL (1 BRL = 0.198 USD). 1 EUR = 5.65 BRL (1 BRL = 0.177 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sao Paulo Sudbury 8,520 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sao Paulo
  • Sudbury

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 Sudbury: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sudbury cheaper than Sao Paulo?
Sao Paulo is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sao Paulo or Sudbury?
On paper, salaries run 222% lower in Sudbury. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Sao Paulo and Sudbury?
Rent for a central apartment: $659 in Sao Paulo versus $1,348 in Sudbury. 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 Sao Paulo runs roughly 46% less than in Sudbury. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $579 in Sao Paulo versus $527 in Sudbury. 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 Sudbury?
At $1,235 in Sao Paulo versus $2,418 in Sudbury, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sao Paulo but tight or insufficient in Sudbury. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Paulo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sao Paulo or Sudbury more family-friendly?
For families, Sao Paulo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sudbury, 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 96% less than in Sudbury. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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