Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aracaju and Brasilia

For one person, living is cheaper in Aracaju: $692 a month against $916 in Brasilia, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Aracaju, Brazil
Brasilia, Brazil
Aracaju
🇧🇷 Brazil
$692
/mo nomad
Brasilia
🇧🇷 Brazil
$916
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aracaju and in Brasilia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aracaju and in Brasilia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $692 in Aracaju versus $916 in Brasilia.

  • Aracaju $692
  • Brasilia $916

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,083 in Aracaju versus $1,514 in Brasilia.

  • Aracaju $1,083
  • Brasilia $1,514

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,474 in Aracaju versus $2,112 in Brasilia.

  • Aracaju $1,474
  • Brasilia $2,112

Living in Aracaju costs roughly 24% less than in Brasilia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Aracaju 49% lower, Brasilia 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.74 R$25.75
$8.44 R$45.87
-43.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.94 R$119
$36.71 R$200
-40.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 R$30.08
$7.98 R$43.40
-30.70%
Cappuccino
$1.59 R$8.65
$2.53 R$13.73
-37.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 R$5.95
$1.42 R$7.72
-22.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 R$3.15
$1.00 R$5.45
-42.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 R$10.39
$2.20 R$11.96
-13.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 R$14.56
$3.76 R$20.42
-28.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 R$5.51
$1.02 R$5.54
-0.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 R$7.77
$1.95 R$10.62
-26.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 R$6.02
$1.24 R$6.74
-10.48%
Eggs
$1.61 R$8.76
$2.27 R$12.36
-29.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.03 R$38.24
$11.17 R$60.8
-37.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 R$19.69
$3.86 R$21.01
-6.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.55 R$35.60
$8.58 R$46.64
-23.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.93 R$10.48
$2.31 R$12.53
-16.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.45
$1.38 R$7.50
-13.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 R$3.65
$1.26 R$6.83
-46.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 R$5.56
$1.52 R$8.27
-32.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 R$5.28
$1.11 R$6.04
-12.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 R$4.82
$0.98 R$5.30
-9.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 R$2.64
$0.76 R$4.11
-35.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 R$3.64
$0.93 R$5.08
-27.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 R$11.79
$2.36 R$12.85
-8.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.47 R$29.76
$7.67 R$41.69
-28.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 R$6.56
$1.24 R$6.74
-2.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 R$10.40
$2.36 R$12.81
-19.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 R$4.37
$0.73 R$3.96
9.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.82 R$222
$29.76 R$162
37.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 R$8.15
$1.01 R$5.52
48.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 R$6.24
$0.86 R$4.66
33.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.41 R$34.84
$5.77 R$31.38
11.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 R$6.30
$1.25 R$6.78
-7.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K R$118.4K
$22.0K R$119.4K
-0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K R$171.6K
$31.9K R$173.2K
-0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.8 R$477
$92.1 R$501
-4.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.14 R$49.69
$11.85 R$64.4
-22.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.87 R$86.3
$20.93 R$114
-24.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.76 R$113
$30.47 R$166
-31.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.63 R$134
$26.29 R$143
-6.31%
Cinema Ticket
$5.80 R$31.52
$7.46 R$40.59
-22.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 R$928
$764 R$4,156
-77.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,965 R$27.0K
$15.7K R$85.5K
-68.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 R$298
$52.6 R$286
4.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58 R$183
$42.10 R$229
-20.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.4 R$443
$79.4 R$432
2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2 R$425
$83.6 R$454
-6.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 R$1,577
$517 R$2,811
-43.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 R$733
$242 R$1,313
-44.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 R$3,240
$1,156 R$6,287
-48.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 R$1,410
$580 R$3,151
-55.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,205 R$6,551
$2,398 R$13.0K
-49.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$839 R$4,561
$1,678 R$9,123
-50.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aracaju
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$426 R$2,318
$784 R$4,264
-45.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
12.12
-17.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aracaju: October 25, 2026

Last update for Brasilia: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Aracaju
$154
Brasilia
$201 30.1% $46
Accommodation & Living
Aracaju
$135
Brasilia
$242 79.3% $107
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aracaju
$113
Brasilia
$125 10.7% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Aracaju
$112
Brasilia
$116 4% $4.4
Eating Out
Aracaju
$95
Brasilia
$150 57.5% $55
Getting Around
Aracaju
$51
Brasilia
$38 25.9% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Aracaju
$32
Brasilia
$45 40.3% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in Aracaju and $517 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 84% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $22 in Aracaju vs $37 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $201 per month, with Aracaju cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Aracaju
🇧🇷 Brasilia
🕒 Local time
22:12 10:12 PM
22:12 10:12 PM
Same time as Aracaju
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
602,757
2,817,381 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 5.44 BRL (1 BRL = 0.184 USD). 1 EUR = 6.09 BRL (1 BRL = 0.164 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aracaju Brasilia 1,290 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aracaju
  • Brasilia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aracaju vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aracaju and in Brasilia?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $692 in Aracaju and $916 in Brasilia, so Aracaju is about 24% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 46% lower in Aracaju. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Aracaju and in Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $290 in Aracaju versus $517 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Aracaju and Brasilia?
Childcare runs $171 in Aracaju versus $764 in Brasilia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Brasilia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $1,200 go in Aracaju compared to Brasilia?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Aracaju gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Where should families live: Aracaju or Brasilia?
For families, Aracaju is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brasilia, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
How do I decide between Aracaju and Brasilia?
It comes down to priorities – Aracaju wins on affordability, Brasilia on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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