😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $863 in Brasilia versus $787 in Barreiras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,429 in Brasilia versus $1,228 in Barreiras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,995 in Brasilia versus $1,669 in Barreiras.
🌍Living in Brasilia is roughly 10% more expensive than in Barreiras, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia35% lower, Barreiras41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42R$37.67
$5.31R$26.93
39.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.98R$198
$27.15R$138
43.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.14R$31.14
$6.26R$31.76
-1.92%
Cappuccino
$1.92R$9.75
$1.73R$8.77
10.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18R$5.97
$1.08R$5.48
9.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83R$4.20
$0.65R$3.31
27.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78R$9.04
$1.79R$9.08
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33R$16.91
$2.78R$14.09
19.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.83
$1.02R$5.16
-6.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63R$8.27
$1.50R$7.63
8.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46R$7.41
$1.14R$5.80
28.07%
Eggs
$2.08R$10.56
$2.00R$10.16
4.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.40R$47.71
$8.03R$40.76
17.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39R$17.20
$3.55R$18.04
-4.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.71R$34.05
$7.33R$37.22
-8.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93R$9.77
$2.12R$10.74
-8.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36R$6.93
$1.30R$6.58
4.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16R$5.88
$1.14R$5.76
1.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67R$8.49
$1.44R$7.32
15.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24R$6.31
$1.20R$6.07
3.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31R$6.62
$1.09R$5.55
20.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73R$3.73
$0.73R$3.72
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.40
$0.62R$3.12
8.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17R$11.03
$2.12R$10.74
2.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.06R$40.91
$6.70R$34.01
20.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10R$5.60
$1.27R$6.44
-13.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28R$11.59
$1.98R$10.04
15.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97R$4.93
$0.88R$4.47
10.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.32R$220
$38.43R$195
12.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95R$4.82
$1.05R$5.33
-9.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79R$4.03
$0.76R$3.86
3.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.83R$29.59
$6.37R$32.31
-8.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14R$5.78
$1.08R$5.45
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KR$127.9K
$20.5KR$104.1K
22.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KR$148.0K
$28.0KR$141.8K
4.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.8R$364
$60.0R$304
19.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.11R$66.5
$13.53R$68.6
-3.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.49R$104
$18.91R$96.0
8.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.96R$127
$22.64R$115
10.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.52R$109
$21.78R$111
-1.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.34R$37.27
$6.44R$32.66
13.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$485R$2,462
$272R$1,383
78.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KR$77.1K
$6,472R$32.8K
134.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1R$295
$49.00R$249
18.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.02R$213
$42.91R$218
-2.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.7R$344
$75.0R$380
-9.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3R$326
$64.8R$329
-0.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$400R$2,031
$314R$1,591
27.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262R$1,330
$219R$1,113
19.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944R$4,788
$593R$3,007
59.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$557R$2,825
$422R$2,142
31.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,466R$12.5K
$1,529R$7,757
61.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,727R$8,762
$1,088R$5,520
58.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Barreiras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$919R$4,665
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Barreiras: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Brasilia and $314 in Barreiras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $27.00 in Barreiras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $172 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,295 in Brasilia and $1,181 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: $400 in Brasilia versus $314 in Barreiras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $485 in Brasilia versus $272 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 in 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 10% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.