Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Caxias do Sul Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Caxias do Sul

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $661 in Caxias do Sul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,085 in Caxias do Sul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,509 in Caxias do Sul.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 30% more expensive than Caxias do Sul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Caxias do Sul 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$35.50

$6.33 R$32.05

10.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$197

$26.77 R$135

45.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$31.99

$6.35 R$32.11

-0.47%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$9.91

$1.28 R$6.47

53.12%

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

$1.18 R$5.96

$1.11 R$5.63

6.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.35

$0.66 R$3.34

30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.38

$1.84 R$9.30

0.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.07

$3.55 R$17.97

-10.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.03

$0.81 R$4.11

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.08

$1.27 R$6.45

25.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.14

$0.86 R$4.35

63.95%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.30

$1.73 R$8.77

17.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$47.83

$6.40 R$32.40

47.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.19

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$35.60

$7.93 R$40.14

-11.22%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$9.92

$1.43 R$7.23

37.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.10

$0.92 R$4.66

52.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.08

$0.52 R$2.65

130.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.38

$1.44 R$7.27

15.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.27

$0.89 R$4.50

39.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.60

$0.65 R$3.30

101.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.08

$0.71 R$3.57

14.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.19

$0.59 R$2.98

6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.78

$1.98 R$10.02

7.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$45.65

$4.08 R$20.62

121.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.59

$0.99 R$5.01

11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.08

$1.87 R$9.48

27.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.21

$1.24 R$6.26

-16.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$225

$40.38 R$204

9.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.77

$1.59 R$8.04

-40.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.07

$1.06 R$5.36

-23.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.19

$5.38 R$27.24

3.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.68

$1.04 R$5.28

7.69%

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

$25.0K R$126.5K

$24.7K R$125.1K

1.17%

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

$29.1K R$147.3K

$27.2K R$137.6K

7.07%

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

$72.2 R$365

$50.7 R$256

42.55%

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

$13.08 R$66.2

$14.39 R$72.8

-9.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$103

$18.21 R$92.1

12.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$126

$24.09 R$122

3.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$108

$53.3 R$269

-60.03%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$35.81

$6.25 R$31.64

13.28%

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

$488 R$2,471

$314 R$1,587

55.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$75.8K

$7,080 R$35.8K

111.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$295

$42.85 R$217

35.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$212

$39.19 R$198

7.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$353

$80.9 R$409

-13.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$330

$64.1 R$324

1.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,062

$179 R$903

128.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,317

$146 R$737

78.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,799

$439 R$2,221

116.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,842

$259 R$1,313

116.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$12.9K

$1,744 R$8,824

45.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,671

$1,242 R$6,282

38.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,281

$558 R$2,821

51.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

18.70%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Caxias do Sul: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $179 in Caxias do Sul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 52% 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 $27.00 in Caxias do Sul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $144 per month, with Caxias do Sul 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 Caxias do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Caxias do Sul differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $661 including rent). Caxias do Sul is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 52% 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 $179 in Caxias do Sul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Caxias do Sul – a meal for two runs $27.00 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 $661 in Caxias do Sul – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Caxias do Sul 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 Caxias do Sul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.