Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Itu Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Itu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $672 in Itu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,224 in Itu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,776 in Itu.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 28% more expensive than Itu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Itu 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$36.15

$5.19 R$26.75

35.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$200

$32.37 R$167

20.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.57

$5.89 R$30.32

7.30%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$10.09

$1.74 R$8.97

12.64%

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

$1.18 R$6.07

$0.75 R$3.86

57.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.42

$0.47 R$2.41

82.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.55

$1.78 R$9.18

3.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.36

$3.49 R$17.97

-8.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.12

$0.96 R$4.93

3.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.23

$1.33 R$6.83

20.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.27

$1.31 R$6.76

7.63%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.49

$2.38 R$12.23

-14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$48.70

$8.22 R$42.36

14.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.51

$3.64 R$18.76

-6.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$36.25

$5.54 R$28.52

27.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$10.10

$1.57 R$8.10

24.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.23

$1.30 R$6.68

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.20

$0.73 R$3.78

64.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.54

$1.52 R$7.86

9.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.38

$0.87 R$4.46

42.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.72

$1.09 R$5.64

20.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.73 R$3.78

10.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.24

$0.46 R$2.39

36.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.97

$2.73 R$14.07

-21.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$46.48

$5.99 R$30.84

50.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.69

$1.39 R$7.14

-20.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.30

$2.74 R$14.09

-12.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.30

$0.87 R$4.47

18.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$229

$39.27 R$202

13.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.86

$0.87 R$4.46

8.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.83 R$4.29

-2.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.70

$8.87 R$45.71

-37.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.78

$0.87 R$4.47

28.74%

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

$25.0K R$128.8K

$22.6K R$116.6K

10.47%

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

$29.1K R$150.0K

$25.3K R$130.1K

15.29%

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

$72.2 R$372

$47.44 R$244

52.26%

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

$13.08 R$67.4

$10.74 R$55.3

21.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$105

$15.34 R$79.0

32.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$129

$22.24 R$115

12.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$110

$21.89 R$113

-2.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$36.46

$4.38 R$22.58

61.64%

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

$488 R$2,516

$317 R$1,633

54.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$77.2K

$7,017 R$36.1K

113.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$300

$45.30 R$233

28.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$216

$35.56 R$183

18.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$359

$61.9 R$319

12.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$336

$45.73 R$236

42.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,100

$286 R$1,473

42.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,340

$178 R$917

46.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,886

$707 R$3,643

34.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,894

$593 R$3,055

-5.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$13.1K

$1,591 R$8,193

59.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,828

$1,148 R$5,916

49.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,359

$303 R$1,563

178.82%

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 Itu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $286 in Itu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 179% 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 $32.00 in Itu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $161 per month, with Itu 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 Itu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Itu differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $672 including rent). Itu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 179% 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 $286 in Itu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Itu – a meal for two runs $32.00 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 $672 in Itu – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Itu 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 Itu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.