Cost of Living in Santa Cruz do Sul - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Santa Cruz do Sul
Address: Santa Cruz do Sul, BR

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $447 (excluding rent), and $845 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,331 (excluding rent), and $1,896 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.53 R$24.35

$9.08 R$48.74

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.63 R$143

$17.75 R$95.3

$53.3 R$286

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 R$24.33

$7.26 R$38.98

Cappuccino

$1.61 R$8.63

$0.71 R$3.84

$3.22 R$17.27

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 R$6.24

$0.91 R$4.89

$1.46 R$7.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 R$4.14

$0.52 R$2.80

$1.04 R$5.59

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 R$11.53

$1.43 R$7.68

$3.22 R$17.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 R$14.31

$2.49 R$13.36

$4.44 R$23.85

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 R$4.51

$0.66 R$3.52

$1.04 R$5.60

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 R$7.82

$0.92 R$4.95

$2.77 R$14.86

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 R$5.65

$0.89 R$4.75

$1.77 R$9.51

Eggs

$2.07 R$11.10

$1.42 R$7.65

$2.49 R$13.38

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.05 R$59.3

$7.28 R$39.09

$25.47 R$137

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 R$24.21

$2.31 R$12.42

$7.13 R$38.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.24 R$49.61

$5.30 R$28.44

$15.90 R$85.4

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 R$10.98

$1.28 R$6.85

$2.73 R$14.68

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 R$7.06

$0.92 R$4.93

$2.39 R$12.81

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 R$7.05

$0.82 R$4.39

$1.82 R$9.77

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 R$8.04

$0.91 R$4.89

$1.82 R$9.78

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 R$6.11

$0.64 R$3.44

$1.57 R$8.46

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 R$5.81

$0.65 R$3.48

$1.48 R$7.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 R$4.13

$0.37 R$1.98

$1.11 R$5.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 R$3.09

$0.38 R$2.06

$0.86 R$4.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 R$10.64

$1.84 R$9.88

$2.76 R$14.81

Wine (Bottle)

$7.10 R$38.12

$4.73 R$25.39

$13.24 R$71.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 R$5.31

$0.71 R$3.83

$1.43 R$7.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 R$10.02

$1.10 R$5.88

$2.74 R$14.70

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 R$5.00

$0.84 R$4.50

$1.02 R$5.50

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.88 R$203

$20.73 R$111

$37.88 R$203

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 R$8.61

$1.43 R$7.66

$1.78 R$9.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 R$5.42

$0.67 R$3.58

$1.68 R$9.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.54 R$29.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 R$5.95

$1.04 R$5.57

$1.18 R$6.34

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.8K R$133.2K

$19.8K R$106.5K

$29.4K R$157.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.6K R$148.0K

$26.1K R$140.0K

$30.6K R$164.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$59.8 R$321

$35.58 R$191

$121 R$650

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.72 R$79.0

$7.25 R$38.95

$22.11 R$119

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.34 R$109

$18.35 R$98.6

$29.37 R$158

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.20 R$119

$15.98 R$85.8

$28.42 R$153

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.85 R$117

$12.74 R$68.4

$21.85 R$117

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 R$33.98

$5.42 R$29.12

$10.86 R$58.3

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 R$1,658

$217 R$1,164

$469 R$2,521

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,079 R$38.0K

$10.6K R$57.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.58 R$261

$21.42 R$115

$71.4 R$383

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 R$311

$27.37 R$147

$73.0 R$392

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 R$428

$53.3 R$286

$133 R$716

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.3 R$340

$36.14 R$194

$108 R$582

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 R$2,736

$218 R$1,172

$801 R$4,299

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 R$1,499

$144 R$774

$414 R$2,224

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 R$4,634

$454 R$2,439

$1,272 R$6,830

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$564 R$3,028

$233 R$1,250

$895 R$4,806

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$377 R$2,025

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update: January 13, 2026

Santa Cruz do Sul Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

129

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

168

Mbps

112

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

Cost of Living in Santa Cruz do Sul - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz do Sul offers a balanced mix of affordability and quality of life for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. While not the cheapest Brazilian city, you’ll find reasonable housing, accessible groceries, and a calm pace that supports longer stays. Cost of Living in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil tends to be stable across neighborhoods, with choices from walkable historic cores to quieter suburban pockets. Local services and a friendly dining scene help you keep day-to-day costs predictable. Practical budgeting comes from mixing local markets with occasional dining out, and choosing transportation that fits your routine. Tip: map your week to access work, groceries, and leisure efficiently.

In Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil living cost shows up most in housing and meals, but you can manage by choosing the right neighborhood and shopping strategies. You may find older buildings with solid value near the city center, or fresher, quieter options farther from core areas. Grocery shopping at mercados and street stalls offers good quality without overpaying, while dining out can be occasional treats rather than daily default. Public transit operates with reliability for commuting, and cycling is popular in flatter parts. Co-working spaces provide a predictable work setup with community. Tip: join local expat groups for up-to-date tips on deals and seasonal offerings.

Quality of life tends to be high when you plan ahead and adapt to local rhythms. Build a simple budgeting framework: separate fixed housing, flexible groceries and transport, and a buffer for leisure. Seasonality matters only modestly here, but you may notice energy use shifts in hotter months, so consider energy-efficient habits. Neighborhood fit matters: Centro suffices for easy access to services, while the riverfront or university zones offer livelier social scenes and more affordable options. Tip: use public transit passes or bike-sharing to trim monthly costs and explore different areas on weekends to gauge what suits your work style and social life best.