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 106th, falling seven positions from the previous ranking. It currently sits between the Bahamas (105th) and Budapest (107th) and holds the 7th position in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

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


City Brand Strength and Reputation

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

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

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

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


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

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


Urban Sustainability

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


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.