😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $860 in Brasilia versus $777 in Itaquaquecetuba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,410 in Brasilia versus $1,249 in Itaquaquecetuba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,961 in Brasilia versus $1,721 in Itaquaquecetuba.
😐Living in Brasilia is roughly 11% more expensive than Itaquaquecetuba, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia36% lower, Itaquaquecetuba42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.02R$35.53
$5.41R$27.40
29.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.85R$197
$26.55R$134
46.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.40R$32.41
$6.17R$31.25
3.73%
Cappuccino
$1.94R$9.80
$1.73R$8.76
12.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15R$5.85
$1.11R$5.63
3.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.36
$0.66R$3.35
30.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78R$9.01
$1.82R$9.21
-2.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19R$16.14
$2.72R$13.75
17.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99R$5.00
$0.92R$4.67
7.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66R$8.39
$1.52R$7.71
9.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49R$7.52
$1.19R$6.02
25.21%
Eggs
$2.01R$10.19
$2.00R$10.13
0.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.99R$45.53
$8.23R$41.65
9.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.30R$16.68
$3.55R$17.98
-7.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.64R$33.61
$7.15R$36.18
-7.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02R$10.23
$2.09R$10.56
-3.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40R$7.09
$1.30R$6.58
7.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$6.09
$1.20R$6.06
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62R$8.19
$1.44R$7.29
12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29R$6.54
$1.15R$5.83
12.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31R$6.61
$1.09R$5.54
20.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81R$4.09
$0.71R$3.59
14.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.16
$0.63R$3.17
-1.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17R$10.99
$2.14R$10.85
1.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.67R$43.91
$7.61R$38.50
13.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06R$5.37
$1.26R$6.36
-15.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25R$11.41
$2.01R$10.20
11.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01R$5.12
$0.94R$4.76
7.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.27R$224
$39.26R$199
12.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00R$5.08
$1.05R$5.31
-4.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81R$4.08
$0.72R$3.62
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.71R$28.91
$6.34R$32.10
-9.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14R$5.78
$1.03R$5.21
10.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KR$125.7K
$20.6KR$104.3K
20.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KR$144.7K
$27.7KR$140.1K
3.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.8R$353
$60.9R$308
14.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.07R$66.2
$13.24R$67.0
-1.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.51R$104
$18.49R$93.6
10.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.95R$126
$22.12R$112
12.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.00R$111
$21.35R$108
3.04%
Cinema Ticket
$7.28R$36.86
$6.34R$32.11
14.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$491R$2,485
$266R$1,347
84.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.5KR$78.5K
$6,430R$32.6K
141.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0R$299
$48.73R$247
21.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.13R$208
$41.82R$212
-1.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.9R$344
$75.3R$381
-9.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8R$323
$65.3R$331
-2.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$414R$2,093
$313R$1,586
32.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$259R$1,311
$213R$1,079
21.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954R$4,831
$573R$2,899
66.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$552R$2,794
$436R$2,209
26.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,480R$12.6K
$1,450R$7,340
71.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,683R$8,520
$1,089R$5,515
54.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Itaquaquecetuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$929R$4,705
-
-
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 8, 2026
Last update for Itaquaquecetuba: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $414 in Brasilia and $313 in Itaquaquecetuba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $27.00 in Itaquaquecetuba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $173 per month, with Itaquaquecetuba 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 Itaquaquecetuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and Itaquaquecetuba?
Brasilia and Itaquaquecetuba differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($860 vs $777 including rent). Itaquaquecetuba 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 Itaquaquecetuba?
You'd need roughly $1,290 in Brasilia and $1,166 in Itaquaquecetuba 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 Itaquaquecetuba?
Rent for a central apartment: $414 in Brasilia versus $313 in Itaquaquecetuba. 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 Itaquaquecetuba – 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brasilia or Itaquaquecetuba?
All in, you'll spend $860 per month in Brasilia versus $777 in Itaquaquecetuba – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Brasilia vs Itaquaquecetuba?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Itaquaquecetuba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Itaquaquecetuba?
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 Itaquaquecetuba?
Expats usually find Itaquaquecetuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.