Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Serra Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Serra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $726 in Serra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,102 in Serra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,478 in Serra.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 19% more expensive than Serra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Serra 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$35.12

$4.45 R$22.29

57.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$194

$20.97 R$105

85.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$31.64

$6.46 R$32.30

-2.17%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$9.80

$1.72 R$8.62

13.95%

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

$1.18 R$5.89

$0.71 R$3.55

66.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.30

$0.53 R$2.64

62.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.28

$0.82 R$4.11

125.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$15.89

$3.26 R$16.31

-2.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$4.98

$0.85 R$4.25

16.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$7.99

$1.51 R$7.58

5.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.06

$1.01 R$5.06

39.60%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.19

$1.60 R$8.03

27.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$47.31

$7.53 R$37.71

25.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.01

$3.77 R$18.86

-9.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$35.21

$6.31 R$31.57

11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$9.82

$2.13 R$10.64

-7.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.02

$1.38 R$6.88

1.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.02

$1.22 R$6.12

-1.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.29

$1.43 R$7.15

16.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.20

$1.09 R$5.48

13.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.53

$1.20 R$6.02

9.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.03

$0.63 R$3.13

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.15

$0.53 R$2.64

18.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.66

$2.19 R$10.97

-2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$45.16

$5.82 R$29.11

54.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.53

$0.94 R$4.70

17.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$11.95

$1.21 R$6.07

97.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.15

$0.87 R$4.33

18.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$222

$42.17 R$211

5.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.72

$1.15 R$5.74

-18.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.03

$0.91 R$4.57

-10.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$27.88

$3.73 R$18.64

49.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.61

$0.99 R$4.94

13.13%

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

$25.0K R$125.2K

$21.5K R$107.4K

16.49%

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

$29.1K R$145.7K

$30.3K R$151.6K

-3.90%

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

$72.2 R$361

$105 R$523

-30.95%

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

$13.08 R$65.5

$11.48 R$57.4

13.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$102

$17.50 R$87.6

16.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$125

$35.78 R$179

-30.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$107

$26.58 R$133

-19.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$35.42

$4.47 R$22.37

58.39%

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

$488 R$2,444

$167 R$836

192.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$75.0K

$6,380 R$31.9K

134.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$292

$36.76 R$184

58.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$210

$54.0 R$270

-22.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$349

$80.7 R$404

-13.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$327

$70.6 R$353

-7.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,040

$227 R$1,134

79.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,302

$134 R$672

93.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,747

$402 R$2,010

136.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,811

$196 R$980

186.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$12.7K

$963 R$4,821

163.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,576

$563 R$2,820

204.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,235

$557 R$2,790

51.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

10.38

14.35%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Serra: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $227 in Serra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 52% 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 $21.00 in Serra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $159 per month, with Serra 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 Serra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Serra differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $726 including rent). Serra is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 52% 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 $227 in Serra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Serra – a meal for two runs $21.00 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 $726 in Serra – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Serra 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 Serra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.