Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Itapema Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Itapema

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $757 in Itapema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,234 in Itapema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,711 in Itapema.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 14% more expensive than Itapema, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Itapema 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$36.15

$5.24 R$26.99

33.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$200

$27.47 R$142

41.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.57

$6.48 R$33.39

-2.47%

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

$1.07 R$5.50

10.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.42

$0.62 R$3.19

38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.55

$1.76 R$9.04

5.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.36

$2.68 R$13.80

18.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.12

$0.95 R$4.87

4.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.23

$1.50 R$7.73

6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.27

$1.19 R$6.10

18.49%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.49

$2.00 R$10.29

2.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$48.70

$8.27 R$42.59

14.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.51

$3.54 R$18.23

-3.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$36.25

$7.55 R$38.87

-6.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$10.10

$2.05 R$10.58

-4.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.23

$1.27 R$6.54

10.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.20

$1.19 R$6.12

0.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.54

$1.45 R$7.48

14.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.38

$1.19 R$6.11

4.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.72

$1.10 R$5.65

19.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.70 R$3.62

15.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.24

$0.67 R$3.46

-5.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.97

$2.14 R$11.03

-0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$46.48

$7.62 R$39.26

18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.69

$1.23 R$6.34

-10.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.30

$2.05 R$10.56

16.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.30

$0.92 R$4.72

11.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$229

$39.15 R$202

13.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.86

$1.05 R$5.43

-10.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.70 R$3.60

15.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.70

$6.59 R$33.93

-15.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.78

$1.08 R$5.57

3.70%

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

$25.0K R$128.8K

$20.8K R$107.2K

20.13%

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

$29.1K R$150.0K

$27.8K R$143.1K

4.79%

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

$72.2 R$372

$61.0 R$314

18.33%

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

$13.08 R$67.4

$13.72 R$70.7

-4.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$105

$18.66 R$96.1

9.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$129

$22.35 R$115

11.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$110

$21.76 R$112

-2.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$36.46

$6.47 R$33.34

9.43%

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

$488 R$2,516

$280 R$1,442

74.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$77.2K

$6,455 R$33.3K

132.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$300

$46.58 R$240

25.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$216

$42.02 R$216

-0.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$359

$75.5 R$389

-7.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$336

$62.2 R$321

4.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,100

$312 R$1,605

30.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,340

$217 R$1,116

20.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,886

$580 R$2,989

63.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,894

$432 R$2,225

30.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$13.1K

$1,445 R$7,443

75.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,828

$1,017 R$5,238

68.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,359

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 Itapema: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $312 in Itapema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $27.00 in Itapema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $174 per month, with Itapema 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 Itapema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Itapema differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $757 including rent). Itapema is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,293 in Brasilia and $1,136 in Itapema 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $408 in Brasilia versus $312 in Itapema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Itapema – 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 $757 in Itapema – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Itapema 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.

Safety-wise, Brasilia and Itapema are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Itapema 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.