Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Ethiopia Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Ethiopia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Brazil vs $792 in Ethiopia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,224 per month in Brazil vs $1,183 in Ethiopia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Brazil vs $1,573 in Ethiopia, rent included.

The cost of living in Brazil is roughly 3% lower than in Ethiopia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and Ethiopia are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 43% lower, Ethiopia 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.26 R$26.89
$4.52 ETB 717
16.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.40 R$150
$35.26 ETB 5,589
-16.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.32 R$32.30
$6.37 ETB 1,010
-0.78%
Cappuccino
$1.71 R$8.75
$1.20 ETB 191
42.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 R$5.54
$0.63 ETB 99.1
71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 R$3.65
$0.46 ETB 73.7
54.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 R$8.99
$0.97 ETB 154
81.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 R$13.66
$1.99 ETB 315
34.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 R$4.96
$1.43 ETB 227
-32.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 R$7.55
$1.25 ETB 198
18.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.26
$1.68 ETB 266
-27.38%
Eggs
$2.10 R$10.72
$2.41 ETB 381
-12.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 R$43.85
$6.97 ETB 1,105
23.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.69 R$18.86
$12.59 ETB 1,995
-70.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.53 R$38.47
$13.17 ETB 2,087
-42.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 R$10.76
$6.19 ETB 981
-66.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.57
$0.98 ETB 155
31.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.06
$2.30 ETB 364
-48.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 R$7.25
$0.86 ETB 136
65.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 R$5.98
$0.67 ETB 106
74.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.59
$1.90 ETB 301
-42.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 R$3.60
$0.69 ETB 109
1.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.36
$0.62 ETB 98.8
6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 R$11.26
$3.96 ETB 628
-44.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.79 R$39.83
$5.13 ETB 813
51.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$6.07
$0.83 ETB 132
43.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 R$11.25
$1.80 ETB 285
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 R$4.38
$0.27 ETB 42.30
218.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.96 R$209
$12.55 ETB 1,989
226.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 R$5.65
$1.48 ETB 235
-25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 R$4.48
$0.31 ETB 49.29
183.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.15 R$36.53
$1.95 ETB 309
266.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.56
$1.26 ETB 200
-13.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K R$110.3K
$53.5K ETB 8.5M
-59.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K R$143.3K
$53.5K ETB 8.5M
-47.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.7 R$351
$131 ETB 20.7K
-47.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.97 R$71.4
$12.13 ETB 1,923
15.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 R$97.1
$159 ETB 25.3K
-88.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.60 R$116
$62.4 ETB 9,884
-63.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.90 R$117
$36.87 ETB 5,845
-37.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.45 R$32.94
$5.07 ETB 803
27.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 R$1,447
$78.5 ETB 12.4K
260.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,455 R$38.1K
$40.7K ETB 6.4M
-81.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.29 R$247
$46.76 ETB 7,412
3.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 R$220
$75.5 ETB 12.0K
-42.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 R$383
$97.9 ETB 15.5K
-23.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.1 R$318
$120 ETB 19.0K
-48.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$327 R$1,672
$689 ETB 109.1K
-52.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$227 R$1,158
$378 ETB 59.9K
-40.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$650 R$3,320
$1,366 ETB 216.4K
-52.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$450 R$2,301
$869 ETB 137.7K
-48.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,866 R$9,537
$1,785 ETB 282.9K
4.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,259 R$6,432
$1,009 ETB 159.8K
24.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Ethiopia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$527 R$2,693
$203 ETB 32.2K
159.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
17
-34.35%

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

Last update for Brazil: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ethiopia: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $305 in Brazil vs $206 in Ethiopia. For reference, capital cities sit at $409 in Brasilia and $732 in Addis Ababa.

Average salary: $484 in Brazil vs $182 in Ethiopia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 48% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 35% more in Brazil.

Public transport is 875% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 166% higher in Brazil, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brazil.

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
Brazil vs Ethiopia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Ethiopia compare in cost of living?
Ethiopia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 14% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Ethiopia?
Housing costs more in Brazil, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Brazil consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Ethiopia?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Ethiopia, contributing to the overall 14% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $1,500 go in Brazil compared to Ethiopia?
$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Ethiopia, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Brazil vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries