Rio de Janeiro vs Brasília Cost of Living

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) · Overall index 34.8Brasília (Brazil) · Overall index 32.2

Summary

  • Overall, Brasília is 7% cheaper than Rio de Janeiro.
  • Rent in Brasília is 16% cheaper than in Rio de Janeiro.
  • Dining out in Brasília is 11% cheaper than in Rio de Janeiro.
ItemRio de JaneiroBrasíliaDiff
Rent-16%
1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$1,094$976-11%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$716$562-22%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$2,097$1,892-10%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$1,336$1,038-22%
Groceries-5%
Milk (1L)$0.56$0.53-5%
White bread (500g)$1.68$1.86+11%
Rice (1kg)$2.23$2.36+6%
Eggs (12)$1.92$2.17+13%
Local cheese (1kg)$5.66$5.29-7%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$5.69$4.96-13%
Beef round (1kg)$7.82$8.71+11%
Apples (1kg)$2.48$2.27-8%
Bananas (1kg)$0.91$0.82-10%
Oranges (1kg)$2.17$1.78-18%
Tomatoes (1kg)$2.69$2.51-7%
Potatoes (1kg)$1.41$1.12-21%
Onions (1kg)$1.37$1.13-18%
Lettuce (1 head)$1.03$1.12+9%
Water (1.5L bottle)$1.13$0.98-13%
Bottle of wine (mid-range)$6.11$6.36+4%
Transport-7%
Public transport, one-way ticket$0.85$0.850%
Public transport, monthly pass$45.1$38.4-15%
Taxi, base fare$1.45$1.33-8%
Taxi, per km$0.76$0.7-8%
Gasoline (1L)$0.33$0.3-9%
New compact car (e.g., VW Golf)$9,328$9,484+2%
Dining out-11%
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$9.25$7.31-21%
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)$43.7$37.4-14%
Fast food combo meal$4.67$4.33-7%
Cappuccino$2.15$1.85-14%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant)$0.88$0.93+6%
Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant)$2.63$2.67+2%
Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant)$3.39$2.64-22%
Water (0.33L, restaurant)$0.87$0.77-11%
Telecom+7%
Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly)$29.5$31.2+6%
Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly)$30.7$29.7-3%
Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min)$0.15$0.16+7%
Video streaming subscription (monthly)$7.03$8.16+16%
Utilities & household-7%
Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly)$81$68.5-15%
Electricity (1 kWh)$0.11$0.1-9%
Tap water (1m³)$1.96$1.76-10%
Natural gas (1m³)$0.64$0.62-3%
Waste collection (monthly)$10.3$8.64-16%
Fitness club (monthly)$34.8$33.5-4%
Cinema ticket (1 seat)$7.42$6.14-17%
Men's haircut$14.1$14.2+1%
Domestic cleaning (1 hour)$10.2$11.3+11%
Private kindergarten (monthly)$871$846-3%

2,954 total data points · Price data as of 2026-07-01 · Exchange rates as of 2026-07-15

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