😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Brasilia versus $930 in Passos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,566 in Brasilia versus $1,480 in Passos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,176 in Brasilia versus $2,030 in Passos.
🌍Living in Brasilia is roughly 3% more expensive than in Passos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia30% lower, Passos32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.61R$44.14
$9.20R$47.14
-6.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.06R$200
$33.59R$172
16.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.00R$40.98
$8.34R$42.72
-4.08%
Cappuccino
$2.55R$13.04
$2.14R$10.95
19.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45R$7.44
$1.27R$6.48
14.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96R$4.94
$0.91R$4.65
5.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26R$11.57
$2.33R$11.94
-3.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89R$19.94
$3.56R$18.27
9.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.47
$1.07R$5.47
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.04R$10.45
$2.01R$10.31
1.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26R$6.45
$1.34R$6.88
-5.97%
Eggs
$2.44R$12.51
$2.65R$13.57
-7.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06R$61.8
$11.22R$57.5
7.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06R$20.81
$4.92R$25.22
-17.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24R$42.24
$10.24R$52.5
-19.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34R$12.01
$2.30R$11.79
1.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42R$7.28
$1.78R$9.11
-20.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27R$6.52
$1.54R$7.91
-17.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R$8.48
$1.42R$7.29
16.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16R$5.93
$1.28R$6.54
-9.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01R$5.18
$1.17R$5.99
-13.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83R$4.25
$0.91R$4.65
-8.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98R$5.00
$0.81R$4.17
20.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39R$12.22
$2.37R$12.13
0.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99R$40.95
$7.85R$40.20
1.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30R$6.67
$1.50R$7.71
-13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40R$12.28
$2.45R$12.53
-2.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.69
$0.82R$4.21
12.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.15R$180
$48.51R$249
-27.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05R$5.39
$1.13R$5.77
-7.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85R$4.37
$0.75R$3.85
13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97R$30.57
$8.44R$43.23
-29.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R$6.56
$1.23R$6.29
4.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KR$115.9K
$22.8KR$116.6K
-0.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KR$164.4K
$30.8KR$158.0K
4.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.1R$467
$63.6R$326
43.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43R$63.7
$15.58R$79.8
-20.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55R$116
$22.39R$115
0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.51R$161
$24.71R$127
27.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35R$135
$23.29R$119
13.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86R$40.25
$7.66R$39.27
2.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813R$4,167
$420R$2,152
93.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3KR$83.6K
$9,757R$50.0K
67.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2R$268
$64.0R$328
-18.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.67R$224
$54.6R$280
-20.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7R$424
$92.9R$476
-11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5R$443
$83.4R$428
3.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500R$2,563
$337R$1,726
48.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$266R$1,364
$230R$1,177
15.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133R$5,805
$635R$3,253
78.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$562R$2,878
$443R$2,269
26.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,411R$12.4K
$1,849R$9,472
30.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,705R$8,736
$1,161R$5,951
46.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Passos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$876R$4,488
$402R$2,062
117.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.8
10.81
9.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasilia: September 1, 2026
Last update for Passos: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Brasilia and $337 in Passos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasilia pays 118% 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 $34.00 in Passos. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $219, with Brasilia cheaper for home cooking.
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 Passos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and in Passos?
Brasilia and Passos differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $930 including rent). Passos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brasilia or Passos?
Average pay runs 118% higher in Brasilia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Brasilia and in Passos?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Brasilia versus $337 in Passos. 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 Passos – a meal for two runs $34.00 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 Passos?
All in, you'll spend $957 per month in Brasilia versus $930 in Passos – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $930 in Passos versus $957 in Brasilia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Passos but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Passos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Passos?
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 Passos?
Expats usually find Passos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.