Cost Of Living For a Student in Sao Luis 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: BRL
Average monthly spending for students in Sao Luis
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Sao Luis?
Students in Sao Luis spend around 7,100 BRL per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,100 BRL or as high as 47,000 BRL. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Sao Luis
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
| 37,000 BRL | 74,000 BRL | 99,000 BRL |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
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
| 1,200 BRL | 1,800 BRL | 4,900 BRL |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,800 BRL | 3,000 BRL | 7,400 BRL |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2,500 BRL | 3,700 BRL | 9,900 BRL |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 250,000 BRL | 370,000 BRL | 740,000 BRL |
1-bedroom apartment
| 300,000 BRL | 490,000 BRL | 1.8M BRL |
2-bedroom apartment
| 490,000 BRL | 1.5M BRL | 3M BRL |
| $99,000 | $300,000 | $600,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,500 BRL | 1,800 BRL | 2,500 BRL |
Double Bed
| 990 BRL | 1,500 BRL | 1,800 BRL |
Single Bed
| 870 BRL | 1,100 BRL | 1,500 BRL |
Living Room
| 1,600 BRL | 2,100 BRL | 7,400 BRL |
Dining Table
| 740 BRL | 990 BRL | 1,800 BRL |
Sofa or Couch
| 990 BRL | 1,300 BRL | 3,000 BRL |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 990 BRL | 1,500 BRL | 3,000 BRL |
Fridge or Freezer
| 870 BRL | 1,300 BRL | 1,800 BRL |
Washing Machine
| 1,100 BRL | 1,600 BRL | 3,000 BRL |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,100 BRL | 1,300 BRL | 1,800 BRL |
Mobile Phone
| 1,200 BRL | 1,500 BRL | 2,100 BRL |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,300 BRL | 1,600 BRL | 3,000 BRL |
How do students spend their money in Sao Luis?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $52 260 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $340 1,700 BRL |
| HIGH | $2,300 11,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
Students in Sao Luis typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,700 BRL with expenditure ranging from 260 BRL to 11,000 BRL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $8.7 43 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $57 280 BRL |
| HIGH | $380 1,900 BRL |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Sao Luis ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 280 BRL with 43 BRL and 1,900 BRL being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $15 76 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $100 500 BRL |
| HIGH | $670 3,300 BRL |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 76 BRL to 3,300 BRL in a month on commuting with 500 BRL being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $44 220 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $290 1,400 BRL |
| HIGH | $1,900 9,400 BRL |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Sao Luis is 1,400 BRL. The cost of groceries can range between 220 BRL to 9,400 BRL. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $13 65 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $86 420 BRL |
| HIGH | $570 2,800 BRL |
| Per Month |
Students in Sao Luis allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 65 BRL to 2,800 BRL with 420 BRL being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $11 54 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $71 350 BRL |
| HIGH | $480 2,400 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 54 BRL to 2,400 BRL with 350 BRL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $41 210 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $270 1,300 BRL |
| HIGH | $1,800 9,000 BRL |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,300 BRL per month with 210 BRL being the minimum spent amount and 9,000 BRL being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $33 160 BRL |
| AVERAGE | $210 1,100 BRL |
| HIGH | $1,400 7,100 BRL |
| Per Month |
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.
Affordable living in Sao Luis
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Sao Luis?
Around 68% of surveyed students think that living in Sao Luis is affordable with proper budgeting while 32% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Sao Luis
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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options60%
Few low-cost options40%
Based on the survey, 60% of the students living in Sao Luis have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students of Sao Luis whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes68%
No32%
Based on the survey, 32% of the students living in Sao Luis said that they don't have an emergency fund while 68% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Brazil
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 student guardians and parents in Sao Luis 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 students of Brazil 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Sao Luis
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Sao Luis
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,200 BRL | 1,800 BRL | 4,900 BRL |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,800 BRL | 3,000 BRL | 7,400 BRL |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,500 BRL | 3,700 BRL | 9,900 BRL |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,000 BRL | 4,900 BRL | 13,000 BRL |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 5,900 BRL | 15,000 BRL | 30,000 BRL |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 4,900 BRL | 7,400 BRL | 21,000 BRL |
House monthly rent cost
| 5,900 BRL | 15,000 BRL | 30,000 BRL |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 7,400 BRL | 18,000 BRL | 30,000 BRL |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Sao Luis ranges between 1,200 BRL and 4,900 BRL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,800 BRL to 7,400 BRL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,500 BRL and 9,900 BRL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 3,000 BRL to 13,000 BRL. The average rent of a townhouse in Sao Luis is around 7,400 BRL while house rental costs can be as high as 15,000 BRL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 7,400 BRL to 30,000 BRL per month.
Apartment and house prices in Sao Luis
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 250,000 BRL | 370,000 BRL | 740,000 BRL |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 300,000 BRL | 490,000 BRL | 1.8M BRL |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 490,000 BRL | 1.5M BRL | 3M BRL |
| $99,000 | $300,000 | $600,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.6M BRL | 2.5M BRL | 7.4M BRL |
Townhouse price
| 2.1M BRL | 4.9M BRL | 18M BRL |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Sao Luis can range from 250,000 BRL to 740,000 BRL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 300,000 BRL to 1.8M BRL. A villa can cost you 16M BRL on average with prices ranging from 3M BRL to 25M BRL.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Sao Luis 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
| 42 | x123 monthly income | 212 |
Property prices in Sao Luis can be x123 to x212 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x123 multiples of the average monthly salary in Sao Luis.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Sao Luis is around 33%. This means that people pay 33% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 42% 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
30% 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.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Sao Luis
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Sao Luis
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
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 energy and water consumption of students is around 280 BRL. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 74 BRL to 200 BRL with 150 BRL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 99 BRL but can range between 59 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 Luis is around 4.9%. This means that people pay 4.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2% to 8.9% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Sao Luis
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Sao Luis
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 Luis is approximatly 30 BRL with meal cost ranging from 15 BRL to 49 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 49 BRL and 150 BRL with 74 BRL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Sao Luis.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 99 BRL to 590 BRL with the average cost being 150 BRL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Sao Luis.
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 Luis is around 20 BRL. Price ranges between 12 BRL and 30 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 Luis is 12 BRL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 15 BRL and the minimum being 9.9 BRL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 9.9 BRL on average with 7.4 BRL and 15 BRL being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Sao Luis is between 17 BRL and 31 BRL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 22 BRL.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 30 BRL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Sao Luis costs around 11 BRL on average with prices rangeing between 7.9 BRL and 15 BRL depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3 BRL to 7.4 BRL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 6.9 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 Luis is around 25%. This means that students spend 25% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 17% to 31% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 220 BRL to 9,400 BRL with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
