😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in Brasilia versus $851 in Dourados.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Brasilia versus $1,336 in Dourados.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,132 in Brasilia versus $1,820 in Dourados.
🌍Living in Brasilia is roughly 14% more expensive than in Dourados, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia30% lower, Dourados38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.92R$45.56
$5.83R$29.77
53.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.80R$198
$30.55R$156
27.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49R$43.36
$6.96R$35.55
21.98%
Cappuccino
$2.58R$13.19
$1.95R$9.97
32.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41R$7.19
$1.24R$6.32
13.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90R$4.60
$0.77R$3.94
16.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36R$12.02
$1.93R$9.87
22.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87R$19.75
$2.97R$15.17
30.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.51
$1.00R$5.13
8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03R$10.39
$1.67R$8.52
21.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28R$6.55
$1.20R$6.15
6.67%
Eggs
$2.43R$12.40
$2.14R$10.93
13.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81R$60.3
$8.98R$45.84
31.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.11R$21.01
$4.10R$20.93
0.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48R$43.29
$8.27R$42.24
2.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42R$12.34
$2.12R$10.82
14.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46R$7.44
$1.25R$6.40
16.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28R$6.53
$1.18R$6.03
8.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R$8.42
$1.56R$7.99
5.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16R$5.90
$1.21R$6.18
-4.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07R$5.45
$1.09R$5.55
-1.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79R$4.02
$0.82R$4.20
-3.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95R$4.83
$0.81R$4.12
17.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.40R$12.24
$2.43R$12.38
-1.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.23R$42.00
$7.92R$40.43
3.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.24
$1.19R$6.10
2.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34R$11.97
$2.11R$10.79
10.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00R$5.08
$1.00R$5.10
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.06R$179
$42.36R$216
-17.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07R$5.45
$1.23R$6.30
-13.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92R$4.71
$0.86R$4.37
6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.05R$30.87
$7.86R$40.11
-23.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31R$6.70
$1.22R$6.22
7.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KR$119.1K
$22.7KR$115.9K
2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KR$163.0K
$31.9KR$163.0K
-0.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.4R$492
$72.2R$369
33.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.61R$64.4
$12.27R$62.6
2.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.81R$111
$20.17R$103
8.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.07R$159
$24.78R$127
25.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.00R$138
$26.50R$135
1.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.68R$39.22
$7.11R$36.27
8.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$822R$4,196
$286R$1,460
187.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4KR$83.9K
$7,418R$37.9K
121.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7R$264
$52.8R$270
-2.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.32R$221
$48.50R$248
-10.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.3R$425
$91.5R$467
-8.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4R$441
$69.6R$355
24.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479R$2,443
$338R$1,723
41.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258R$1,316
$233R$1,189
10.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,116R$5,696
$635R$3,243
75.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$557R$2,843
$453R$2,311
23.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,457R$12.5K
$1,596R$8,147
53.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,748R$8,926
$1,129R$5,763
54.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Dourados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$844R$4,309
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.12
11.12
8.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasilia: September 8, 2026
Last update for Dourados: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Brasilia and $338 in Dourados. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $31.00 in Dourados for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $188 per month, with Dourados 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 Dourados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and in Dourados?
Brasilia and Dourados differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($969 vs $851 including rent). Dourados is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Brasilia compared to Dourados?
You'd need roughly $1,454 in Brasilia and $1,277 in Dourados 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Brasilia and in Dourados?
Rent for a central apartment: $479 in Brasilia versus $338 in Dourados. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brasilia or Dourados?
All in, you'll spend $969 per month in Brasilia versus $851 in Dourados – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $851 in Dourados versus $969 in Brasilia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dourados but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Dourados the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Dourados?
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.
Where should expats move: Brasilia or Dourados?
Expats usually find Dourados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.