😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in Brasilia versus $829 in Porto Velho.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Brasilia versus $1,364 in Porto Velho.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,132 in Brasilia versus $1,898 in Porto Velho.
🌍Living in Brasilia is roughly 17% more expensive than in Porto Velho, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia30% lower, Porto Velho40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.92R$45.75
$5.84R$29.94
52.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.80R$199
$39.28R$201
-1.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49R$43.54
$6.39R$32.78
32.86%
Cappuccino
$2.58R$13.24
$1.78R$9.11
44.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41R$7.22
$1.59R$8.13
-11.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90R$4.62
$0.50R$2.56
80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36R$12.07
$1.89R$9.69
24.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87R$19.83
$2.18R$11.19
77.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.53
$1.04R$5.36
3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03R$10.43
$1.67R$8.58
21.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28R$6.58
$1.27R$6.49
0.79%
Eggs
$2.43R$12.45
$2.07R$10.62
17.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81R$60.6
$8.96R$45.93
31.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.11R$21.09
$4.19R$21.47
-1.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48R$43.47
$8.35R$42.78
1.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42R$12.39
$2.19R$11.21
10.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46R$7.47
$1.29R$6.59
13.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28R$6.55
$1.13R$5.78
13.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R$8.45
$1.57R$8.05
5.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16R$5.92
$1.16R$5.94
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.07R$5.47
$1.08R$5.53
-0.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79R$4.03
$0.81R$4.16
-2.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95R$4.85
$0.79R$4.07
20.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.40R$12.29
$2.39R$12.24
0.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.23R$42.17
$7.66R$39.26
7.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.27
$1.21R$6.21
0.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34R$12.02
$2.11R$10.83
10.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00R$5.10
$0.92R$4.70
8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.06R$180
$42.24R$217
-17.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07R$5.47
$1.22R$6.26
-12.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92R$4.73
$0.80R$4.11
15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.05R$30.99
$7.89R$40.47
-23.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31R$6.73
$1.16R$5.94
12.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KR$119.6K
$22.7KR$116.2K
2.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KR$163.6K
$31.2KR$159.9K
2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.4R$494
$71.6R$367
34.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.61R$64.6
$12.24R$62.8
3.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.81R$112
$20.25R$104
7.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.07R$159
$25.11R$129
23.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.00R$138
$26.70R$137
1.12%
Cinema Ticket
$7.68R$39.38
$7.00R$35.90
9.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$822R$4,214
$289R$1,481
184.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4KR$84.3K
$7,521R$38.6K
118.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7R$265
$54.1R$278
-4.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.32R$222
$49.23R$252
-12.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.3R$427
$91.9R$471
-9.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4R$443
$70.6R$362
22.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479R$2,453
$339R$1,736
41.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$258R$1,322
$235R$1,204
9.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,116R$5,719
$646R$3,309
72.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$557R$2,855
$458R$2,345
21.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,457R$12.6K
$1,611R$8,258
52.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,748R$8,962
$1,125R$5,769
55.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Porto Velho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$844R$4,327
$408R$2,094
106.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.12
11.12
8.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasilia: September 8, 2026
Last update for Porto Velho: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Brasilia and $339 in Porto Velho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasilia pays 107% 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 $39.00 in Porto Velho. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $188, with Porto Velho 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 Porto Velho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and in Porto Velho?
Brasilia and Porto Velho differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($969 vs $829 including rent). Porto Velho is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brasilia or Porto Velho?
Average pay runs 107% 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 Porto Velho?
Rent for a central apartment: $479 in Brasilia versus $339 in Porto Velho. 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 Porto Velho – a meal for two runs $39.00 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 Porto Velho?
All in, you'll spend $969 per month in Brasilia versus $829 in Porto Velho – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $829 in Porto Velho versus $969 in Brasilia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Velho but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Velho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Porto Velho?
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 Porto Velho?
Expats usually find Porto Velho 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.