🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Criciuma versus $856 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,003 in Criciuma versus $1,405 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,328 in Criciuma versus $1,955 in Brasilia.
🙂Living in Criciuma costs roughly 21% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Criciuma50% lower, Brasilia36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.84R$24.10
$7.04R$35.05
-31.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.99R$110
$40.17R$200
-45.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.28R$26.28
$6.40R$31.86
-17.50%
Cappuccino
$1.25R$6.22
$1.92R$9.56
-34.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85R$4.25
$1.22R$6.08
-30.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57R$2.85
$0.87R$4.34
-34.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64R$8.17
$1.78R$8.85
-7.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51R$7.52
$3.21R$15.97
-52.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86R$4.29
$1.00R$4.96
-14.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29R$6.41
$1.63R$8.12
-20.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98R$4.86
$1.42R$7.09
-30.99%
Eggs
$1.77R$8.82
$2.00R$9.97
-11.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97R$39.71
$9.37R$46.67
-14.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21R$15.96
$3.25R$16.20
-1.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.84R$34.06
$6.95R$34.62
-1.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86R$9.26
$1.96R$9.77
-5.10%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90R$4.46
$1.42R$7.08
-36.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.85R$4.21
$1.16R$5.78
-26.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25R$6.25
$1.60R$7.99
-21.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98R$4.89
$1.29R$6.44
-24.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02R$5.08
$1.24R$6.19
-17.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70R$3.48
$0.81R$4.01
-13.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.12
$0.66R$3.31
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54R$12.67
$2.19R$10.92
15.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.91R$24.45
$9.98R$49.69
-50.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03R$5.13
$1.07R$5.33
-3.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25R$6.24
$2.34R$11.63
-46.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.34
$0.95R$4.73
-8.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.00R$159
$43.98R$219
-27.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42R$2.08
$1.00R$4.96
-58.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02R$5.06
$0.78R$3.89
30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.13R$10.60
$5.59R$27.83
-61.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.43
$1.09R$5.43
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KR$99.1K
$24.9KR$123.8K
-20.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KR$127.3K
$28.7KR$142.7K
-10.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.4R$291
$71.7R$357
-18.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.10R$70.2
$13.22R$65.8
6.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.81R$104
$20.34R$101
2.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.92R$124
$25.07R$125
-0.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.63R$108
$21.54R$107
0.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84R$39.05
$7.03R$35.03
11.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126R$628
$481R$2,396
-73.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,500R$7,469
$15.4KR$76.5K
-90.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.63R$123
$59.5R$296
-58.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.13R$150
$41.60R$207
-27.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0R$339
$69.1R$344
-1.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$31.62R$157
$64.9R$323
-51.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$221R$1,101
$411R$2,045
-46.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$198R$985
$254R$1,263
-22.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$296R$1,475
$963R$4,794
-69.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247R$1,228
$552R$2,749
-55.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,189R$5,921
$2,758R$13.7K
-56.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641R$3,195
$1,809R$9,007
-64.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Criciuma
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$320R$1,595
$753R$3,749
-57.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.4
11.87
-29.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Criciuma: April 14, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $221 in Criciuma and $411 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasilia pays 135% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $22 in Criciuma vs $40 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $184 per month, with Criciuma cheaper across the board.
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
Criciuma vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Criciuma and Brasilia?
Criciuma and Brasilia differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($679 vs $856 including rent). Criciuma is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Brasilia earns 135% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Criciuma and Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $221 in Criciuma versus $411 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Criciuma – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $40.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Criciuma or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $679 per month in Criciuma versus $856 in Brasilia – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,000 go in Criciuma vs Brasilia?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Criciuma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Criciuma and Brasilia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Criciuma or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Criciuma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.