Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Romania Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and Romania

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $765 per month in Brazil vs $1,034 in Romania, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,224 per month in Brazil vs $1,583 in Romania, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Brazil vs $2,132 in Romania, rent included.

The cost of living in Brazil is roughly 26% lower than in Romania on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and Romania are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 43% lower, Romania 22% lower.

Cost ranges are similar: Brazil spans $565$1,048, Romania $820$1,410. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 R$28.65
$11.54 RON 52.7
-51.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.27 R$151
$46.30 RON 212
-36.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 R$32.92
$8.08 RON 36.91
-21.04%
Cappuccino
$1.71 R$8.83
$2.98 RON 13.61
-42.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 R$5.57
$1.97 RON 9.02
-45.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 R$3.67
$1.87 RON 8.53
-62.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 R$9.15
$2.80 RON 12.80
-36.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 R$13.67
$3.52 RON 16.08
-24.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.13
$1.63 RON 7.42
-39.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 R$7.74
$1.23 RON 5.60
21.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.28
$1.74 RON 7.95
-29.89%
Eggs
$2.11 R$10.89
$3.23 RON 14.74
-34.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.66 R$44.70
$8.84 RON 40.36
-2.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.61 R$18.66
$6.74 RON 30.79
-46.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.59 R$39.19
$11.29 RON 51.6
-32.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 R$10.85
$1.17 RON 5.36
79.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.55
$1.61 RON 7.35
-21.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 R$5.90
$1.60 RON 7.33
-28.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R$7.68
$2.15 RON 9.84
-30.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 R$5.86
$0.90 RON 4.12
26.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 R$5.71
$1.02 RON 4.67
8.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 R$3.70
$0.99 RON 4.53
-27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 R$3.33
$0.88 RON 4.00
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 R$11.37
$6.11 RON 27.91
-63.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.93 R$40.92
$6.46 RON 29.51
22.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$6.11
$1.12 RON 5.10
5.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 R$11.49
$1.74 RON 7.93
28.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Romania
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$4.86
$0.85 RON 3.87
10.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.82 R$216
$22.63 RON 103
84.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.43
$0.94 RON 4.31
11.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 R$4.36
$0.70 RON 3.18
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.41 R$38.25
$7.90 RON 36.09
-6.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.62
$1.63 RON 7.46
-33.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K R$109.8K
$28.4K RON 129.6K
-24.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K R$140.5K
$27.5K RON 125.7K
-1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.9 R$355
$163 RON 743
-57.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 R$71.3
$8.19 RON 37.42
68.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.16 R$98.9
$9.55 RON 43.62
100.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.81 R$118
$45.15 RON 206
-49.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.49 R$116
$20.90 RON 95.5
7.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.37 R$32.89
$8.00 RON 36.53
-20.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 R$1,473
$500 RON 2,284
-42.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,378 R$38.1K
$10.2K RON 46.6K
-27.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.57 R$256
$68.1 RON 311
-27.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 R$219
$41.68 RON 190
1.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.8 R$396
$81.8 RON 374
-6.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7 R$324
$92.8 RON 424
-32.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Romania
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$326 R$1,683
$493 RON 2,254
-33.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$229 R$1,181
$361 RON 1,651
-36.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$652 R$3,366
$837 RON 3,824
-22.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 R$2,302
$602 RON 2,752
-25.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,852 R$9,560
$2,562 RON 11.7K
-27.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,244 R$6,421
$1,905 RON 8,702
-34.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Romania
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 R$2,748
$1,079 RON 4,929
-50.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
6.84
63.16%

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

Last update for Brazil: June 15, 2026

Last update for Romania: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $305 in Brazil vs $391 in Romania. For reference, capital cities sit at $412 in Brasilia and $654 in Bucharest.

Average salary: $490 in Brazil vs $894 in Romania. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 28% higher in Romania.

Dining out costs 63% more in Romania.

Public transport is 86% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 82% higher in Romania, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Romania.

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 Romania: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Romania compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 38% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Romania?
Housing costs more in Romania, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Romania consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Romania?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 38% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Brazil compared to Romania?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in Romania it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Romania?
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.

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