Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Volta Redonda Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Volta Redonda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $761 in Volta Redonda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,180 in Volta Redonda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,598 in Volta Redonda.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 13% more expensive than Volta Redonda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Volta Redonda 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.02 R$35.53

$7.40 R$37.45

-5.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.86 R$197

$26.60 R$135

46.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.01

$5.30 R$26.84

19.25%

Cappuccino

$1.96 R$9.91

$2.11 R$10.71

-7.11%

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

$1.18 R$5.96

$1.19 R$6.03

-0.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 R$4.35

$0.85 R$4.31

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.85 R$9.39

$2.22 R$11.22

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 R$16.08

$2.82 R$14.27

12.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R$5.04

$0.84 R$4.24

17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 R$8.09

$1.46 R$7.41

9.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.15

$1.09 R$5.52

29.36%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.31

$2.22 R$11.23

-8.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.45 R$47.87

$11.14 R$56.4

-15.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 R$17.21

$4.40 R$22.26

-22.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.04 R$35.63

$9.15 R$46.32

-23.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 R$9.93

$2.71 R$13.71

-27.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 R$7.11

$1.89 R$9.59

-25.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.09

$1.64 R$8.32

-26.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 R$8.39

$1.78 R$9.02

-6.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.28

$1.39 R$7.05

-10.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 R$6.61

$1.24 R$6.27

5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 R$4.08

$0.95 R$4.82

-14.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 R$3.19

$0.17 R$0.85

270.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 R$10.78

$2.53 R$12.82

-15.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 R$45.69

$8.91 R$45.10

1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 R$5.59

$1.27 R$6.41

-13.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$12.09

$1.28 R$6.49

86.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 R$5.21

$0.75 R$3.80

37.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.41 R$225

$38.59 R$195

15.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R$4.77

$1.06 R$5.37

-11.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 R$4.08

$0.75 R$3.81

8.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.57 R$28.21

$9.26 R$46.88

-39.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 R$5.68

$1.10 R$5.55

1.82%

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

$25.0K R$126.6K

$22.0K R$111.5K

13.59%

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

$29.1K R$147.4K

$28.1K R$142.3K

3.59%

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

$72.2 R$366

$54.2 R$274

33.36%

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

$13.08 R$66.2

$9.84 R$49.85

32.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.40 R$103

$20.26 R$103

0.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.97 R$126

$18.13 R$91.8

37.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.29 R$108

$21.68 R$110

-1.80%

Cinema Ticket

$7.08 R$35.84

$4.59 R$23.23

54.25%

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

$488 R$2,473

$182 R$922

168.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K R$75.9K

$15.0K R$76.0K

-0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 R$295

$42.11 R$213

38.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.97 R$213

$35.44 R$179

18.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 R$353

$45.24 R$229

54.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 R$330

$74.3 R$376

-12.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 R$2,064

$245 R$1,238

66.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 R$1,318

$179 R$906

45.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 R$4,803

$592 R$2,996

60.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$562 R$2,845

$325 R$1,647

72.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,540 R$12.9K

$828 R$4,193

206.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,714 R$8,678

$675 R$3,419

153.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 R$4,285

$297 R$1,505

184.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.87

11.56

2.68%

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

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Volta Redonda: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $245 in Volta Redonda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 185% 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 Volta Redonda. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $199, 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 Volta Redonda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brasilia and Volta Redonda differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $761 including rent). Volta Redonda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Brasilia pays 185% 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 $245 in Volta Redonda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Volta Redonda – 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 $761 in Volta Redonda – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Volta Redonda 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 Volta Redonda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.