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Cost of Living in Santa Maria - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $455 (excluding rent), and $670 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,187 (excluding rent), and $1,504 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.46 R$23.81
$2.68 R$14.29
$8.93 R$47.67
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.15 R$145
$14.48 R$77.3
$57.9 R$309
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 R$33.05
$5.84 R$31.16
$7.09 R$37.82
Cappuccino
$1.35 R$7.2
$0.7 R$3.73
$3.14 R$16.78
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.9 R$4.83
$0.8 R$4.25
$1.42 R$7.56
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 R$3.35
$0.37 R$1.98
$1.11 R$5.93
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.48 R$7.9
$1.02 R$5.43
$3.33 R$17.79
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 R$18.96
$1.78 R$9.48
$4.44 R$23.7
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 R$4.85
$0.71 R$3.79
$1.13 R$6.02
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 R$7.31
$0.89 R$4.73
$2.66 R$14.2
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.56
$0.88 R$4.68
$1.75 R$9.35
Eggs
$1.49 R$7.95
$1.4 R$7.48
$3.15 R$16.83
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 R$45.03
$3.65 R$19.46
$25.55 R$136
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 R$19.33
$2.35 R$12.56
$7.25 R$38.71
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.54 R$40.21
$5.48 R$29.23
$16.44 R$87.7
Apples (1kg)
$2 R$10.7
$1.25 R$6.67
$2.68 R$14.3
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 R$7.06
$0.92 R$4.93
$2.44 R$13.03
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 R$7.05
$0.73 R$3.91
$2.42 R$12.91
Tomato (1kg)
$1.5 R$8
$0.91 R$4.86
$2.55 R$13.62
Potato (1kg)
$1.1 R$5.85
$0.65 R$3.44
$1.63 R$8.69
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 R$5.45
$0.61 R$3.27
$1.4 R$7.47
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$4.1
$0.37 R$1.97
$1.11 R$5.9
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 R$3.09
$0.39 R$2.06
$1.73 R$9.26
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93 R$10.29
$1.79 R$9.55
$2.68 R$14.33
Wine (Bottle)
$6.89 R$36.77
$4.6 R$24.53
$12.86 R$68.6
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 R$5.23
$0.71 R$3.77
$1.41 R$7.53
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 R$9.76
$1.07 R$5.73
$3.58 R$19.09
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$4.89
$0.89 R$4.73
$0.92 R$4.89
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.24 R$145
$21.25 R$113
$37.59 R$201
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 R$8.72
$1.45 R$7.75
$1.82 R$9.69
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 R$5.39
$0.67 R$3.56
$1.68 R$8.95
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.55 R$29.64
$5.55 R$29.64
$5.55 R$29.64
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.26
$0.86 R$4.58
$1.12 R$5.99
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K R$123.9K
$19.7K R$104.9K
$29.1K R$155.4K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28K R$149.5K
$26.5K R$141.4K
$31.1K R$165.7K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.45 R$259
$35.89 R$192
$122 R$651
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.61 R$77.9
$7.2 R$38.41
$21.94 R$117
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.16 R$86.3
$14.37 R$76.7
$28.74 R$153
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.9 R$117
$14.6 R$77.9
$21.9 R$117
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.77 R$57.5
$10.77 R$57.5
$10.77 R$57.5
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 R$27.55
$4.45 R$23.75
$10.69 R$57.1
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 R$764
$143 R$764
$465 R$2,483
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,732 R$14.6K
$2,732 R$14.6K
$10.9K R$58.3K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.07 R$257
$21.19 R$113
$70.6 R$377
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.92 R$208
$17.96 R$95.8
$71.9 R$383
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 R$423
$53 R$283
$133 R$707
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.5 R$301
$32.12 R$171
$107 R$571
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 R$1,467
$275 R$1,467
$275 R$1,467
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 R$832
$138 R$735
$184 R$979
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 R$3,080
$536 R$2,858
$625 R$3,334
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 R$1,740
$266 R$1,420
$444 R$2,367
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,902 R$10.1K
$1,902 R$10.1K
$1,902 R$10.1K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$633 R$3,378
$559 R$2,981
$708 R$3,776
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 R$3,214
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
6
12

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

Last update: December 1, 2025

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Cost of Living in Santa Maria - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Maria, Brazil a good value for longer stays, and who tends to get the best balance between cost and quality in this city?
Cost of Living in Santa Maria, Brazil is moderate for Brazil, especially as a university town. You’ll find affordable student housing options near UFSM, and local markets with fresh produce that keep daily meals reasonable. Utilities and internet are reliable enough for remote work, and public transport covers key routes. Dining out ranges from casual eateries to traditional spots, with options to suit lean budgets or a little indulgence. Overall, it tends to offer a balanced mix of cost and quality. Tip: start with a short-term rental near campus to test neighborhoods before committing.
What does daily life look like for housing, food, transport, and coworking in Santa Maria, Brazil?
When you land, focus on neighborhoods near the campus and city center to balance access and price. Shopping is practical at local markets and bakeries; you can cook most meals to manage costs. For housing, look for quartos (rooms) or small apartamentos near UFSM or in central districts; leases may be shorter than in bigger cities. Public buses cover key corridors; rideshares and bikes are common for short hops. Co-working spaces and cafés near campus offer reliable wifi and social scenes. Santa Maria, Brazil living cost varies by area, so compare a few blocks before signing. Tip: use a few weekend scouting trips to inspect noise, lighting, and safety.
How can you plan a realistic budget and choose a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle in Santa Maria, Brazil?
A practical budgeting approach centers on stable housing, flexible utilities, and meal planning. Choose a neighborhood that fits your rhythm – near UFSM for easy mornings or closer to the city center for nightlife and groceries. Buy seasonal produce at markets, cook at home, and limit frequent dining-out splurges. Use public transit or bike-sharing to keep transport predictable, and consider coworking memberships during the workweek. Free or low-cost cultural events often surface around the campus calendar, offering offsetting leisure. In a university town, you’ll notice seasonal shifts in demand for short-term rentals, so plan ahead if your schedule changes. Tip: set a monthly buffer for utilities during hot or rainy months.
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