For one person, living is cheaper in Sri Lanka: $608 a month against $932 in Brazil, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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 Sri Lanka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $932 per month in Brazil vs $608 in Sri Lanka, rent included.
Brazil $932
Sri Lanka $608
A couple spends around $1,470 per month in Brazil vs $963 in Sri Lanka, rent included.
Brazil $1,470
Sri Lanka $963
A family of three spends $2,008 per month in Brazil vs $1,319 in Sri Lanka, rent included.
Brazil $2,008
Sri Lanka $1,319
🌍
The cost of living in Brazil is about 53% higher than in Sri Lanka on average.
📊
Both Brazil and Sri Lanka are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 30% lower, Sri Lanka 55% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.96R$34.74
$2.76LKR 913
152.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.46R$167
$19.14LKR 6,333
74.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.00R$39.92
$7.39LKR 2,446
8.25%
Cappuccino
$2.08R$10.41
$2.32LKR 767
-10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29R$6.44
$0.66LKR 217
95.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74R$3.71
$0.29LKR 95.5
155.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02R$10.09
$2.33LKR 769
-13.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07R$15.35
$3.05LKR 1,009
0.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.46
$1.59LKR 527
-31.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75R$8.72
$0.49LKR 161
257.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33R$6.63
$0.70LKR 230
90.00%
Eggs
$2.24R$11.17
$1.62LKR 537
38.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.56R$47.70
$12.02LKR 3,976
-20.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32R$21.56
$4.25LKR 1,406
1.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.54R$42.61
$7.37LKR 2,439
15.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32R$11.56
$5.61LKR 1,857
-58.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44R$7.19
$0.78LKR 257
84.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24R$6.18
$4.44LKR 1,467
-72.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56R$7.80
$1.26LKR 416
23.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24R$6.17
$0.94LKR 310
31.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.51
$0.83LKR 273
32.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81R$4.04
$0.81LKR 268
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78R$3.89
$0.47LKR 157
65.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56R$12.78
$9.95LKR 3,291
-74.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.19R$40.88
$11.98LKR 3,962
-31.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33R$6.65
$1.92LKR 635
-30.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46R$12.29
$2.65LKR 878
-7.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00R$4.98
$0.19LKR 62.8
426.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.08R$240
$5.95LKR 1,970
708.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29R$6.43
$0.46LKR 154
180.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02R$5.11
$0.34LKR 114
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.08R$40.35
$0.95LKR 315
750.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30R$6.49
$1.27LKR 420
2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6KR$117.7K
$30.0KLKR 9.9M
-21.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KR$166.7K
$40.3KLKR 13.3M
-17.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.5R$417
$46.21LKR 15.3K
80.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.34R$66.6
$4.00LKR 1,324
233.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.01R$105
$16.77LKR 5,547
25.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88R$129
$12.28LKR 4,063
110.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.11R$135
$6.36LKR 2,104
326.26%
Cinema Ticket
$7.25R$36.21
$3.73LKR 1,233
94.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343R$1,714
$35.47LKR 11.7K
868.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,142R$45.6K
$581LKR 192.1K
1474.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6R$267
$20.41LKR 6,752
162.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.97R$249
$15.50LKR 5,129
222.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7R$443
$72.7LKR 24.0K
22.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9R$354
$37.40LKR 12.4K
89.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$393R$1,963
$309LKR 102.2K
27.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254R$1,269
$139LKR 46.0K
82.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730R$3,646
$765LKR 253.2K
-4.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499R$2,488
$243LKR 80.4K
105.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,920R$9,584
$3,632LKR 1.2M
-47.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,295R$6,467
$1,134LKR 375.1K
14.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazil
Sri Lanka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$539R$2,690
$216LKR 71.5K
149.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.17
13.46
-17.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brazil: October 5, 2026
Last update for Sri Lanka: October 5, 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
$254 27.7%
Sri Lanka
$139 22.7% ↓ 45.3%$115
🛒Groceries & Markets
Brazil
$198 21.6%
Sri Lanka
$219 35.7% ↑ 10.4%$21
🍽Eating Out
Brazil
$129 14.1%
Sri Lanka
$94 15.3% ↓ 27.5%$35
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
$118 12.9%
Sri Lanka
$66 10.7% ↓ 44.5%$53
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
$118 12.9%
Sri Lanka
$67 10.9% ↓ 43.2%$51
🚌Getting Around
Brazil
$58 6.4%
Sri Lanka
$8.9 1.5% ↓ 84.8%$50
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
$40 4.4%
Sri Lanka
$20 3.2% ↓ 51.1%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Brazil
$498 25%
Sri Lanka
$243 18.7% ↓ 51.2%$255
🛒Groceries & Markets
Brazil
$455 22.8%
Sri Lanka
$500 38.5% ↑ 10%$46
🍽Eating Out
Brazil
$423 21.2%
Sri Lanka
$274 21.1% ↓ 35.2%$149
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Brazil
$263 13.2%
Sri Lanka
$146 11.2% ↓ 44.5%$117
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazil
$131 6.6%
Sri Lanka
$71 5.5% ↓ 45.9%$60
🚌Getting Around
Brazil
$119 6%
Sri Lanka
$18 1.4% ↓ 84.7%$101
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Brazil
$108 5.4%
Sri Lanka
$46 3.5% ↓ 57.5%$62
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $345 in Brazil vs $57.0 in Sri Lanka. For reference, capital cities sit at $498 in Brasilia and $302 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
💰Average salary: $494 in Brazil vs $201 in Sri Lanka. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 505% higher in Brazil.
⭐Dining out costs 55% more in Brazil.
⭐Public transport is 3900% more expensive in Brazil.
⭐Salaries are 146% higher in Brazil, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brazil.
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 Sri Lanka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Sri Lanka compare in cost of living?
Sri Lanka is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 53% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Sri Lanka?
Housing costs more in Brazil: a central one-bedroom averages $345 versus $57.0 in Sri Lanka.
How far does $1,200 go in Brazil compared to Sri Lanka?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sri Lanka, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka 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.