Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Salvador

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $796 in Salvador.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,227 in Salvador.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,658 in Salvador.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 8% more expensive than Salvador, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Salvador 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$35.12

$6.19 R$30.97

13.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$194

$27.23 R$136

42.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$31.64

$6.83 R$34.20

-7.47%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$9.80

$1.84 R$9.21

6.52%

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

$1.18 R$5.89

$0.77 R$3.87

53.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.30

$0.62 R$3.09

38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.28

$2.20 R$11.00

-15.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$15.89

$4.01 R$20.05

-20.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$4.98

$1.20 R$5.98

-17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$7.99

$1.29 R$6.44

24.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.06

$1.15 R$5.74

22.61%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.19

$1.85 R$9.26

10.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$47.31

$8.98 R$44.92

5.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.01

$3.97 R$19.85

-14.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$35.21

$6.35 R$31.79

10.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$9.82

$1.69 R$8.48

15.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.02

$1.57 R$7.84

-10.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.02

$0.85 R$4.24

41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.29

$1.14 R$5.71

45.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.20

$0.99 R$4.93

25.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.53

$1.23 R$6.17

6.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.03

$0.67 R$3.36

20.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.15

$0.78 R$3.91

-19.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.66

$1.95 R$9.76

9.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$45.16

$6.12 R$30.62

47.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.53

$1.32 R$6.62

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$11.95

$1.83 R$9.17

30.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.15

$0.96 R$4.80

7.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$222

$45.37 R$227

-2.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.72

$1.04 R$5.22

-9.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.03

$1.08 R$5.42

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$27.88

$8.94 R$44.72

-37.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.61

$1.06 R$5.32

5.66%

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

$25.0K R$125.2K

$18.2K R$91.3K

37.06%

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

$29.1K R$145.7K

$26.7K R$133.5K

9.15%

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

$72.2 R$361

$68.3 R$342

5.83%

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

$13.08 R$65.5

$13.95 R$69.8

-6.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$102

$16.20 R$81.1

25.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$125

$20.40 R$102

22.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$107

$26.74 R$134

-20.38%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$35.42

$5.88 R$29.45

20.41%

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

$488 R$2,444

$227 R$1,134

115.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$75.0K

$10.9K R$54.4K

37.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$292

$52.3 R$262

11.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$210

$29.26 R$146

43.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$349

$68.0 R$340

2.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$327

$78.6 R$393

-17.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,040

$261 R$1,308

56.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,302

$210 R$1,050

24.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,747

$523 R$2,616

81.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,811

$355 R$1,775

58.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$12.7K

$2,107 R$10.5K

20.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,576

$1,367 R$6,841

25.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,235

$394 R$1,974

114.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

10.35

14.69%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Salvador: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $261 in Salvador. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 115% 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 Salvador for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $170 per month, with Salvador 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 Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Salvador differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $796 including rent). Salvador is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 115% 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 $261 in Salvador. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Salvador – 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 $796 in Salvador – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Salvador 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 Salvador gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.