🙂A single person spends $765 per month in Brazil vs $1,426 in South Korea, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Brazil vs $2,249 in South Korea, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,681 per month in Brazil vs $3,071 in South Korea, rent included.
🙂Brazil is roughly 46% cheaper than South Korea on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Brazil sits 43% below the global median, while South Korea is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏Both countries show comparable internal variation: Brazil spans $563–$1,048, South Korea spans $1,253–$1,784. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.51R$27.43
$7.34₩10.8K
-24.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.01R$144
$44.05₩64.9K
-34.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.15R$30.63
$5.73₩8,448
7.33%
Cappuccino
$1.72R$8.59
$3.66₩5,396
-53.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12R$5.59
$1.64₩2,412
-31.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71R$3.51
$0.77₩1,138
-7.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76R$8.75
$3.74₩5,515
-52.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66R$13.25
$4.68₩6,894
-43.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99R$4.95
$2.24₩3,301
-55.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47R$7.34
$3.15₩4,635
-53.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22R$6.05
$2.95₩4,349
-58.64%
Eggs
$2.10R$10.43
$3.03₩4,470
-30.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.74R$43.52
$13.95₩20.5K
-37.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70R$18.44
$9.38₩13.8K
-60.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43R$37.01
$30.14₩44.4K
-75.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15R$10.70
$7.78₩11.5K
-72.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32R$6.56
$3.48₩5,134
-62.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14R$5.69
$5.84₩8,604
-80.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45R$7.22
$6.11₩9,009
-76.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18R$5.86
$3.89₩5,730
-69.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06R$5.26
$2.84₩4,179
-62.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71R$3.54
$2.41₩3,554
-70.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64R$3.18
$1.19₩1,760
-46.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18R$10.88
$3.38₩4,979
-35.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05R$40.09
$15.87₩23.4K
-49.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18R$5.89
$2.05₩3,025
-42.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25R$11.18
$2.89₩4,254
-22.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.29
$1.12₩1,656
-23.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.78R$208
$46.99₩69.2K
-11.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.49
$3.29₩4,842
-66.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84R$4.17
$0.56₩829
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.40R$36.87
$8.79₩12.9K
-15.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.38
$1.19₩1,755
-9.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KR$107.7K
$27.7K₩40.8M
-21.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KR$135.5K
$24.2K₩35.7M
12.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.1R$339
$167₩246.2K
-59.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.12R$70.3
$41.36₩60.9K
-65.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.25R$95.8
$21.78₩32.1K
-11.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.11R$115
$51.8₩76.3K
-55.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.58R$112
$19.40₩28.6K
16.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.26R$31.16
$11.22₩16.5K
-44.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282R$1,406
$392₩577.6K
-28.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,250R$36.1K
$22.6K₩33.3M
-67.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.23R$245
$57.9₩85.3K
-14.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.14R$210
$47.54₩70.0K
-11.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.1R$374
$80.6₩118.7K
-6.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0R$309
$109₩160.6K
-43.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$326R$1,625
$625₩920.5K
-47.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226R$1,128
$418₩615.3K
-45.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$654R$3,259
$1,564₩2.3M
-58.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$450R$2,241
$963₩1.4M
-53.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,947R$9,697
$13.0K₩19.2M
-85.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,317R$6,558
$8,275₩12.2M
-84.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
South Korea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541R$2,695
$2,241₩3.3M
-75.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
4.2
165.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brazil: April 28, 2026
Last update for South Korea: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $305 in Brazil vs $459 in South Korea. For reference, capital cities sit at $402 in Brasilia and $956 in Seoul.
💰Average salary: $498 in Brazil vs $1,973 in South Korea. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 50% higher in South Korea.
⭐Dining out costs 48% more in South Korea.
⭐Public transport is 225% more expensive in Brazil.
⭐Salaries are 296% higher in South Korea, giving South 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 South Korea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and South Korea compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 89% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and South Korea?
Housing costs more in South Korea, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Korea consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or South Korea?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 89% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Brazil vs South Korea?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in South Korea it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and South Korea?
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.