Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Lavras Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Lavras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $863 in Brasilia versus $739 in Lavras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,429 in Brasilia versus $1,159 in Lavras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,995 in Brasilia versus $1,578 in Lavras.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 17% more expensive than in Lavras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 35% lower, Lavras 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.42 R$37.99

$3.19 R$16.30

132.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.98 R$199

$18.36 R$94.0

112.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.14 R$31.40

$6.85 R$35.05

-10.36%

Cappuccino

$1.92 R$9.83

$0.87 R$4.46

120.69%

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

$1.18 R$6.02

$0.97 R$4.98

21.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 R$4.23

$0.51 R$2.63

62.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 R$9.12

$1.78 R$9.10

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 R$17.06

$2.12 R$10.85

57.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 R$4.87

$0.87 R$4.46

9.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 R$8.34

$1.46 R$7.45

11.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 R$7.48

$1.55 R$7.94

-5.81%

Eggs

$2.08 R$10.65

$1.87 R$9.59

11.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 R$48.12

$8.16 R$41.76

15.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 R$17.34

$3.33 R$17.06

1.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.71 R$34.34

$7.06 R$36.12

-4.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 R$9.86

$2.22 R$11.36

-13.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 R$6.98

$1.33 R$6.79

2.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 R$5.93

$1.05 R$5.37

10.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 R$8.56

$1.31 R$6.73

27.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.36

$1.06 R$5.42

16.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.68

$0.79 R$4.06

65.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 R$3.76

$0.70 R$3.60

4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 R$3.42

$0.65 R$3.31

3.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 R$11.13

$2.14 R$10.94

1.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.06 R$41.26

$7.95 R$40.69

1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.65

$1.06 R$5.43

3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 R$11.68

$2.19 R$11.22

4.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 R$4.97

$0.86 R$4.39

12.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.32 R$222

$38.55 R$197

12.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 R$4.86

$0.94 R$4.80

1.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 R$4.06

$1.09 R$5.57

-27.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 R$29.84

$8.20 R$41.98

-28.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 R$5.83

$1.10 R$5.62

3.64%

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

$25.2K R$129.0K

$24.9K R$127.3K

1.38%

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

$29.2K R$149.2K

$29.1K R$148.9K

0.22%

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

$71.8 R$367

$65.7 R$336

9.22%

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

$13.11 R$67.1

$14.40 R$73.7

-8.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.49 R$105

$20.59 R$105

-0.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.96 R$128

$22.96 R$117

8.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 R$110

$21.70 R$111

-0.83%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 R$37.58

$7.38 R$37.78

-0.54%

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

$485 R$2,483

$370 R$1,895

31.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K R$77.7K

$6,702 R$34.3K

126.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 R$297

$52.8 R$270

10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.02 R$215

$37.69 R$193

11.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.7 R$347

$70.8 R$362

-4.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.3 R$329

$65.0 R$332

-1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 R$2,048

$316 R$1,617

26.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 R$1,342

$216 R$1,104

21.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 R$4,828

$574 R$2,938

64.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 R$2,849

$429 R$2,197

29.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,466 R$12.6K

$1,625 R$8,316

51.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,727 R$8,835

$1,096 R$5,607

57.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$919 R$4,705

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

10.83

9.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brasilia: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lavras: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Brasilia and $316 in Lavras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $18.00 in Lavras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $170 per month, with Lavras 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 Lavras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Lavras differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($863 vs $739 including rent). Lavras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,295 in Brasilia and $1,109 in Lavras 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: $400 in Brasilia versus $316 in Lavras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lavras – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $863 per month in Brasilia versus $739 in Lavras – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Lavras 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 Lavras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.