[![Image]() Meet Jobicy Copilot — free AI autofill for job applications + remote job alerts ›](#) Side-by-side city decision # São Luís vs New York City. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link São LuísBrazil1 VS New York CityUnited States4 $845São Luís monthly budget $5,682New York City monthly budget 160 MbpsSão Luís internet 310 MbpsNew York City internet Decision summary New York City New York City leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget São Luís Speed Fastest internet New York City Vibe Best nomad vibe New York City Safety Highest safety New York City Air Cleanest air Tie Walk Most walkable New York City Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [São Luís](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/brazil/sao-luis.md) Brazil 1/6 Budget$845 Internet160 Mbps Vibe6/10 [New York City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/new-york-city.md) United States 4/6 Budget$5,682 Internet310 Mbps Vibe10/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total estimated budget $845 $5,682 1-bed center rent $430 $4,200 Coworking desk $140 $500 Local meal $5.5 $22 Cappuccino $2.4 $5.8 Gym membership $35 $110 Transport budget $45 $132 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 160 Mbps 310 Mbps Nomad vibe 6/10 10/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 38/100 58/100 Air quality 70/100 70/100 Walkability 5/10 10/10 Female safety 4/10 7/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 5/10 10/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Average Excellent English proficiency Basic Excellent Climate type Tropical monsoon Humid subtropical/continental Best time to visit Jul - Dec Apr - Jun Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [São Luís](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/brazil/sao-luis.md) Brazil → ### Strengths * Affordable rents compared with Brazil's largest cities * Historic UNESCO-listed old town * Excellent access to beaches and Lençóis Maranhenses * Warm weather throughout the year * Strong regional food and cultural traditions * PIX payments are accepted almost everywhere ### Trade-offs * High humidity and a very wet rainy season * Limited English outside tourism-facing businesses * Safety concerns require careful neighborhood choices * Walkability is uneven and heat makes long walks difficult * Smaller coworking and nomad community than major Brazilian hubs * International flight connections are limited ### Common visa routes * Visa-free entry for eligible nationalities * Brazil visitor visa * Brazil Digital Nomad Visa [New York City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/new-york-city.md) United States → ### Strengths * Exceptional public transit and walkability * Huge professional and creative networking scene * World-class food, culture, and entertainment * Fast, widely available home and mobile internet * Extensive coworking and café options * Highly diverse and LGBTQ+-friendly community ### Trade-offs * Extremely high rent and daily living costs * Small apartments and competitive housing market * Crowded streets, trains, and public spaces * Winter weather can be cold and slushy * US healthcare is expensive without insurance * Noise and construction are common in many areas ### Common visa routes * Visa Waiver Program / ESTA * B-1/B-2 visitor visa * O-1 extraordinary ability visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.