Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Mali Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Mali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Brazil vs $248 in Mali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,348 per month in Brazil vs $405 in Mali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,848 per month in Brazil vs $561 in Mali, rent included.

The cost of living in Brazil is about 242% higher than in Mali on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and Mali are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 38% lower, Mali 82% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72 R$34.65
$8.27 F CFA 4,726
-18.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.91 R$170
$35.42 F CFA 20.2K
-7.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.58 R$39.04
$8.06 F CFA 4,604
-5.96%
Cappuccino
$2.00 R$10.30
$1.63 F CFA 929
22.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 R$6.19
$0.95 F CFA 542
26.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 R$3.76
$0.65 F CFA 373
12.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.94 R$9.98
$2.33 F CFA 1,329
-16.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 R$14.99
$20.70 F CFA 11.8K
-85.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.52
$1.89 F CFA 1,079
-43.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 R$8.74
$3.78 F CFA 2,162
-55.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.72
-
-
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.72
$5.96 F CFA 3,405
-61.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.19 R$47.34
$18.11 F CFA 10.3K
-49.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$22.20
$17.18 F CFA 9,819
-74.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.25 R$42.52
$13.09 F CFA 7,480
-36.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 R$11.25
$3.18 F CFA 1,816
-31.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 R$6.93
$1.42 F CFA 813
-5.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.37
$2.75 F CFA 1,570
-54.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 R$7.91
$2.40 F CFA 1,372
-36.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 R$6.03
$1.66 F CFA 948
-29.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 R$5.75
$1.64 F CFA 935
-31.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 R$4.32
$0.09 F CFA 48.94
833.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 R$4.14
$2.83 F CFA 1,616
-71.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 R$12.25
$1.02 F CFA 585
133.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 R$39.46
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 R$6.72
$1.47 F CFA 841
-11.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 R$12.24
$1.31 F CFA 746
80.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Mali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.23
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.31 R$228
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 R$6.66
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 R$4.75
$1.25 F CFA 716
-26.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.58 R$39.05
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 R$6.49
$1.09 F CFA 624
15.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K R$117.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K R$165.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 R$419
$147 F CFA 84.2K
-44.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.24 R$68.2
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.68 R$107
$66.2 F CFA 37.8K
-68.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.06 R$129
$71.1 F CFA 40.6K
-64.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.92 R$134
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.15 R$36.81
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 R$1,691
$79.6 F CFA 45.5K
312.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,652 R$44.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 R$269
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.15 R$248
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 R$447
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.8 R$354
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Mali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$378 R$1,947
$178 F CFA 101.8K
111.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 R$1,247
$81.1 F CFA 46.3K
198.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$707 R$3,642
$491 F CFA 280.4K
44.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 R$2,477
$304 F CFA 174.0K
57.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,887 R$9,723
$9,924 F CFA 5.7M
-80.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,290 R$6,644
$846 F CFA 483.5K
52.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$515 R$2,656
$258 F CFA 147.5K
99.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
0
-

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

Last update for Brazil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $342 in Brazil vs $43.00 in Mali. For reference, capital cities sit at $480 in Brasilia and $174 in Bamako.

Average salary: $486 in Brazil vs $261 in Mali. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 695% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 233% more in Brazil.

Salaries are 86% higher in Brazil, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Mali.

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 Mali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Mali compare in cost of living?
Mali is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 123% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Mali?
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 Mali?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Mali, contributing to the overall 123% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $1,200 go in Brazil compared to Mali?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Mali, 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 Mali?
Mali 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

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