Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Rio das Ostras Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Rio das Ostras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $663 in Rio das Ostras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,087 in Rio das Ostras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,510 in Rio das Ostras.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 30% more expensive than Rio das Ostras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Rio das Ostras 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$35.53

$4.82 R$24.39

45.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$197

$27.24 R$138

42.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.01

$6.19 R$31.32

2.10%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$9.91

$1.34 R$6.81

46.27%

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

$1.18 R$5.96

$1.17 R$5.94

0.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.35

$0.55 R$2.80

56.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.39

$1.83 R$9.25

1.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.08

$2.66 R$13.45

19.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.04

$1.05 R$5.33

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.09

$1.23 R$6.22

30.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.15

$1.01 R$5.10

39.60%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.31

$2.03 R$10.30

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$47.87

$6.37 R$32.24

48.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.21

$3.32 R$16.80

2.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$35.63

$8.19 R$41.45

-14.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$9.93

$2.30 R$11.66

-14.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.11

$1.34 R$6.78

4.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.09

$1.13 R$5.70

6.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.39

$1.39 R$7.04

19.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.28

$1.11 R$5.62

11.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.61

$0.92 R$4.68

42.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.08

$0.43 R$2.19

88.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.19

$0.52 R$2.64

21.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.78

$1.92 R$9.74

10.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$45.69

$9.00 R$45.57

0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.59

$1.26 R$6.36

-12.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.09

$2.11 R$10.70

13.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.21

$0.74 R$3.72

39.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$225

$37.87 R$192

17.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.77

$1.12 R$5.65

-16.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.08

$0.65 R$3.30

24.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.21

$7.62 R$38.60

-26.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.68

$1.00 R$5.05

12.00%

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

$25.0K R$126.6K

$16.1K R$81.5K

55.29%

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

$29.1K R$147.4K

$27.1K R$137.0K

7.62%

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

$72.2 R$366

$66.2 R$335

9.06%

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

$13.08 R$66.2

$12.07 R$61.1

8.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$103

$16.15 R$81.8

26.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$126

$24.06 R$122

3.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$108

$13.53 R$68.5

57.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$35.84

$5.65 R$28.59

25.31%

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

$488 R$2,473

$338 R$1,711

44.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$75.9K

$6,391 R$32.4K

134.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$295

$45.53 R$231

27.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$213

$42.10 R$213

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$353

$76.6 R$388

-8.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$330

$60.8 R$308

7.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,064

$177 R$895

130.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,318

$125 R$634

107.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,803

$416 R$2,107

127.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,845

$283 R$1,431

98.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$12.9K

$1,593 R$8,065

59.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,678

$1,140 R$5,772

50.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,285

$551 R$2,789

53.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

31.89%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rio das Ostras: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $177 in Rio das Ostras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 54% 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 $27.00 in Rio das Ostras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $168 per month, with Rio das Ostras 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 Rio das Ostras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Rio das Ostras differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $663 including rent). Rio das Ostras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 54% 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 $177 in Rio das Ostras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Rio das Ostras – a meal for two runs $27.00 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 $663 in Rio das Ostras – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Rio das Ostras 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 Rio das Ostras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.