😐A single person spends $974 per month in Brasilia vs $769 in Alfenas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Brasilia vs $1,361 in Alfenas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,201 per month in Brasilia vs $1,952 in Alfenas, rent included.
😐Brasilia costs about 27% more than Alfenas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Brasilia and Alfenas are more affordable than the global median – Brasilia29% lower, Alfenas44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.71R$44.81
$4.00R$20.55
117.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.13R$196
$29.72R$153
28.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.12R$41.76
$6.00R$30.85
35.33%
Cappuccino
$2.57R$13.20
$1.00R$5.15
157.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44R$7.38
$0.56R$2.89
157.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97R$4.97
$0.59R$3.04
64.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31R$11.86
$2.39R$12.29
-3.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78R$19.43
$2.99R$15.36
26.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.52
$1.16R$5.95
-7.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09R$10.75
$1.80R$9.25
16.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32R$6.79
$1.38R$7.08
-4.35%
Eggs
$2.44R$12.55
$2.79R$14.36
-12.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.71R$60.2
$11.73R$60.3
-0.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.07R$20.91
$5.25R$26.98
-22.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48R$43.58
$10.48R$53.9
-19.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40R$12.32
$2.76R$14.19
-13.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43R$7.34
$1.77R$9.09
-19.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31R$6.75
$1.61R$8.27
-18.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61R$8.29
$1.82R$9.38
-11.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21R$6.23
$1.35R$6.95
-10.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05R$5.40
$1.21R$6.21
-13.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80R$4.10
$1.19R$6.10
-32.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00R$5.12
$0.87R$4.46
14.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39R$12.31
$1.91R$9.80
25.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11R$41.69
$9.51R$48.88
-14.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29R$6.62
$1.64R$8.42
-21.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34R$12.03
$2.58R$13.26
-9.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04R$5.37
$0.96R$4.95
8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.90R$179
$37.99R$195
-8.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03R$5.28
$1.72R$8.84
-40.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92R$4.74
$0.96R$4.92
-4.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.35R$32.65
$9.78R$50.3
-35.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29R$6.66
$1.22R$6.27
5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KR$120.0K
$23.5KR$120.6K
-0.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6KR$167.5K
$29.7KR$152.6K
9.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.0R$488
$59.5R$306
59.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.28R$63.1
$15.46R$79.5
-20.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.41R$115
$19.33R$99.4
15.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.39R$161
$23.83R$123
31.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.96R$139
$25.51R$131
5.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85R$40.36
$6.98R$35.91
12.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$811R$4,169
$508R$2,615
59.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5KR$84.9K
$15.6KR$80.5K
5.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8R$266
$65.1R$335
-20.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78R$225
$61.8R$318
-29.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1R$427
$96.6R$497
-13.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.6R$440
$86.1R$443
-0.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$480R$2,469
$345R$1,776
39.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262R$1,345
$124R$636
111.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,110R$5,707
$657R$3,378
68.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$556R$2,860
$449R$2,307
23.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,497R$12.8K
$1,519R$7,811
64.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,707R$8,777
$982R$5,049
73.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Alfenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$809R$4,161
$487R$2,504
66.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.12
12.04
0.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasilia: September 13, 2026
Last update for Alfenas: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $480 in Brasilia versus $345 in Alfenas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 66% higher in Brasilia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Brasilia versus $30.00 in Alfenas. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Brasilia vs $233 in Alfenas – so Brasilia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Brasilia vs Alfenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Brasilia and in Alfenas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $974 in Brasilia, $769 in Alfenas – roughly 27% apart. Brasilia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Brasilia compared to Alfenas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,461 per month in Brasilia and $1,153 in Alfenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Brasilia and Alfenas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alfenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Brasilia – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Brasilia and $30.00 in Alfenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alfenas, where all-in costs run around $769, than in Brasilia at $974. In Alfenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brasilia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Alfenas?
It depends on your priorities. Brasilia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $769 in Alfenas to $974 in Brasilia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Brasilia and Alfenas?
If budget matters most, go with Alfenas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brasilia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.