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: $862 in Brasilia versus $705 in Nova Iguacu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,106 in Nova Iguacu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,507 in Nova Iguacu.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 22% more expensive than Nova Iguacu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Nova Iguacu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$36.15

$2.83 R$14.55

148.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$200

$23.82 R$123

63.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.57

$7.39 R$38.09

-14.48%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$10.09

$1.83 R$9.41

7.10%

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

$1.18 R$6.07

$1.00 R$5.15

18.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.42

$0.52 R$2.70

65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.55

$1.64 R$8.44

12.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.36

$1.34 R$6.90

137.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.12

$1.09 R$5.64

-9.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.23

$1.28 R$6.60

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.27

$1.05 R$5.43

34.29%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.49

$1.85 R$9.51

10.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$48.70

$7.44 R$38.35

27.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.51

$2.64 R$13.59

28.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$36.25

$6.64 R$34.21

6.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$10.10

$1.24 R$6.37

58.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.23

$1.25 R$6.43

12.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.20

$0.87 R$4.46

37.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.54

$1.60 R$8.25

3.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.38

$0.92 R$4.76

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.72

$0.92 R$4.73

42.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.15

$0.38 R$1.95

113.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.24

$0.35 R$1.78

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.97

$1.70 R$8.75

25.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$46.48

$5.87 R$30.22

53.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.69

$0.93 R$4.78

18.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.30

$1.25 R$6.43

91.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.30

$1.29 R$6.64

-20.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$229

$45.89 R$236

-3.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.86

$0.88 R$4.54

6.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.15

$1.03 R$5.28

-21.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.70

$8.47 R$43.62

-34.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.78

$1.00 R$5.15

12.00%

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

$25.0K R$128.8K

$22.5K R$116.1K

10.95%

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

$29.1K R$150.0K

$29.0K R$149.5K

0.33%

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

$72.2 R$372

$45.70 R$235

58.05%

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

$13.08 R$67.4

$10.61 R$54.6

23.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$105

$18.78 R$96.8

8.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$129

$21.49 R$111

16.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$110

$21.85 R$113

-2.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$36.46

$5.28 R$27.22

34.09%

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

$488 R$2,516

$66.7 R$344

631.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$77.2K

$1,719 R$8,856

771.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$300

$53.7 R$277

8.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$216

$34.14 R$176

22.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$359

$59.4 R$306

17.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$336

$55.1 R$284

18.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,100

$295 R$1,517

38.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,340

$224 R$1,156

15.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,886

$577 R$2,974

64.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,894

$401 R$2,063

40.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$13.1K

$949 R$4,887

167.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,828

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,359

$236 R$1,215

258.81%

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 Nova Iguacu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $295 in Nova Iguacu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 259% 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 $24.00 in Nova Iguacu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $145 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 22% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $705 including rent). Nova Iguacu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 259% 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 $295 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 $24.00 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 $705 in Nova Iguacu – a 22% 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 22% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.