Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Diadema Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Diadema

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $790 in Diadema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,298 in Diadema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,806 in Diadema.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 9% more expensive than Diadema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Diadema 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$36.15

$7.07 R$36.41

-0.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$200

$39.07 R$201

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.57

$7.02 R$36.14

-9.97%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$10.09

$1.79 R$9.21

9.50%

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

$1.18 R$6.07

$1.25 R$6.44

-5.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.42

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.55

$1.77 R$9.09

4.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.36

$2.80 R$14.44

13.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.12

$1.07 R$5.51

-7.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.23

$1.51 R$7.78

5.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.27

$1.26 R$6.48

11.90%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.49

$2.39 R$12.34

-14.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$48.70

$8.07 R$41.58

17.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.51

$3.76 R$19.38

-9.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$36.25

$8.89 R$45.79

-20.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$10.10

$2.24 R$11.55

-12.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.23

$1.79 R$9.21

-21.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.20

$1.48 R$7.60

-18.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.54

$1.54 R$7.93

7.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.38

$1.24 R$6.40

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.72

$1.14 R$5.88

14.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.80 R$4.13

1.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.24

$0.61 R$3.15

3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.97

$2.58 R$13.29

-17.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$46.48

$8.80 R$45.35

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.69

$1.30 R$6.68

-15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.30

$2.38 R$12.26

0.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.30

$0.86 R$4.42

19.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$229

$39.04 R$201

13.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.86

$0.93 R$4.78

1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.72 R$3.69

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.70

$8.69 R$44.76

-35.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.78

$1.01 R$5.22

10.89%

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

$25.0K R$128.8K

$21.3K R$109.9K

17.20%

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

$29.1K R$150.0K

$28.3K R$145.5K

3.05%

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

$72.2 R$372

$46.43 R$239

55.57%

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

$13.08 R$67.4

$13.04 R$67.2

0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$105

$18.80 R$96.9

8.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$129

$22.25 R$115

12.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$110

$21.83 R$112

-2.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$36.46

$5.56 R$28.65

27.34%

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

$488 R$2,516

$317 R$1,631

54.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$77.2K

$6,887 R$35.5K

117.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$300

$51.9 R$267

12.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$216

$42.59 R$219

-1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$359

$78.6 R$405

-11.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$336

$72.0 R$371

-9.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,100

$310 R$1,596

31.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,340

$220 R$1,134

18.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,886

$575 R$2,963

64.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,894

$425 R$2,190

32.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$13.1K

$1,224 R$6,304

107.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,828

$785 R$4,042

118.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,359

$497 R$2,561

70.19%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Diadema: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $310 in Diadema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 70% 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 $39.00 in Diadema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $191 per month, with Brasilia 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 Diadema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Diadema differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $790 including rent). Diadema is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 70% 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 $310 in Diadema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Diadema – a meal for two runs $39.00 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 $790 in Diadema – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Diadema 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 Diadema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.