Cost Of Living in Sao Paulo 2025
Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Sao Paulo
Whether you're living in Sao Paulo or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: BRL
Monthly Expenditure ▶ Single
Currency: BRL
Monthly Expenditure ▶ Couple
Currency: BRL
Monthly Expenditure ▶ Family
Currency: BRL
Monthly Expenditure ▶ Student
Currency: BRL
Expenditure to Income Ratio in Sao Paulo
One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.
Spending to Income Ratio
99%
88% to 110%
( expenditure / income ) x 100
Expense to income distribution levels
| Spending To Income Ratio | % People |
|---|
| < 50% | 6% |
| 50% - 60% | 11% |
| 60% - 70% | 18% |
| 70% - 80% | 26% |
| 80% - 90% | 16% |
| 90% - 100% | 9% |
| 100% - 110% | 5% |
| 110% - 120% | 3% |
| 120% - 130% | 2% |
| 130% - 140% | 2% |
| > 140% | 1% |
Interpretation and Analysis
The average spending-to-salary ratio in Sao Paulo is 99%
This means that on average, people spend around 99% of their income for living.
According to the distribution table, 18% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.
How can spending be more than income?
A value higher than 100% means that the expenditure of those people is higher than their income. They are spending more than what they earn. This is possible in two scenarios. They are either borrowing from their savings to survive or they are borrowing from other sources (relatives, friends, banks, etc.). More about this in the debt section.
Individual
92%
Spending-Income-Ratio
82%
100%
Couple
100%
Spending-Income-Ratio
89%
110%
Family
100%
Spending-Income-Ratio
90%
110%
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Sao Paulo
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Sao Paulo
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual
| 110 BRL | 750 BRL | 8,300 BRL |
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple
| 110 BRL | 810 BRL | 9,200 BRL |
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family
| 210 BRL | 1,000 BRL | 10,000 BRL |
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Sao Paulo ranges between 110 BRL and 8,300 BRL with average being 750 BRL, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 810 BRL with 110 BRL and 9,200 BRL being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 1,000 BRL. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 98 BRL to 260 BRL with 200 BRL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 100 BRL but can range between 60 BRL and 300 BRL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Sao Paulo is around 6.2%. This means that people pay 6.2% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.5% to 11% depending on salary and location.
The figures displayed here are inclusive of everything: housing, travel, groceries, healthcare, etc.
Singles
The average monthly expense for a single person living in Sao Paulo is 15,000 BRL. Expenses can range from 2,100 BRL at the minimum level to 170,000 BRL at the highest end.
Couples
The average monthly spending of couples in Sao Paulo is 22,000 BRL. Expenditure can range from 3,400 BRL to 210,000 BRL per month.
Families
The average cost of living for families in Sao Paulo is 27,000 BRL per month. Families spend anywhere from 5,300 BRL to 270,000 BRL.
Students
The average monthly expenditure for students in Sao Paulo is 11,000 BRL. Students spend from 1,600 BRL to 120,000 BRL per month.
Spending behavior can change drastically from one person to another. It is best to consider the minimum, average, and maximum spending together.
Affordable living in Sao Paulo
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Sao Paulo?
Around 69% of surveyed residents think that living in Sao Paulo is affordable with proper budgeting while 31% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Saving Challenges in Sao Paulo
Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money
We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Sao Paulo. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.
| Reason | % People |
|---|
| Low Income | 6% |
| High Expenses | 9% |
| Debt and Loans | 17% |
| Lack of Budgeting Skills | 11% |
| Impulsive Spending | 10% |
| Financial Emergencies | 6% |
| Living the moment | 6% |
| Will do it later | 18% |
| Inflation | 11% |
| Social Pressure | 3% |
| Market Instability | 3% |
Around 6% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Sao Paulo
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Sao Paulo
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,800 BRL | 2,800 BRL | 7,400 BRL |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,800 BRL | 4,600 BRL | 11,000 BRL |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,900 BRL | 5,900 BRL | 16,000 BRL |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,800 BRL | 8,100 BRL | 22,000 BRL |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 9,100 BRL | 23,000 BRL | 46,000 BRL |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 7,400 BRL | 11,000 BRL | 32,000 BRL |
House monthly rent cost
| 9,200 BRL | 23,000 BRL | 46,000 BRL |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 11,000 BRL | 28,000 BRL | 44,000 BRL |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Sao Paulo ranges between 1,800 BRL and 7,400 BRL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,800 BRL to 11,000 BRL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3,900 BRL and 16,000 BRL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4,800 BRL to 22,000 BRL. The average rent of a townhouse in Sao Paulo is around 11,000 BRL while house rental costs can be as high as 23,000 BRL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 11,000 BRL to 44,000 BRL per month.
Apartment and house prices in Sao Paulo
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 390,000 BRL | 590,000 BRL | 1.2M BRL |
| $79,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 480,000 BRL | 810,000 BRL | 3M BRL |
| $98,000 | $160,000 | $610,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 740,000 BRL | 2.2M BRL | 4.4M BRL |
| $150,000 | $450,000 | $890,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 2.5M BRL | 3.8M BRL | 11M BRL |
Townhouse price
| 3.4M BRL | 7.9M BRL | 30M BRL |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Sao Paulo can range from 390,000 BRL to 1.2M BRL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 480,000 BRL to 3M BRL. A villa can cost you 27M BRL on average with prices ranging from 4.8M BRL to 40M BRL.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Sao Paulo will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 64 | x185 monthly income | 318 |
Property prices in Sao Paulo can be x185 to x318 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x185 multiples of the average monthly salary in Sao Paulo.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Sao Paulo is around 42%. This means that people pay 42% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 29% to 55% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
31% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Low-cost alternatives in Sao Paulo
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options61%
Few low-cost options39%
Based on the survey, 61% of the people living in Sao Paulo have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 39% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Sao Paulo
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 44,000 BRL | 87,000 BRL | 120,000 BRL |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Individual
| 110 BRL | 750 BRL | 8,300 BRL |
Utility Bill - Couple
| 110 BRL | 810 BRL | 9,200 BRL |
Utility Bill - Family
| 210 BRL | 1,000 BRL | 10,000 BRL |
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,800 BRL | 2,800 BRL | 7,400 BRL |
1-bedroom apartment
| 2,800 BRL | 4,600 BRL | 11,000 BRL |
2-bedroom apartment
| 3,900 BRL | 5,900 BRL | 16,000 BRL |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 390,000 BRL | 590,000 BRL | 1.2M BRL |
| $79,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
1-bedroom apartment
| 480,000 BRL | 810,000 BRL | 3M BRL |
| $98,000 | $160,000 | $610,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 740,000 BRL | 2.2M BRL | 4.4M BRL |
| $150,000 | $450,000 | $890,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,800 BRL | 2,300 BRL | 3,000 BRL |
Double Bed
| 1,200 BRL | 1,900 BRL | 2,300 BRL |
Single Bed
| 1,100 BRL | 1,500 BRL | 1,900 BRL |
Living Room
| 2,200 BRL | 2,800 BRL | 10,000 BRL |
Dining Table
| 910 BRL | 1,200 BRL | 2,300 BRL |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,200 BRL | 1,700 BRL | 3,700 BRL |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,300 BRL | 1,900 BRL | 3,800 BRL |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,100 BRL | 1,800 BRL | 2,400 BRL |
Washing Machine
| 1,400 BRL | 2,000 BRL | 3,500 BRL |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,300 BRL | 1,700 BRL | 2,300 BRL |
Mobile Phone
| 1,600 BRL | 1,900 BRL | 2,700 BRL |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,800 BRL | 2,200 BRL | 3,900 BRL |
Typical saving choices for people in Sao Paulo
Where do people choose to put their savings?
| Saving Type | % People |
|---|
| Emergency Funds | 11% |
| Gold | 10% |
| Savings Accounts | 17% |
| Retirement Accounts | 11% |
| Cash Savings | 17% |
| Real Estate | 10% |
| Investment | 6% |
| Stocks | 6% |
| Bonds | 6% |
| Mutual Funds | 3% |
| Certificates of Deposit | 3% |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Emergency Funds
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes69%
No31%
Based on the survey, 31% of the people living in Sao Paulo said that they don't have an emergency fund while 69% said that they do.
Financial goals of people in Sao Paulo
In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Sao Paulo, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.
| Financial Goal | % People |
|---|
| Emergency Fund | 7% |
| Debt Reduction | 34% |
| Retirement Savings | 8% |
| Education Funding | 8% |
| Homeownership | 17% |
| Investing | 8% |
| Travel or Lifestyle | 10% |
| Healthcare Expenses | 10% |
| Financial Independence | 8% |
Around 7% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 34% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.
How do people spend their money in Sao Paulo?
We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.
The percentage figures in this section are percentages of total spending not income. If you would like to see the percentage of expenses as related to income or salary, see other sections.
Housing Expenditure26%
26% of total expenses on average (15% to 34%)
| LOW | $98 490 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $980 4,900 BRL |
| HIGH | $15,000 73,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
People living in Sao Paulo typically spend from 15% to 34% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 26% being the average. The average spend on housing is 4,900 BRL with expenditure ranging from 490 BRL to 73,000 BRL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.
Utilities, Electricity, Water, Internet, Mobile7%
7% of total expenses on average (4% to 11%)
| LOW | $14 70 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $140 700 BRL |
| HIGH | $2,100 10,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Sao Paulo ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 700 BRL with 70 BRL and 10,000 BRL being the upper and lower limits.
Transport, Fuel, Commute8%
8% of total expenses on average (4% to 12%)
| LOW | $31 150 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $310 1,500 BRL |
| HIGH | $4,600 23,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 150 BRL to 23,000 BRL on commuting with 1,500 BRL being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.
Food and Groceries Cost27%
27% of total expenses on average (19% to 33%)
| LOW | $75 370 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $750 3,700 BRL |
| HIGH | $11,000 55,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries in a month in Sao Paulo is 3,700 BRL. The cost of groceries can range between 370 BRL to 55,000 BRL. People spend on average about 27% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 19% and 33% respectively.
Healthcare and Medical Services9%
9% of total expenses on average (4% to 12%)
| LOW | $18 89 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $180 890 BRL |
| HIGH | $2,700 13,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
People in Sao Paulo allocate 4% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 89 BRL to 13,000 BRL with 890 BRL being the norm.
Leisure and Shopping5%
5% of total expenses on average (3% to 9%)
| LOW | $12 59 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $120 590 BRL |
| HIGH | $1,800 8,900 BRL |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 59 BRL to 8,900 BRL with 590 BRL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.
Education and Schooling6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 12%)
| LOW | $18 89 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $180 890 BRL |
| HIGH | $2,700 13,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 6% of the monthly expenditure with 4% and 12% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 890 BRL per month with 89 BRL being the minimum spent amount and 13,000 BRL being the maximum.
Other Expenses12%
12% of total expenses on average (7% to 19%)
| LOW | $41 200 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $410 2,000 BRL |
| HIGH | $6,200 31,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy64%
We asked residents of whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 36% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 64% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether residents of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 26% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 74% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance26%
Easily manages finances74%
Debt, loans, and mortgages in Sao Paulo
Percentage of people who are in debt
According to the survey, 23% of the people in Sao Paulo have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 77% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.
Debt-to-income ratio in Sao Paulo
Debt to income ratio
28%
19% to 37%
( monthly debt payment / monthly income ) x 100
Interpretation
The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 28% of the people's monthly income in Sao Paulo goes to debt settlement.
Debt levelsMonthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income
| Debt-to-income ratio | % People |
|---|
| > 60% | 3% |
| 50% - 60% | 13% |
| 40% - 50% | 12% |
| 30% - 40% | 14% |
| 20% - 30% | 14% |
| 10% - 20% | 17% |
| 0% - 10% | 27% |
According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Sao Paulo pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 13% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.
Distribution by type of debt in Sao Paulo
| Debt | % People |
|---|
| Real Estate Mortgage | 12% |
| Auto Loan | 21% |
| Student Loan | 3% |
| Credit Card | 26% |
| Personal Loan | 38% |
12% of debtors in Sao Paulo confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 38%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Sao Paulo.
About credit score and debt managementManaging debt is a critical aspect of maintaining a favorable credit score. Debt reduction is the first thing you should do improve your financial situation. Getting rid of debt takes precedence over saving money because of interest rates.
Good debt vs. Bad debt
Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.
Loan Affordability Index in Sao Paulo
Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.
Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.
| Frequency | % People |
|---|
| Never | 54% |
| Once a year | 22% |
| Twice a year | 12% |
| Three times a year | 8% |
| Four times a year | 4% |
Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Sao Paulo
What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Sao Paulo and how much retirement savings are required?
Retirement age
The retirement age for most employees in is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.
Retirement planning and savings
There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.
The typical saved amount of money you should have at every age as multiples of monthly salary:| Age | Amount |
|---|
| 25 | 5x monthly salary at age 25 |
| 30 | 10x monthly salary at age 30 |
| 35 | 15x monthly salary at age 35 |
| 40 | 25x monthly salary at age 40 |
| 45 | 32x monthly salary at age 45 |
| 50 | 48x monthly salary at age 50 |
| 55 | 56x monthly salary at age 55 |
| 60 | 64x monthly salary at age 60 |
| 65 | 78x monthly salary at age 65 |
The typical average saved amount of money you should have at every age in Sao Paulo:| Age | Amount |
|---|
| 25 | 35,000 BRL |
| 30 | 72,000 BRL |
| 35 | 130,000 BRL |
| 40 | 190,000 BRL |
| 45 | 260,000 BRL |
| 50 | 380,000 BRL |
| 55 | 460,000 BRL |
| 60 | 590,000 BRL |
| 65 | 640,000 BRL |
Retirement Income Distribution
We asked residents about their retirement income sources and below are the results.
| Source | % People |
|---|
| Pensions | 13% |
| Savings | 22% |
| Investments | 13% |
| Social Security | 8% |
| Annuities | 8% |
| Part-time Job | 11% |
| Real Estate | 17% |
| Dividends and Interest | 8% |
Retirement Monthly Expenses in Sao Paulo 1,200 BRL
$250 | 11,000 BRL
$2,200 | 120,000 BRL
$25,000 |
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Sao Paulo
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Sao Paulo
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Sao Paulo is approximatly 37 BRL with meal cost ranging from 18 BRL to 61 BRL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 65 BRL and 190 BRL with 97 BRL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Sao Paulo.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 120 BRL to 740 BRL with the average cost being 180 BRL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Sao Paulo.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Sao Paulo is around 25 BRL. Price ranges between 16 BRL and 38 BRL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Sao Paulo is 16 BRL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 19 BRL and the minimum being 13 BRL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 12 BRL on average with 9.1 BRL and 18 BRL being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Sao Paulo is between 22 BRL and 41 BRL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 29 BRL.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 41 BRL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Sao Paulo costs around 13 BRL on average with prices rangeing between 9.6 BRL and 19 BRL depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3.7 BRL to 9.2 BRL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 8.8 BRL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Sao Paulo is around 30%. This means that people spend 30% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 37% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group
A single person living alone spends approximately 2,100 BRL per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 300 BRL and 24,000 BRL depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 2,700 BRL per month. That number can be get as low as 410 BRL or a high as 25,000 BRL. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 800 BRL to 40,000 BRL with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.
How much money can you save in Sao Paulo every month?
We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.
What percentage of people in Sao Paulo manage to save money from their income every month?
Almost 77% of the surveyed people in Sao Paulo said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 23% said that aren't saving anything.
Percentage of people saving money by population group in Sao Paulo
| Group | Savers | Non Savers |
|---|
| Singles | 77% | 23% |
| Couples | 76% | 24% |
| Families | 66% | 34% |
Savings-to-Income Ratio
The savings-to-income ratio is measured as the percentage of income that people save over a specific period and it is simply calculated by dividing the saved money by total income and then multiplying the result by 100. (Savings / Income) x 100.
Saving to Income Ratio
Average Monthly Saved Amount
650 BRL
$130 | 6,500 BRL
$1,300 | 97,000 BRL
$20,000 |
For most people, 16% to 41% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 27% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 6,500 BRL on average with savings ranging from 650 BRL to 97,000 BRL.
77% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 76% of couples said the same. 66% of families confirmed their ability to save money.
How much money do people actually save in Sao Paulo?
The amount of money that people can afford to save depends hugely on their income. It is better to focus on the percentage when trying to understand saving patterns.
Singles
Saving to Income Ratio
Average Monthly Saved Amount
610 BRL
$120 | 5,500 BRL
$1,100 | 61,000 BRL
$12,000 |
Savings to income distribution levels for singles
| Saving To Income Ratio | % Singles |
|---|
| 0% - 10% | 29% |
| 10% - 20% | 23% |
| 20% - 30% | 16% |
| 30% - 40% | 16% |
| 40% - 50% | 12% |
| > 50% | 4% |
Interpretation and Analysis
Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 20% to 43% of their monthly income to savings, with 32% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 5,500 BRL with 610 BRL and 61,000 BRL being the minimum and maximum respectively.
Couples
Saving to Income Ratio
Average Monthly Saved Amount
1,300 BRL
$250 | 8,200 BRL
$1,700 | 76,000 BRL
$15,000 |
Savings to income distribution levels for couples
| Saving To Income Ratio | % Couples |
|---|
| 0% - 10% | 33% |
| 10% - 20% | 25% |
| 20% - 30% | 19% |
| 30% - 40% | 11% |
| 40% - 50% | 9% |
| > 50% | 3% |
Interpretation and Analysis
Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 18% to 43% of their monthly income, with 30% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 8,200 BRL with 1,300 BRL and 76,000 BRL being the minimum and maximum respectively.
Families
Saving to Income Ratio
Average Monthly Saved Amount
1,900 BRL
$390 | 9,700 BRL
$2,000 | 97,000 BRL
$20,000 |
Savings to income distribution levels for families
| Saving To Income Ratio | % Families |
|---|
| 0% - 10% | 36% |
| 10% - 20% | 28% |
| 20% - 30% | 20% |
| 30% - 40% | 8% |
| 40% - 50% | 6% |
| > 50% | 2% |
Interpretation and Analysis
Families in Sao Paulo can save anywhere between 14% to 35% of their monthly income, with 23% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 9,700 BRL with 1,900 BRL and 97,000 BRL being the minimum and maximum respectively.
Cost of living comparison by city
#1 Petrolina and Juazeiro
The average cost of living in Petrolina and Juazeiro is 7,100 BRL, which is 56% less than the country average. Petrolina and Juazeiro is ranked first in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#2 Vitoria
The average cost of living in Vitoria is 7,300 BRL, which is 56% less than the country average. Vitoria is ranked second in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#3 Maringa
The average cost of living in Maringa is 7,600 BRL, which is 56% less than the country average. Maringa is ranked third in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#4 Santos
The average cost of living in Santos is 7,900 BRL, which is 56% less than the country average. Santos is ranked fourth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#5 Vale do Aco
The average cost of living in Vale do Aco is 8,100 BRL, which is 50% less than the country average. Vale do Aco is ranked fifth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#6 Macapa
The average cost of living in Macapa is 8,400 BRL, which is 50% less than the country average. Macapa is ranked sixth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#7 Londrina
The average cost of living in Londrina is 8,700 BRL, which is 50% less than the country average. Londrina is ranked seventh in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#8 Cuiaba
The average cost of living in Cuiaba is 9,000 BRL, which is 44% less than the country average. Cuiaba is ranked eighth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#9 Aracaju
The average cost of living in Aracaju is 9,300 BRL, which is 44% less than the country average. Aracaju is ranked ninth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#10 Joao Pessoa
The average cost of living in Joao Pessoa is 9,600 BRL, which is 44% less than the country average. Joao Pessoa is ranked tenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#11 Teresina
The average cost of living in Teresina is 10,000 BRL, which is 38% less than the country average. Teresina is ranked eleventh in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#12 Natal
The average cost of living in Natal is 10,000 BRL, which is 38% less than the country average. Natal is ranked twelfth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#13 Maceio
The average cost of living in Maceio is 11,000 BRL, which is 31% less than the country average. Maceio is ranked thirteenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#14 Sao Luis
The average cost of living in Sao Luis is 11,000 BRL, which is 31% less than the country average. Sao Luis is ranked fourteenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#15 Campinas
The average cost of living in Campinas is 11,000 BRL, which is 31% less than the country average. Campinas is ranked fifteenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#16 Porto Alegre
The average cost of living in Porto Alegre is 12,000 BRL, which is 25% less than the country average. Porto Alegre is ranked sixteenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#17 Goiania
The average cost of living in Goiania is 12,000 BRL, which is 25% less than the country average. Goiania is ranked seventeenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#18 Belem
The average cost of living in Belem is 12,000 BRL, which is 25% less than the country average. Belem is ranked eighteenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#19 Recife
The average cost of living in Recife is 13,000 BRL, which is 19% less than the country average. Recife is ranked nineteenth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#20 Curitiba
The average cost of living in Curitiba is 13,000 BRL, which is 19% less than the country average. Curitiba is ranked twentyth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#21 Manaus
The average cost of living in Manaus is 14,000 BRL, which is 13% less than the country average. Manaus is ranked twenty-onth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#22 Belo Horizonte
The average cost of living in Belo Horizonte is 14,000 BRL, which is 13% less than the country average. Belo Horizonte is ranked twenty-twoth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#23 Fortaleza
The average cost of living in Fortaleza is 14,000 BRL, which is 13% less than the country average. Fortaleza is ranked twenty-threth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#24 Salvador
The average cost of living in Salvador is 15,000 BRL, which is 6.3% less than the country average. Salvador is ranked twenty-fourth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#25 Brasilia
The average cost of living in Brasilia is 15,000 BRL, which is 6.3% less than the country average. Brasilia is ranked twenty-fivth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#26 Rio de Janeiro
The average cost of living in Rio de Janeiro is 16,000 BRL, which is same as the country average. Rio de Janeiro is ranked twenty-sixth in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
#27 Sao Paulo
The average cost of living in Sao Paulo is 16,000 BRL, which is same as the country average. Sao Paulo is ranked twenty-seventh in Brazil in terms of expendenture and cost of living.
Published: February 27, 2024 Last Update: May 5, 2025
