Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Cariacica Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Cariacica

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $684 in Cariacica.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,025 in Cariacica.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,366 in Cariacica.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 26% more expensive than Cariacica, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Cariacica 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$36.15

$3.22 R$16.60

118.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$200

$12.43 R$64.0

212.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.57

$4.41 R$22.70

43.31%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$10.09

$0.94 R$4.83

108.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 R$6.07

$0.86 R$4.44

37.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.42

$0.56 R$2.90

53.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.55

$1.11 R$5.72

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.36

$1.83 R$9.40

73.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.12

$0.79 R$4.09

25.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.23

$1.50 R$7.74

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.27

$0.89 R$4.57

58.43%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.49

$1.40 R$7.21

45.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$48.70

$7.00 R$36.04

35.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.51

$3.26 R$16.80

4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$36.25

$6.29 R$32.40

11.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$10.10

$1.47 R$7.58

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.23

$0.88 R$4.55

59.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.20

$0.61 R$3.14

96.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.54

$1.15 R$5.94

44.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.38

$0.99 R$5.11

25.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.72

$1.42 R$7.33

-7.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.37 R$1.91

118.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.24

$0.56 R$2.89

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.97

$1.65 R$8.48

29.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$46.48

$9.00 R$46.34

0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.69

$0.95 R$4.89

15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.30

$1.28 R$6.57

86.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.30

$1.03 R$5.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$229

$38.81 R$200

14.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.86

$0.80 R$4.11

17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.70 R$3.59

15.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.70

$2.89 R$14.89

92.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.78

$0.98 R$5.03

14.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K R$128.8K

$14.6K R$75.3K

71.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.1K R$150.0K

$27.5K R$141.6K

5.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$72.2 R$372

$90.6 R$467

-20.29%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.08 R$67.4

$14.23 R$73.3

-8.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$105

$17.12 R$88.2

19.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$129

$17.18 R$88.5

45.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$110

$21.38 R$110

-0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$36.46

$7.45 R$38.39

-4.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$488 R$2,516

$417 R$2,149

17.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$77.2K

$6,598 R$34.0K

127.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$300

$37.18 R$192

56.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$216

$24.86 R$128

68.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$359

$27.27 R$140

155.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$336

$25.04 R$129

160.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,100

$318 R$1,636

28.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,340

$218 R$1,124

19.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,886

$580 R$2,988

63.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,894

$431 R$2,220

30.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$13.1K

$1,585 R$8,167

60.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,828

$1,076 R$5,544

59.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,359

$393 R$2,022

115.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

10.38

14.35%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cariacica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $318 in Cariacica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 116% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $12.00 in Cariacica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $148 per month, with Cariacica 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 Cariacica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Cariacica differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $684 including rent). Cariacica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 116% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $408 in Brasilia versus $318 in Cariacica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cariacica – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $862 per month in Brasilia versus $684 in Cariacica – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cariacica gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Cariacica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.