For one person, living is cheaper in Brazil: $909 a month against $2,694 in the Netherlands, rent and utilities included – about $21,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Brazil and in the Netherlands
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brazil and in the Netherlands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $909 per month in Brazil vs $2,694 in the Netherlands, rent included.
Brazil $909
Netherlands $2,694
A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Brazil vs $3,888 in the Netherlands, rent included.
Brazil $1,446
Netherlands $3,888
A family of three spends $1,983 per month in Brazil vs $5,081 in the Netherlands, rent included.
Brazil $1,983
Netherlands $5,081
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the Netherlands ($1,207–$3,496) than in Brazil ($608–$1,432), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Brazil is roughly 66% lower than in the Netherlands on average.
📊
Brazil sits 33% below the global median, while the Netherlands is 99% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15R$36.23
$22.27€19.81
-67.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.99R$172
$89.0€79.2
-61.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03R$40.72
$13.79€12.26
-41.77%
Cappuccino
$2.11R$10.69
$4.16€3.70
-49.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28R$6.47
$3.60€3.20
-64.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73R$3.71
$3.05€2.72
-76.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03R$10.30
$6.61€5.88
-69.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02R$15.30
$5.72€5.09
-47.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.49
$1.32€1.17
-18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70R$8.60
$2.25€2.01
-24.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25R$6.36
$2.69€2.39
-53.53%
Eggs
$2.25R$11.42
$4.71€4.19
-52.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.68R$49.06
$13.73€12.21
-29.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.26R$21.60
$14.11€12.55
-69.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.22R$41.69
$17.27€15.36
-52.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32R$11.76
$2.66€2.36
-12.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36R$6.89
$2.49€2.21
-45.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28R$6.49
$2.08€1.85
-38.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55R$7.86
$4.08€3.63
-62.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18R$5.98
$1.80€1.60
-34.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13R$5.73
$1.87€1.67
-39.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81R$4.13
$1.28€1.14
-36.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77R$3.88
$0.88€0.78
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45R$12.40
$14.16€12.59
-82.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83R$39.69
$6.66€5.92
17.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34R$6.79
$1.50€1.33
-10.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34R$11.88
$2.55€2.27
-8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98R$4.99
$3.75€3.34
-73.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.03R$243
$95.2€84.7
-49.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26R$6.40
$4.73€4.21
-73.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03R$5.21
$3.00€2.67
-65.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89R$40.00
$34.06€30.30
-76.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R$6.35
$2.43€2.16
-48.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KR$117.3K
$41.6K€37.0K
-44.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KR$165.8K
$38.8K€34.5K
-15.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9R$420
$259€230
-68.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.87R$65.3
$22.93€20.39
-43.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.04R$107
$50.3€44.74
-58.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.13R$127
$42.07€37.42
-40.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.63R$135
$26.22€23.33
1.56%
Cinema Ticket
$7.60R$38.51
$15.68€13.94
-51.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340R$1,724
$2,185€1,944
-84.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,119R$46.2K
$8,876€7,896
2.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7R$272
$94.7€84.3
-43.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.57R$246
$42.95€38.20
13.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3R$458
$102€90.8
-11.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6R$363
$132€117
-45.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$391R$1,980
$1,648€1,465
-76.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249R$1,260
$1,314€1,169
-81.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$725R$3,677
$2,547€2,266
-71.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486R$2,462
$1,985€1,766
-75.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,896R$9,612
$6,600€5,871
-71.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,302R$6,602
$4,779€4,251
-72.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Netherlands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$538R$2,727
$3,787€3,369
-85.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.19
3.87
189.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brazil: October 18, 2026
Last update for the Netherlands: October 18, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Brazil
$249 27.4%
Netherlands
$1.3K 48.8% ↑ 429%$1.1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Brazil
$195 21.4%
Netherlands
$337 12.5% ↑ 72.8%$142
🍽Eating Out
Brazil
$131 14.4%
Netherlands
$341 12.6% ↑ 160%$210
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
$119 13.1%
Netherlands
$167 6.2% ↑ 40.7%$48
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
$117 12.9%
Netherlands
$332 12.3% ↑ 184%$215
🚌Getting Around
Brazil
$58 6.4%
Netherlands
$130 4.8% ↑ 123%$72
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
$40 4.4%
Netherlands
$73 2.7% ↑ 82%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Brazil
$486 24.5%
Netherlands
$2K 39.1% ↑ 309%$1.5K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Brazil
$448 22.6%
Netherlands
$799 15.7% ↑ 78.4%$351
🍽Eating Out
Brazil
$430 21.7%
Netherlands
$1.1K 22.2% ↑ 163%$700
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
$264 13.3%
Netherlands
$372 7.3% ↑ 40.7%$108
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
$130 6.5%
Netherlands
$355 7% ↑ 174%$225
🚌Getting Around
Brazil
$119 6%
Netherlands
$267 5.3% ↑ 125%$149
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
$107 5.4%
Netherlands
$173 3.4% ↑ 61.3%$66
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $349 in Brazil vs $1,410 in the Netherlands. For reference, capital cities sit at $494 in Brasilia and $2,654 in Amsterdam.
💰Average salary: $499 in Brazil vs $3,603 in the Netherlands. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 304% higher in the Netherlands.
⭐Dining out costs 174% more in the Netherlands.
⭐Public transport is 110% more expensive in the Netherlands.
⭐Salaries are 622% higher in the Netherlands, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the Netherlands.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Netherlands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and the Netherlands compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 196% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Brazil and the Netherlands?
Housing costs more in the Netherlands: a central one-bedroom averages $1,410 versus $349 in Brazil.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or the Netherlands?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Brazil, adding to the overall 196% price gap.
How far does $2,000 go in Brazil compared to the Netherlands?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in the Netherlands it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in the Netherlands?
Brazil 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.