😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $880 in Brasilia versus $776 in Barreiras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,446 in Brasilia versus $1,231 in Barreiras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,011 in Brasilia versus $1,685 in Barreiras.
😐Living in Brasilia is roughly 13% more expensive than Barreiras, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia34% lower, Barreiras42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.19R$35.88
$5.32R$26.55
35.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.72R$198
$26.48R$132
50.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24R$31.13
$6.18R$30.84
0.97%
Cappuccino
$1.88R$9.37
$1.80R$8.98
4.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16R$5.81
$1.09R$5.44
6.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R$4.37
$0.61R$3.05
42.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82R$9.10
$1.84R$9.18
-1.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28R$16.38
$2.69R$13.40
21.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93R$4.64
$0.98R$4.90
-5.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62R$8.09
$1.45R$7.23
11.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41R$7.02
$1.17R$5.85
20.51%
Eggs
$2.10R$10.47
$2.05R$10.21
2.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.29R$46.36
$8.09R$40.35
14.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31R$16.51
$3.56R$17.75
-7.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.85R$34.19
$7.15R$35.66
-4.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00R$9.98
$2.15R$10.71
-6.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34R$6.70
$1.30R$6.51
3.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22R$6.06
$1.15R$5.73
6.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67R$8.34
$1.46R$7.31
14.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.12
$1.14R$5.70
7.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30R$6.49
$1.11R$5.52
17.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$3.71
$0.74R$3.69
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.07
$0.62R$3.08
-1.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18R$10.88
$2.08R$10.37
4.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.10R$50.4
$8.69R$43.34
16.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11R$5.55
$1.21R$6.06
-8.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35R$11.74
$2.04R$10.20
15.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03R$5.12
$0.88R$4.38
17.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.64R$218
$38.29R$191
13.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94R$4.71
$1.10R$5.48
-14.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79R$3.94
$0.76R$3.80
3.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82R$29.03
$6.44R$32.14
-9.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14R$5.67
$1.05R$5.24
8.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KR$126.6K
$20.9KR$104.1K
21.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KR$140.9K
$28.2KR$140.5K
0.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9R$349
$61.6R$307
13.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.04R$65.1
$13.29R$66.3
-1.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.00R$99.8
$19.11R$95.3
4.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.95R$124
$22.77R$114
9.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.77R$109
$21.69R$108
0.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00R$34.91
$6.27R$31.29
11.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$488R$2,435
$275R$1,370
77.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0KR$74.6K
$6,577R$32.8K
127.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1R$290
$48.73R$243
19.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98R$209
$42.74R$213
-1.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.1R$345
$77.2R$385
-10.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0R$320
$63.2R$315
1.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$402R$2,007
$316R$1,578
27.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$263R$1,312
$215R$1,071
22.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978R$4,881
$584R$2,915
67.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564R$2,813
$425R$2,122
32.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,751R$13.7K
$1,690R$8,432
62.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,816R$9,060
$1,315R$6,560
38.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$762R$3,801
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.87
10.92
8.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasilia: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barreiras: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $402 in Brasilia and $316 in Barreiras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Brasilia vs $26.00 in Barreiras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $175 per month, with Barreiras cheaper across the board.
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 Barreiras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barreiras cheaper than Brasilia?
Barreiras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,320 in Brasilia and $1,165 in Barreiras to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Brasilia and Barreiras?
Rent for a central apartment: $402 in Brasilia versus $316 in Barreiras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $488 in Brasilia versus $275 in Barreiras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Brasilia and Barreiras?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Brasilia. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 enough for either Brasilia or Barreiras?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Barreiras gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Brasilia or Barreiras more family-friendly?
For families, Barreiras 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Barreiras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.