Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Nova Iguacu Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Nova Iguacu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $863 in Brasilia versus $699 in Nova Iguacu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Brasilia versus $1,095 in Nova Iguacu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Brasilia versus $1,491 in Nova Iguacu.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 23% more expensive than in Nova Iguacu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 35% lower, Nova Iguacu 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.22 R$36.53

$2.90 R$14.69

148.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.10 R$198

$23.04 R$117

69.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.37 R$32.22

$7.35 R$37.16

-13.33%

Cappuccino

$1.86 R$9.41

$1.81 R$9.14

2.76%

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

$1.17 R$5.90

$0.95 R$4.80

23.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 R$4.38

$0.50 R$2.52

74.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 R$8.91

$1.60 R$8.10

10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 R$16.00

$1.32 R$6.67

139.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 R$4.71

$1.08 R$5.45

-13.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.65 R$8.36

$1.23 R$6.23

34.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 R$7.49

$1.09 R$5.53

35.78%

Eggs

$2.01 R$10.17

$1.94 R$9.82

3.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.26 R$46.83

$7.81 R$39.50

18.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 R$17.24

$2.63 R$13.30

29.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.89 R$34.86

$6.64 R$33.59

3.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 R$10.26

$1.23 R$6.24

65.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 R$6.91

$1.28 R$6.50

7.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 R$5.85

$0.91 R$4.61

27.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 R$8.18

$1.58 R$7.99

2.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 R$6.24

$0.93 R$4.72

32.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 R$6.50

$0.93 R$4.69

38.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 R$3.80

$0.35 R$1.75

114.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 R$3.08

$0.38 R$1.91

60.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 R$10.99

$1.66 R$8.40

30.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.06 R$40.78

$5.95 R$30.08

35.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 R$5.59

$0.87 R$4.39

27.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 R$11.48

$1.23 R$6.20

84.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 R$4.92

$1.32 R$6.70

-26.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.81 R$222

$45.74 R$231

-4.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.00 R$5.07

$0.86 R$4.35

16.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 R$4.07

$1.06 R$5.37

-24.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 R$28.80

$8.54 R$43.20

-33.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 R$5.51

$1.01 R$5.11

7.92%

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

$25.3K R$128.2K

$22.4K R$113.4K

13.01%

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

$28.5K R$144.2K

$28.8K R$145.5K

-0.89%

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

$70.2 R$355

$45.06 R$228

55.84%

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

$13.06 R$66.1

$10.75 R$54.4

21.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.06 R$101

$18.35 R$92.8

9.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.64 R$125

$21.49 R$109

14.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.81 R$110

$21.29 R$108

2.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 R$36.60

$5.53 R$27.98

30.92%

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

$485 R$2,453

$66.4 R$336

630.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K R$76.4K

$1,724 R$8,718

776.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 R$290

$54.7 R$277

4.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.20 R$213

$34.51 R$175

22.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 R$344

$58.1 R$294

17.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.5 R$321

$54.1 R$273

17.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$412 R$2,082

$292 R$1,479

40.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 R$1,329

$224 R$1,134

17.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 R$4,920

$589 R$2,979

65.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 R$2,846

$408 R$2,062

38.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,508 R$12.7K

$936 R$4,733

167.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,745 R$8,829

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$928 R$4,694

$239 R$1,208

288.73%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Nova Iguacu: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $412 in Brasilia and $292 in Nova Iguacu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 289% 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 $23.00 in Nova Iguacu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $146 per month, with Nova Iguacu 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 Nova Iguacu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Nova Iguacu differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($863 vs $699 including rent). Nova Iguacu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 289% higher in Brasilia, 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: $412 in Brasilia versus $292 in Nova Iguacu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Nova Iguacu – a meal for two runs $23.00 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 $699 in Nova Iguacu – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nova Iguacu 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 Nova Iguacu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.