São Paulo, Brazil
In São Paulo, $10 covers a prato feito fixed lunch of rice, beans, and meat, a weekday matinee cinema ticket, or a basic neighborhood barbershop haircut.
Index score 245 (rank 8 of 20) — the full basket totals $20.40, so $10 covers about 49.0% of it.
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The basket
| Item | São Paulo | NYC | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| White bread (500g) | $1.90 | $4.61 | -59% |
| Milk (1L) | $1.17 | $1.44 | -19% |
| Eggs (12) | $2.86 | $5.90 | -52% |
| Bananas (1kg) | $1.81 | $2.10 | -14% |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | $0.90 | $2.50 | -64% |
| Domestic beer (0.5L, store) | $1.57 | $3.21 | -51% |
| Cappuccino (cafe) | $2.47 | $6.09 | -59% |
| White rice (1kg) | $1.40 | $6.64 | -79% |
| Chicken breast (1kg) | $5.28 | $14.41 | -63% |
| Public transit, one-way ticket | $1.04 | $3.00 | -65% |
| Total | $20.40 | $49.90 |
What $10 actually buys here
- A prato feito (fixed lunch)~$5.48
Rice, beans, meat, and salad — a citywide staple.
- A weekday matinee cinema ticket~$5.09
Off-peak showtime pricing.
- A basic neighborhood barbershop haircut~$8.80
A standard local trim.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic grocery basket cost in São Paulo?
$20.40 for a basic grocery basket in São Paulo — well under half of New York City's $49.90.
What can $10 buy in São Paulo?
A prato feito fixed lunch of rice, beans, meat, and salad for $5.48, or a basic neighborhood barbershop haircut for $8.80.
Is São Paulo cheaper than New York for everyday expenses?
Yes — São Paulo's index score of 245 means a dollar goes roughly 2.5 times as far as in New York.
How much is a cappuccino in São Paulo?
$2.47 — under half of New York City's $6.09.
What's the cheapest item in São Paulo's basket?
Bottled water at $0.90, while chicken breast is the priciest item at $5.28 per kilo.
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Keep exploring
In Mumbai, $10 covers a round-trip ferry to Elephanta Island with cave-temple entry, a full street-food crawl of vada pav and pav bhaji, or a Bollywood movie with popcorn.
In New York City, $10 covers a halal-cart chicken-and-rice platter, three subway or bus rides, or a pay-what-you-wish museum ticket — the baseline this whole index is measured against.
In Bangkok, $10 covers a full hour of traditional Thai massage, six plates of street pad thai, or eight BTS Skytrain rides.
Prices are researched estimates (July 2026), not live data — treat them as illustrative, not exact. See the methodology page for details.