✦ Compare
Lisbon vs
São Paulo
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in São Paulo, BR, you'd need
$46,152 / year
São Paulo, BR is 38% cheaper overall
Category breakdown (São Paulo, BR vs Lisbon, PT)
- Housing-53%
- Food & groceries-40%
- Transport-29%
- Utilities-35%
- Healthcare-20%
- Goods & services-26%
▤ Full comparison
| Lisbon, PT | São Paulo, BR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 97 | 59 |
| Housing | 118 | 55 |
| Food | 92 | 55 |
| Transport | 70 | 50 |
| Utilities | 100 | 65 |
| Healthcare | 75 | 60 |
| Goods & services | 92 | 68 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $1,300/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $950/mo | $420/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $2,400/mo | $1,300/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $6,000 | $2,500 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $1,035 | $1,682 |
| Inexpensive meal | $12 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | $45 | $45 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 48% | 27.5% |
| VAT / sales tax | 23% | 17% |
| Corporate tax | 21% | 34% |
| Capital gains | 28% | — |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $1,300/mo | $600/mo |
| Minimum wage | $1,000/mo | $280/mo |
| GDP per capita | $32,082 | $10,296 |
| Inflation (annual) | 2.3% | 4.5% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Moderate | Low |
| Coworking spaces | 60 | 50 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 | UTC-3 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 68 | 40 |
| Healthcare index | 76 | 65 |
| Pollution index | 40 | 60 |
| Internet speed | 200 Mbps | 150 Mbps |
| Walkability | 82 | 60 |
| Public transport | 78 | 68 |
| Family-friendly | 66 | 55 |
| Tap water | Safe to drink | Safe to drink |
| Life expectancy | 82 yr | 76 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | High |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +11 °C | +23 °C |
| July avg | +23 °C | +16 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 260 | 150 |
| Rainfall / year | 725 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 1 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Portugal vs Brazil. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Lisbon to São Paulo: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Lisbon to São Paulo, your cost of living will be roughly 38% cheaper. São Paulo’s cost-of-living index is 59 versus 97 for Lisbon (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Lisbon cheaper than São Paulo?
São Paulo is about 38% cheaper than Lisbon overall — its cost-of-living index is 59 versus 97 for Lisbon.
How much do you need to earn in São Paulo to live like in Lisbon?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Lisbon is worth about $46,152 in São Paulo. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Lisbon or São Paulo?
Brazil has the lower top income-tax rate — 27.5% versus 48% in Portugal.
◷ More comparisons from Lisbon
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.