São Paulo – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

São Paulo: how does one of the financial capitals of South America and Brazil’s largest and wealthiest city perform in international rankings of economic development, sustainability, attractiveness, and innovation?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global reputation
• How appealing it is for investors, talent, visitors, and locals?

Economic Competitiveness

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks São Paulo 106^th, falling seven positions from the previous ranking. It currently sits between the Bahamas (105^th) and Budapest (107^th) and holds the 7^th position in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, São Paulo ranks 80^th, a considerable jump of 54 positions from the previous ranking. The city now compares with Porto in Portugal (79^th) and Nagoya (81^st).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, São Paulo ranks 75^th globally, comparable with Chongqing (74^th) and Casablanca (76^th).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks São Paulo 27^th: 5^th in Culture and 6^th for Restaurants. It currently sits just behind Budapest (26^th) and above Riyadh (28^th).

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks São Paulo 46^th, a drop of one position. The same firm ranks it 101^st in its Global Cities Outlook, a jump of 23 positions since the previous ranking.

The Global Power City Index ranks São Paulo 39^th overall: 43^rd in Economy, 40^th in R&D, 17^th in Cultural Interaction, 21^st in Livability, 21^st in Environment, and 46^th in Accessibility. It ranks 3^rd for Nightlife Options. Lastly, São Paulo’s appeal is 41^st among Highly-skilled Workers, 43^rd among Corporate Executives, 37^th among Residents, and 23^rd among Tourists.

How Attractive Is It to Live, Work, and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places São Paulo 108^th, whereas the same firm’s Cost of Living Ranking puts it 152^nd, behind Jakarta (151^st) and above Tirana (153^rd).

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks São Paulo 84^th overall, sitting between Jakarta (83^rd) and Hanoi (85^th). Its sustainability-specific pillars are ranked as follows: Planet 44^th, People 94^th, and Profit 78^th.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city benchmarking insights, profiles, and reports in our City Observatory.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of São Paulo’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.