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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $766 per month in Brazil vs $249 in Mali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,224 per month in Brazil vs $415 in Mali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,681 per month in Brazil vs $580 in Mali, rent included.

Brazil costs about 208% more than Mali on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and Mali are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 43% lower, Mali 81% lower.

Mali has a wider regional cost range ($0$910) than Brazil ($577$1,059), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Mali.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.44 R$26.96
$6.54 F CFA 3,669
-16.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.30 R$140
$37.26 F CFA 20.9K
-24.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.27 R$31.12
$6.37 F CFA 3,577
-1.57%
Cappuccino
$1.78 R$8.83
$1.87 F CFA 1,049
-4.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 R$5.35
$0.79 F CFA 442
36.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 R$3.33
$0.56 F CFA 312
19.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 R$8.99
$2.35 F CFA 1,320
-22.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 R$13.04
$21.40 F CFA 12.0K
-87.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 R$4.94
$2.32 F CFA 1,300
-56.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 R$7.38
$3.36 F CFA 1,883
-55.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 R$5.78
-
-
Eggs
$2.02 R$10.00
$4.63 F CFA 2,596
-56.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.73 R$43.31
$17.57 F CFA 9,860
-50.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 R$17.98
$16.93 F CFA 9,499
-78.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.23 R$35.87
$13.51 F CFA 7,582
-46.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 R$10.27
$3.19 F CFA 1,789
-35.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.39
$1.41 F CFA 794
-8.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 R$5.82
$2.90 F CFA 1,627
-59.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R$7.40
$2.39 F CFA 1,341
-37.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 R$5.64
$1.65 F CFA 926
-30.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 R$5.22
$1.83 F CFA 1,028
-42.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 R$3.57
$0.10 F CFA 54.7
620.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 R$3.23
$2.35 F CFA 1,321
-72.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10 R$10.40
$0.94 F CFA 530
123.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 R$39.05
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.89
$1.46 F CFA 822
-18.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 R$10.54
$1.35 F CFA 760
57.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Mali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 R$4.61
$4.65 F CFA 2,610
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.93 R$203
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 R$5.26
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 R$4.07
$1.23 F CFA 689
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.06 R$35.00
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.40
$1.19 F CFA 669
-8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K R$107.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K R$136.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.1 R$348
$150 F CFA 83.9K
-53.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 R$68.5
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.76 R$93.0
$57.8 F CFA 32.4K
-67.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.01 R$114
$66.1 F CFA 37.1K
-65.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.25 R$110
$3.96 F CFA 2,219
461.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.13 R$30.39
$5.58 F CFA 3,132
9.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$287 R$1,422
$77.5 F CFA 43.5K
269.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,456 R$37.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.32 R$240
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.49 R$211
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.6 R$375
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.1 R$308
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Mali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 R$1,657
$177 F CFA 99.2K
88.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 R$1,112
$81.2 F CFA 45.6K
175.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$639 R$3,169
$414 F CFA 232.1K
54.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$444 R$2,203
$306 F CFA 171.5K
45.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,914 R$9,493
$9,983 F CFA 5.6M
-80.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,305 R$6,472
$853 F CFA 478.6K
52.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Mali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 R$2,708
$258 F CFA 144.9K
111.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
0
-

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

Last update for Brazil: April 22, 2026

Last update for Mali: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $305 in Brazil vs $44 in Mali. For reference, capital cities sit at $407 in Brasilia and $176 in Bamako.

Average salary: $499 in Brazil vs $266 in Mali. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 593% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 200% more in Brazil.

Salaries are 88% higher in Brazil, giving Mali stronger purchasing power.

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 80% 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 80% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $1,200 go in Brazil vs 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 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.

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