Las Terrenas vs Sao Paulo: cost of living for digital nomads

Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic and Sao Paulo, Brazil, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Las Terrenas is about 1% cheaper than Sao Paulo for a month of nomad living ($1,580 vs $1,600).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $700 in Las Terrenas against $720 in Sao Paulo.
  • Las Terrenas scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Sao Paulo: 150 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Las Terrenas is tropical; Sao Paulo is temperate.

Las Terrenas wins 5 of the measured lines; Sao Paulo wins 3.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Las Terrenas or Sao Paulo?

Las Terrenas is cheaper: about $1,580/month against $1,600/month in Sao Paulo, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Las Terrenas or Sao Paulo?

Las Terrenas scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Sao Paulo.

Which has faster internet, Las Terrenas or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has faster typical internet: 150 Mbps against 80 Mbps in Las Terrenas.

LineLas TerrenasSao Paulo
Monthly total (USD)$1,580$1,600
Rent$700$720
Food$400$430
Transport$60$55
Coworking$100$130
Safety (out of 10)7/106/10
Internet (Mbps)80150
Climatetropicaltemperate
City sizesmallmetro
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

Las Terrenas

Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.

Compare Las Terrenas with

Compare Sao Paulo with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Las Terrenas September 10, 2026, Sao Paulo November 8, 2026.