Is São Mateus really cheaper than Maldonado?

Based on typical 1-bedroom rent, São Mateus is approximately 51% cheaper than Maldonado. Overall cost of living including rent follows a similar pattern.

What is the average rent in São Mateus vs Maldonado?

In São Mateus, a 1-bedroom in the city centre costs around $280. In Maldonado, the same costs around $424.

What is the FIRE Score for São Mateus?

Rewire Abroad gives São Mateus a FIRE Score of 84/100, meaning it offers strong FIRE potential with low costs relative to income.

Is São Mateus good for digital nomads?

Rewire Abroad gives São Mateus a Nomad Score of 0/100. Internet speeds average 28Mbps.

Is Maldonado or São Mateus safer?

Based on the Safety Index, Maldonado scores higher at 75 vs São Mateus's 60.

Can I retire in Brazil as a foreigner?

Many foreigners retire in Brazil. We recommend checking visa options and consulting an expat tax specialist.

Compare Cities

Maldonado vs São Mateus

Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo

São MateusOverall winner

São Mateus is approximately 51% less expensive than Maldonado based on cost of living including rent. This makes São Mateus a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

São Mateus has a FIRE Score of 84/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: São Mateus is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.

Side by side

Best in row

Uruguay

Maldonado

Increased Caution

FIRE78

Brazil

São Mateus

Increased Caution

FIRE84

Cost

Cost of living index

49.4

31.5

One person, excluding rent

$766/mo

$488/mo

Family of four, excluding rent

$2,766/mo

$1,764/mo

Total monthly, rent included

$1,053/mo

$1,050/mo

Monthly savings

$1,947/mo

$1,950/mo

Housing

1BR, city centre

$424

$280

1BR, outside centre

$318

$200

3BR, city centre

$914

$550

3BR, outside centre

$590

$400

Scores

FIRE score

80/100

86/100

Nomad score

25/100

48/100

Retiree score

62/100

Overall score

78/100

84/100

Safety & infrastructure

Safety index

Internet speed

65 Mbps

28 Mbps

Walkability score

Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.

About these cities

About São Mateus

São Mateus is a cheap bet with a catch: a single adult can live on $720/mo at the budget tier, and centre rent for a one-bedroom runs just $280/mo, but English proficiency is limited and the digital nomad score of 60/100 reflects that. The 84/100 overall expat score and 86/100 FIRE score make it a strong fit for savers and early retirees, while the 68/100 retiree score and 60/100 safety index suggest you should visit before committing. With 74 thousand people, a tropical climate, and SBJ just 3 km away, it is small, warm, and easy to escape, though 28 Mbps internet will test remote workers.

About Brazil

Retirees with fixed dollar income near the $2,000 VITEM XIV threshold get accessible cost of living (rent under $400) paired with genuine safety risk, a 35.5 safety index that outweigh the cheap rent math. Fine for someone prioritizing budget and expat community over personal security. Bad fit for anyone needing English-language ease, a fast PR pathway, or low-crime peace of mind.

São Mateus costs roughly 57% less than Maldonado. Maldonado scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

Household

Lifestyle

Monthly income (USD)

Schooling

São Mateus is approximately 51% less expensive than Maldonado based on cost of living including rent. This makes São Mateus a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

São Mateus has a FIRE Score of 84/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: São Mateus is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.

Maldonado

Uruguay

Increased Caution

FIRE78

About Maldonado

Maldonado is the quiet overachiever of Uruguayan expat life: a city of 87 thousand where a one-bedroom outside the center runs $318/mo and the overall cost of living index sits at 49/100 against NYC. The catch is the local economy, with an average monthly net salary of $997/mo that barely covers a mid-range single lifestyle at $951/mo, so remote workers and retirees on foreign income get far more out of this place than job seekers do. English proficiency is limited, which means daily life rewards at least basic Spanish, but a large and active expat community plus a safety index of 75/100 and a FIRE score of 80/100 make the tradeoff easy for the right person. If you need big-city noise and endless nightlife, look elsewhere; if you want a subtropical coastal town three kilometers from PDP airport where your money stretches, Maldonado delivers.

About Uruguay

Best for retirees with Uruguay's Pensionista Visa ($1,500/mo income) offering a clear path to citizenship. Cost of living is 46% lower than NYC, with a 1BR in the city center averaging $625/month and a potential 0% income tax for 11 years. The main trade-off is the limited English proficiency and small expat community, with Spanish helpful for daily life.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,947/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$766/mo

Family of Four$2,766/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$424

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$318

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$914

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$590

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

80/100

Retiree Score

62/100

Nomad Score

25/100

City Details

Overall Winner

São Mateus

Brazil

Increased Caution

FIRE84

About São Mateus

About Brazil

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$1,950/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$488/mo

Family of Four$1,764/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$280

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$200

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$550

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$400

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

86/100

Retiree Score

62/100

Nomad Score

48/100

City Details

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Battle of Lifestyles

Scroll to compare

Metric	Maldonado	São Mateus
1BR Apartment (Center)	$423.54	$280
1BR Apartment (Outside)	$317.65	$200
3BR Apartment (Center)	$913.51	$550
3BR Apartment (Outside)	$589.63	$400
Safety Index	75	60
Internet Speed	65Mbps	28Mbps
Walkability Score	N/A	N/A

Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices

Category	Maldonado	São Mateus
Total (rent included)	$1,053/mo	N/A
Excluding rent	$735/mo	N/A
Rent	$318/mo	N/A
Groceries	$229/mo	N/A
Dining out	$150/mo	N/A
Entertainment & lifestyle	$128/mo	N/A
Utilities & connectivity	$178/mo	N/A
Transport	$50.00/mo	N/A

Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.

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