For one person, living is cheaper in Brazil: $855 a month against $2,074 in New Zealand, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Brazil and in New Zealand
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 New Zealand actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $855 per month in Brazil vs $2,074 in New Zealand, rent included.
Brazil $855
New Zealand $2,074
A couple spends around $1,363 per month in Brazil vs $3,050 in New Zealand, rent included.
Brazil $1,363
New Zealand $3,050
A family of three spends $1,871 per month in Brazil vs $4,026 in New Zealand, rent included.
Brazil $1,871
New Zealand $4,026
📏
The regional cost range is wider in New Zealand ($835–$2,406) than in Brazil ($478–$1,349), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Brazil is roughly 59% lower than in New Zealand on average.
📊
Brazil sits 37% below the global median, while New Zealand is 53% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.50R$35.65
$13.77NZ$24.61
-52.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.90R$170
$67.2NZ$120
-54.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25R$39.80
$8.79NZ$15.70
-17.52%
Cappuccino
$1.99R$10.93
$3.40NZ$6.07
-41.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14R$6.25
$2.09NZ$3.74
-45.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73R$3.98
$1.98NZ$3.54
-63.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81R$9.91
$6.83NZ$12.20
-73.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82R$15.48
$6.67NZ$11.92
-57.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98R$5.39
$1.74NZ$3.11
-43.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63R$8.92
$1.81NZ$3.24
-9.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22R$6.71
$1.73NZ$3.08
-29.48%
Eggs
$2.15R$11.81
$6.03NZ$10.77
-64.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.84R$48.50
$8.24NZ$14.72
7.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.09R$22.42
$9.29NZ$16.60
-55.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98R$43.77
$14.12NZ$25.22
-43.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.16R$11.85
$2.78NZ$4.97
-22.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30R$7.14
$2.16NZ$3.85
-39.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16R$6.36
$2.79NZ$4.98
-58.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46R$8.03
$4.98NZ$8.90
-70.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10R$6.03
$1.95NZ$3.48
-43.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02R$5.58
$1.57NZ$2.81
-35.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$4.05
$2.07NZ$3.70
-64.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72R$3.97
$1.07NZ$1.92
-32.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.27R$12.45
$24.33NZ$43.47
-90.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.20R$39.48
$8.76NZ$15.65
-17.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24R$6.78
$3.00NZ$5.36
-58.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26R$12.38
$3.18NZ$5.69
-28.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$5.10
$1.93NZ$3.44
-51.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.48R$244
$111NZ$198
-59.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21R$6.64
$2.30NZ$4.10
-47.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$4.15
$1.97NZ$3.52
-61.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56R$41.49
$32.22NZ$57.6
-76.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21R$6.61
$1.71NZ$3.05
-29.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KR$119.1K
$28.3KNZ$50.6K
-23.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KR$169.6K
$23.1KNZ$41.4K
33.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.0R$428
$158NZ$282
-50.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.96R$65.6
$31.06NZ$55.5
-61.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.21R$105
$49.72NZ$88.9
-61.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.14R$132
$33.64NZ$60.1
-28.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.23R$138
$14.96NZ$26.74
68.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37R$40.43
$11.26NZ$20.13
-34.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319R$1,752
$841NZ$1,504
-62.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7KR$69.8K
$21.0KNZ$37.6K
-39.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.80R$268
$67.6NZ$121
-27.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.66R$245
$35.73NZ$63.8
24.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6R$464
$94.0NZ$168
-10.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.9R$356
$115NZ$206
-43.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366R$2,009
$1,102NZ$1,970
-66.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241R$1,325
$955NZ$1,706
-74.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$704R$3,864
$1,743NZ$3,115
-59.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482R$2,645
$1,508NZ$2,695
-68.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,805R$9,903
$5,719NZ$10.2K
-68.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,258R$6,902
$3,643NZ$6,510
-65.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
New Zealand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528R$2,900
$2,766NZ$4,942
-80.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.14
6.26
77.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brazil: November 2, 2026
Last update for New Zealand: November 1, 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
$241 28.2%
New Zealand
$955 46.1% ↑ 295%$713
🛒Groceries & Markets
Brazil
$183 21.4%
New Zealand
$312 15.1% ↑ 70.4%$129
🍽Eating Out
Brazil
$120 14%
New Zealand
$241 11.6% ↑ 101%$121
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
$109 12.8%
New Zealand
$141 6.8% ↑ 28.7%$31
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
$109 12.8%
New Zealand
$238 11.5% ↑ 118%$129
🚌Getting Around
Brazil
$53 6.2%
New Zealand
$131 6.3% ↑ 146%$77
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
$39 4.6%
New Zealand
$56 2.7% ↑ 44.5%$17
🏠Accommodation & Living
Brazil
$482 25.8%
New Zealand
$1.5K 37.5% ↑ 213%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Brazil
$421 22.5%
New Zealand
$728 18.1% ↑ 72.8%$307
🍽Eating Out
Brazil
$392 21%
New Zealand
$815 20.3% ↑ 108%$423
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
$243 13%
New Zealand
$313 7.8% ↑ 28.7%$70
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
$121 6.5%
New Zealand
$269 6.7% ↑ 122%$148
🚌Getting Around
Brazil
$108 5.8%
New Zealand
$265 6.6% ↑ 145%$157
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
$103 5.5%
New Zealand
$127 3.2% ↑ 23.6%$24
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $333 in Brazil vs $998 in New Zealand. For reference, capital cities sit at $508 in Brasilia and $1,148 in Wellington.
💰Average salary: $473 in Brazil vs $2,907 in New Zealand. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 200% higher in New Zealand.
⭐Dining out costs 128% more in New Zealand.
⭐Public transport is 137% more expensive in New Zealand.
⭐Salaries are about 6.1 times higher in New Zealand, and purchasing power comes out stronger in New Zealand.
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 New Zealand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and New Zealand compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 59% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Brazil and New Zealand?
Housing costs more in New Zealand: a central one-bedroom averages $998 versus $333 in Brazil.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or New Zealand?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Brazil – part of why living there is about 59% cheaper overall.
How far does $2,000 go in Brazil compared to New Zealand?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in New Zealand it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in New Zealand?
Brazil is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.