Santa Maria vs Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is approximately 7% less expensive than Santa Maria based on cost of living including rent. This makes Santa Cruz de la Sierra a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a FIRE Score of 85/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Santa Cruz de la Sierra is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
Side by side
Best in rowBrazil
Santa Maria
Bolivia
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Santa Maria
Santa Maria is a cheap bet with a catch: a 1-bedroom outside the centre runs $169/mo and a single adult can scrape by on $316/mo, but the average local net salary is just $638/mo, so your budget only works if you earn remotely. The FIRE score of 81/100 is the real draw, and with utilities at $54/mo and internet at $17/mo, the numbers stay absurdly low. Just do not expect a soft landing: English proficiency is limited, the expat community is small, and the retiree score of 59/100 tells you this is not a place to age without Portuguese. Treat it as a quiet, subtropical base for digital nomads who want cheap rent and can tolerate being the only foreigner in the room.
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.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra costs roughly 73% less than Santa Maria. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is approximately 7% less expensive than Santa Maria based on cost of living including rent. This makes Santa Cruz de la Sierra a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra has a FIRE Score of 85/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Santa Cruz de la Sierra is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Santa Maria
Santa Maria is a cheap bet with a catch: a 1-bedroom outside the centre runs $169/mo and a single adult can scrape by on $316/mo, but the average local net salary is just $638/mo, so your budget only works if you earn remotely. The FIRE score of 81/100 is the real draw, and with utilities at $54/mo and internet at $17/mo, the numbers stay absurdly low. Just do not expect a soft landing: English proficiency is limited, the expat community is small, and the retiree score of 59/100 tells you this is not a place to age without Portuguese. Treat it as a quiet, subtropical base for digital nomads who want cheap rent and can tolerate being the only foreigner in the room.
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.
$2,504/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra is a cheap, fast-growing tropical city where a one-bedroom outside the centre runs $253/mo and an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $2. The catch is the local economy: an average monthly net salary of $299/mo means most locals cannot afford the comfortable tier at $536/mo, so expats on foreign income live in a different city than the people around them. With a FIRE score of 85/100 and a digital nomad score of 81/100, it rewards remote workers and early retirees who bring their own money, while the retiree score of 64/100 and fair healthcare quality suggest it is not the softest landing for everyone.
About Bolivia
A one-bedroom near the center runs $352 a month, less than a week of rent in most US cities, and the $300/mo retirement visa threshold is barely above a single grocery run back home. That math works only if you accept a Safety Index of 47.6, a small expat network, and modest English proficiency as the tradeoff. Healthcare is basic outside major cities. Fine for aggressive FIRE budgets, not for anyone wanting comfort or hand-holding.
$2,492/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.
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| Metric | Santa Maria | Santa Cruz de la Sierra |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $292.32 | $273.5 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $169.41 | $252.54 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $644.42 | $926.53 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $388.65 | $858.56 |
| Safety Index | 60 | 60 |
| Internet Speed | 32Mbps | 120Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Santa Maria | Santa Cruz de la Sierra |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $496/mo | $508/mo |
| Excluding rent | $327/mo | $255/mo |
| Rent | $169/mo | $253/mo |
| Groceries | $102/mo | $75.00/mo |
| Dining out | $55.00/mo | $21.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $57.00/mo | $56.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $83.00/mo | $78.00/mo |
| Transport | $30.00/mo | $25.00/mo |
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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