Sao Carlos, Brazil, Brazil — cost of living
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Sao Carlos, Brazil

Trust 77
Country
Brazil
73
Relocation
Sao Carlos, Brazil

About Sao Carlos, Brazil

Costs exclude rent
Single / month
$448
R$2,239.92
Family of 4 / mo
$1,121
R$5,606.76
Avg salary (after tax)
$476
R$2,382.21

São Carlos is a Brazilian city and municipality in the interior of the state of São Paulo, 254 kilometers from the city of São Paulo. With a population of 266,427 inhabitants, it is the 13th largest city by population, and is almost in the center of the state of São Paulo. The municipality is formed by the headquarters and the districts of Água Vermelha, Bela Vista São-Carlense, Santa Eudóxia and Vila Nery.

Data aggregated from public cost-of-living sources. See About for methodology.Wikipedia · Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)· Updated May 22, 2026

Cost breakdown by category

Cost breakdown

Filters items shown below only — for a global search, use the bar in the header.

Fashion

  • Midrange Nike Running ShoesUSD $478.07
  • Summer Dress from Chain Stores (e.g., Zara, H&M)USD $282.79
  • Classic Jeans (e.g., Levi's 501)USD $182.75
  • Men's Dress ShoesUSD $230.64

Financial

  • Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed)USD $1.85
  • Average Monthly Salary After TaxUSD $2,382

Food - Beverages

  • CappuccinoUSD $11.72
  • Local Draft Beer (Pint)USD $13.07
  • Imported Beer (Small Bottle)USD $19.58
  • Soft Drinks (350 ml Bottle)USD $6.5
  • Bottled Water (350 ml)USD $4.33

Food - Dining

  • Casual Dining ExperienceUSD $39.15
  • Upscale Dinner for TwoUSD $156.67
  • Fast Food ComboUSD $43.76

Food - Grocery

  • Chicken Fillets (1 kg)USD $24.74
  • Beef Round (1 kg)USD $48.88
  • Apples (1 kg)USD $9.84
  • Bananas (1 kg)USD $5.81
  • Oranges (1 kg)USD $5.07
  • Tomatoes (1 kg)USD $12.52
  • Potatoes (1 kg)USD $7
  • Onions (1 kg)USD $6.26
  • Lettuce (1 Head)USD $4.4
  • Bottled Water (1.5L)USD $7.52
  • Midrange Bottle of WineUSD $39.15
  • Marlboro (20-Pack)USD $12.4
  • White Rice (1 kg)USD $11.18
  • Dozen EggsUSD $11.31
  • Local Cheese (1 kg)USD $48.13
  • Fresh White Bread (1 kg)USD $15.65
  • Milk (1 litre)USD $6.3

Housing

  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $3,028
  • Average Rent of 3-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $2,045
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments in City CenterUSD $788.23
  • Average Cost per Square Foot for Apartments Outside City CenterUSD $485.05
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment in City CenterUSD $1,479
  • Average Rent of 1-Bedroom Apartment Outside City CenterUSD $926.81

Leisure

  • Monthly Fee for Fitness Club Membership (1 Adult)USD $130.19
  • Monthly Fee for Private Kindergarten (1 Child)USD $1,305
  • Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend)USD $84.87
  • Cinema Ticket (International Release)USD $34.61
  • Yearly Cost for International Primary School (1 Child)USD $45,947

Transportation

  • 1 Hour Taxi WaitUSD $81.55
  • Average Price of a New Sedan CarUSD $160,989
  • One-Way Local Transport FareUSD $5.89
  • Average Rate to Start a Taxi RideUSD $19.58
  • Average Monthly Cost of Public Transport PassUSD $176.24
  • Average Taxi Fare for 1 kmUSD $4.2
  • Average Price of a New Compact Hatchback CarUSD $133,795

Utilities (Monthly)

  • Internet Service (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited)USD $124.5
  • Average Monthly Cost for Essential Utilities in a 915 sq. ft. ApartmentUSD $730.99

Costs reflect a typical lifestyle in each place, excluding rent unless stated. Numbers are a starting point — always cross-check before big decisions.

  • Single / Family of 4 toggle. Family ≈ 2.7× single when no verified figure exists.
  • Estimated values use a ~ prefix and an "Estimated" label.
  • Spot something off? Hit Report — corrections reach consensus automatically.
How we calculate these numbers

When local data is missing (e.g. salary for a smaller city), we estimate from peer cities in the same country using a median ratio.

Full methodology, assumptions, and formulas live on our About page.