Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and North Korea Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and North Korea

Name: North Korea
Address: KP

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Brazil vs $89.0 in North Korea, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Brazil vs $140 in North Korea, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,681 per month in Brazil vs $191 in North Korea, rent included.

Brazil costs about 760% more than North Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and North Korea are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 43% lower, North Korea 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 R$26.73

$2.96 $2.96

80.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.68 R$144

$23.49 $23.49

22.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 R$31.68

$13.11 $13.11

-51.72%

Cappuccino

$1.77 R$8.84

$1.18 $1.18

50.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 R$5.40

$2.21 $2.21

-51.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 R$3.28

$1.14 $1.14

-42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 R$9.08

$14.14 $14.14

-87.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 R$13.79

$2.83 $2.83

-2.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 R$4.67

$0.94 $0.94

-1.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 R$7.36

$2.08 $2.08

-29.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 R$5.89

$1.62 $1.62

-27.16%

Eggs

$2.05 R$10.26

$2.51 $2.51

-18.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 R$41.75

$4.74 $4.74

75.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 R$18.88

$2.34 $2.34

61.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 R$36.34

$5.96 $5.96

21.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 R$10.38

$6.73 $6.73

-69.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 R$6.36

$4.75 $4.75

-73.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 R$5.64

$2.34 $2.34

-51.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 R$7.25

$2.25 $2.25

-35.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 R$5.67

$3.38 $3.38

-66.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 R$5.54

$3.50 $3.50

-68.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 R$3.60

$2.35 $2.35

-69.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 R$3.43

$0.48 $0.48

43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 R$10.74

$4.52 $4.52

-52.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.09 R$40.47

$7.92 $7.92

2.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 R$5.86

$1.15 $1.15

1.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 R$10.66

$2.30 $2.30

-7.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 R$4.31

$1.05 $1.05

-18.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.93 R$205

$39.91 $39.91

2.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 R$5.29

$1.58 $1.58

-32.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 R$4.48

$2.03 $2.03

-55.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.33 R$36.68

$41.06 $41.06

-82.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 R$5.20

$0.72 $0.72

44.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K R$106.5K

$22.7K $22.7K

-6.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.5K R$137.6K

$29.5K $29.5K

-6.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$68.1 R$341

$34.83 $34.83

95.38%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.08 R$70.4

$11.58 $11.58

21.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.45 R$97.3

$46.48 $46.48

-58.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.15 R$116

$44.32 $44.32

-47.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.55 R$113

$14.79 $14.79

52.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 R$31.84

$8.15 $8.15

-21.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$289 R$1,445

$112 $112

157.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,444 R$37.3K

$2,153 $2,153

245.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.66 R$249

$22.78 $22.78

118.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.98 R$210

$28.75 $28.75

46.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 R$387

$63.0 $63.0

22.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.0 R$316

$86.6 $86.6

-27.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 R$1,632

$99.7 $99.7

227.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 R$1,144

$110 $110

107.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$634 R$3,170

$1,447 $1,447

-56.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 R$2,263

$215 $215

110.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,906 R$9,537

$1,755 $1,755

8.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,257 R$6,293

$1,445 $1,445

-12.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 R$2,683

$243 $243

120.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

7.11

56.96%

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

Last update for Brazil: May 31, 2026

Last update for North Korea: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $304 in Brazil vs $17.00 in North Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $408 in Brasilia and $93.0 in Pyongyang.

Average salary: $494 in Brazil vs $234 in North Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1688% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 575% more in Brazil.

Public transport is 875% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 111% higher in Brazil, giving North Korea 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 North Korea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Korea is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 121% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Brazil, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Brazil consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in North Korea, contributing to the overall 121% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in North Korea, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

North Korea 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.