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Istanbul vs São Paulo

São Paulo runs about 6% cheaper than Istanbul for this household, a difference of 85 USD a month.

drone photo of Istanbul panorama
Istanbul
$1,416/month · Türkiye
Hunanuk · CC0
Foto: Beto Issa/Fórmula 1
São Paulo
$1,331/month · Brazil
Governo do Estado de São Paulo · CC BY 2.0
Istanbul monthly
$1,416
Index 22 (NYC = 100)
São Paulo monthly
$1,331
Index 21 (NYC = 100)
Difference
-6%
São Paulo relative to Istanbul
Rent gap
$50
Istanbul costs more for a central 1-bed
By category

Where the gap actually is

IstanbulSão Paulo
  • Housing
    Housing: Istanbul $700, São Paulo $650. Cheaper in São Paulo.
  • Food
    Food: Istanbul $384, São Paulo $330. Cheaper in São Paulo.
  • Transport
    Transport: Istanbul $67, São Paulo $70. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Utilities
    Utilities: Istanbul $112, São Paulo $101. Cheaper in São Paulo.
  • Healthcare
    Healthcare: Istanbul $16, São Paulo $24. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Lifestyle
    Lifestyle: Istanbul $84, São Paulo $105. Cheaper in Istanbul.
  • Other
    Other: Istanbul $53, São Paulo $50. Cheaper in São Paulo.
Each row is one category priced in both cities for the same household. The bar is the gap; exact figures are in the table below.
Interactive — adjust the household

Full comparison

MetricIstanbulSão Paulo
Cost
Total monthly cost1,416 USD1,331 USD✓
Cost index (New York = 100)2221✓
Housing700 USD650 USD✓
Utilities112 USD101 USD✓
Food384 USD330 USD✓
Transport67 USD✓70 USD
Healthcare16 USD✓24 USD
Lifestyle84 USD✓105 USD
Income & tax
Take-home on 100,000 USD/yr4,269 USD6,041 USD✓
Effective tax + social rate48.8%27.5%✓
Left over each month2,853 USD4,710 USD✓
Average local net salary800 USD✓700 USD
Housing
1-bed rent, city centre700 USD650 USD✓
3-bed rent, city centre1,400 USD1,400 USD
Buy price per m², centre3,200 USD2,600 USD✓
Quality of life
Safety54/100✓42/100
Healthcare66/10072/100✓
Air quality42/10044/100✓
Public transport76/100✓66/100
Walkability70/10072/100✓
English proficiency42/100✓32/100
Nightlife84/10092/100✓
Family friendliness66/100✓64/100
Median broadband90 Mbps190 Mbps✓
Climate
Average temperature15°C✓20°C
Summer high29°C28°C✓
Winter low3°C12°C✓
Sunshine hours per year2,350 h✓1,900 h
Annual rainfall840 mm✓1450 mm
Practicalities
Remote-work visaYesYes
Beach access30 min✓70 min
CurrencyTRYBRL
Time zoneEurope/IstanbulAmerica/Sao_Paulo

São Paulo runs about 6% cheaper than Istanbul for this household, a difference of 85 USD a month.

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Cost of living in IstanbulCost of living in São PauloConvert a salary between themFlip the comparison
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FAQ

Frequently asked

Is Istanbul or São Paulo cheaper?

São Paulo runs about 6% cheaper than Istanbul for this household, a difference of 85 USD a month.

What salary do you need in São Paulo compared with Istanbul?

On a $100,000 gross salary you would take home $4,269 a month in Istanbul and $6,041 in São Paulo, before local costs. Use the salary converter for an exact equivalent.

Which has better quality of life, Istanbul or São Paulo?

Istanbul scores 54/100 on safety and 66/100 on healthcare; São Paulo scores 42 and 72. Istanbul averages 15°C against 20°C in São Paulo.