Lima vs Sao Paulo: cost of living for digital nomads

Lima, Peru 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

  • Lima is about 25% cheaper than Sao Paulo for a month of nomad living ($1,200 vs $1,600).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $540 in Lima against $720 in Sao Paulo.
  • Both score 6/10 on safety.
  • Internet is faster in Sao Paulo: 150 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
  • Lima is arid; Sao Paulo is temperate.

Lima wins 5 of the measured lines; Sao Paulo wins 2.

LineLimaSao Paulo
Monthly total (USD)$1,200$1,600
Rent$540$720
Food$340$430
Transport$40$55
Coworking$100$130
Safety (out of 10)6/106/10
Internet (Mbps)80150
Climatearidtemperate
City sizemetrometro
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)7/108/10

Compare Lima 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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.