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São Paulo vs Binghamton

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

São Paulo, Brazil
View São Paulo profile
#137 in Brazil
69
Overall Score
VS
New York, USA
View Binghamton profile
#603 in USA
38
Overall Score
São Paulo scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

São Paulo
Binghamton
Livability
73
68
Affordability
68
75
Business
82
60
Growth
76
58

Cost of Living

São Paulo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 29% lower than in Binghamton. Housing costs are a major driver: São Paulo's average rent is 17% lower than Binghamton's.
MetricSão PauloBinghamtonDiff
Average Rent
$950$1,138-17%
Groceries
$320$404-21%
Utilities
$110$194-43%
Transport
$80$312-74%
Healthcare
$150$226-34%
Monthly Total
$1,610$2,274-29%
Cost Index
52110out of 100

Salary & Income

Binghamton offers 74% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Binghamton delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in São Paulo is estimated at $12,000 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
MetricSão PauloBinghamton
Average Salary
$14,500$55,000
Salary Needed
$12,000$45,000
Purchasing Power
27,885 idx50,000 idx
Household Income
$15,200$45,578

Climate Comparison

São Paulo runs warmer on average — a 69.6°F difference year-round. For sunshine, São Paulo comes out ahead with 209 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — São Paulo sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricSão PauloBinghamton
Avg Temp
69.60°F°F
Summer High
71.70°F°F
Winter Low
67.40°F°F
Rainfall
50.60 in in
Snowfall
0.00 in in
Sunny Days
209
Humidity
78.00%70.00%

Commute & Transport

Binghamton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 16,000 minutes (267 hours) per year compared to São Paulo. São Paulo scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, São Paulo leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricSão PauloBinghamton
Commute Time
48 min16 min
Transit Score
72.0/10033.0/100
Walkability
68.0/10055.0/100
Traffic Index
78.0030.00
Car Dependency
MediumMedium

Economy & Demographics

São Paulo is the larger city — approximately 244.8x the population of Binghamton. From a growth perspective, Binghamton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Binghamton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricSão PauloBinghamton
Population
11,451,24546,773
Pop. Growth
0.76%0.90%
Median Age
36.035.9
Unemployment
6.80%4.30%
GDP
—$13.0B

Pros & Cons

São Paulo
Advantages
World-class culinary scene with thousands of restaurants offering diverse international and traditional Brazilian gastronomy per IBGE data.
Abundant employment opportunities as the premier corporate and financial hub of Latin America.
Extensive cultural infrastructure including renowned museums, theaters, and massive annual events like the São Paulo Art Biennial.
Vibrant green spaces such as Ibirapuera Park providing recreational relief within the dense urban core.
Robust private healthcare network featuring internationally accredited hospitals and advanced medical technology.
Drawbacks
Notoriously heavy traffic congestion leading to prolonged daily commute times per municipal transit reports.
Persistent urban security challenges, particularly regarding opportunistic street theft and property crime.
High cost of housing and rental prices in desirable central neighborhoods compared to national averages.
Elevated levels of air and noise pollution typical of a massive South American megacity.
Significant socioeconomic inequality visible across different urban zones and peripheral neighborhoods.
Binghamton
Advantages
The average commute time in Binghamton is relatively short at 16 minutes, offering more personal time.
Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, with a median home price of $194,000 as of December 2025.
The presence of Binghamton University provides a vibrant cultural scene and educational opportunities.
The city's economy is diversifying with growth in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Binghamton offers access to natural landscapes and outdoor recreational activities due to its river confluence and surrounding hills.
Drawbacks
Binghamton has a high crime rate, with total crime being 86% higher than the national average based on 2024 FBI data.
The unemployment rate in Binghamton was 4.3% in 2026, slightly higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, as indicated by a Transit Score of 33 for Downtown Binghamton.
Despite some positive economic indicators, the Binghamton metro area experienced a 2.8% population decrease over a 10-year period leading up to 2024.
Drug-related crime remains a significant concern in the Binghamton area, despite a decrease in overdose rates.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

São Paulo
#137
São Paulo, Brazil
68.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$14,500
Cost Index
52
Commute
48 min
Transit Score
72.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
209/yr
Avg Temp
69.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.76%
Unemployment
6.80%
Livability
73
Business
82
View Full Profile
Binghamton
#603
New York, USA
38.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,138
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
110
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
33.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
68
Business
60
View Full Profile

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