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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $512 (excluding rent), and $848 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,258 (excluding rent), and $1,885 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 R$24.81
$4.47 R$24.81
$8.95 R$49.68
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.23 R$151
$18.15 R$101
$54.5 R$302
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.62 R$25.63
$4.62 R$25.63
$7.4 R$41.07
Cappuccino
$1.65 R$9.17
$0.73 R$4.07
$3.3 R$18.33
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$6.56
$0.92 R$5.13
$1.48 R$8.21
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 R$4.28
$0.52 R$2.89
$1.04 R$5.78
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.2 R$12.23
$1.47 R$8.16
$3.31 R$18.35
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 R$15.42
$2.59 R$14.39
$4.63 R$25.7
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 R$4.69
$0.66 R$3.66
$1.05 R$5.82
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 R$8.1
$0.93 R$5.14
$2.78 R$15.41
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 R$6.06
$0.92 R$5.09
$1.84 R$10.19
Eggs
$2.03 R$11.29
$1.4 R$7.78
$2.45 R$13.61
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.15 R$61.9
$7.35 R$40.78
$25.7 R$143
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 R$25.05
$2.32 R$12.86
$7.14 R$39.61
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.25 R$51.4
$5.3 R$29.45
$15.92 R$88.4
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 R$10.88
$1.22 R$6.79
$2.62 R$14.55
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 R$7.02
$0.88 R$4.9
$2.29 R$12.74
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 R$7.38
$0.83 R$4.6
$1.84 R$10.21
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R$8.28
$0.91 R$5.04
$1.81 R$10.07
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 R$6.3
$0.64 R$3.54
$1.57 R$8.71
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.92
$0.64 R$3.55
$1.46 R$8.12
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 R$4.32
$0.37 R$2.07
$1.12 R$6.22
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 R$3.27
$0.39 R$2.18
$0.88 R$4.91
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89 R$10.48
$1.75 R$9.72
$2.63 R$14.58
Wine (Bottle)
$6.23 R$34.57
$3.56 R$19.75
$12.47 R$69.2
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 R$5.69
$0.74 R$4.1
$1.48 R$8.2
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 R$10.4
$1.1 R$6.1
$2.75 R$15.26
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$5.1
$0.83 R$4.59
$1.01 R$5.61
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.49 R$208
$20.52 R$114
$37.49 R$208
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 R$9.2
$1.47 R$8.18
$1.84 R$10.23
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 R$5.61
$0.67 R$3.7
$1.68 R$9.31
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.51 R$30.59
$5.51 R$30.59
$5.51 R$30.59
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 R$6.14
$1.03 R$5.74
$1.18 R$6.54
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K R$137.7K
$19.8K R$110.1K
$29.4K R$163.2K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K R$150.9K
$25.7K R$142.7K
$30.1K R$167.3K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.2 R$334
$35.81 R$199
$122 R$676
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.61 R$81.1
$7.2 R$39.97
$21.95 R$122
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.81 R$110
$17.88 R$99.2
$28.61 R$159
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.71 R$126
$16.35 R$90.7
$29.07 R$161
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.74 R$104
$10.93 R$60.7
$18.74 R$104
Cinema Ticket
$6.13 R$34.02
$5.25 R$29.16
$10.52 R$58.4
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 R$1,676
$212 R$1,176
$459 R$2,548
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,187 R$39.9K
$7,187 R$39.9K
$10.8K R$59.8K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.38 R$269
$21.33 R$118
$71.1 R$395
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.2 R$312
$26.56 R$147
$70.8 R$393
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 R$439
$53 R$294
$132 R$735
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.2 R$351
$36.1 R$200
$108 R$601
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 R$2,795
$216 R$1,198
$791 R$4,391
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$275 R$1,527
$142 R$788
$408 R$2,266
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$871 R$4,836
$459 R$2,545
$1,284 R$7,126
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 R$3,185
$237 R$1,314
$911 R$5,055
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,586 R$8,801
$1,014 R$5,629
$2,028 R$11.3K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,050 R$5,830
$668 R$3,710
$1,337 R$7,419
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$353 R$1,961
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
6
12
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
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Cost of Living in Santa Cruz do Sul - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz do Sul a good value for money for travelers and expats, and how does it compare to other Brazilian cities?
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.
What is daily life like in terms of housing, food options, and getting around for a visitor or long-term stay?
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.
What strategies help you maximize quality of life and keep to a budget while living in Santa Cruz do Sul?
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.
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