😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $848 in Curitiba versus $737 in Caraguatatuba.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,333 in Curitiba versus $1,204 in Caraguatatuba.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,818 in Curitiba versus $1,672 in Caraguatatuba.
😐Living in Curitiba is roughly 15% more expensive than Caraguatatuba, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba37% lower, Caraguatatuba45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35R$26.80
$6.90R$34.55
-22.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.23R$161
$26.11R$131
23.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16R$30.82
$6.62R$33.12
-6.95%
Cappuccino
$2.07R$10.35
$1.75R$8.75
18.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.64
$1.06R$5.29
6.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69R$3.45
$0.76R$3.81
-9.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22R$11.10
$1.84R$9.19
20.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31R$16.55
$2.78R$13.89
19.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97R$4.85
$0.88R$4.41
10.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48R$7.40
$1.47R$7.34
0.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14R$5.73
$1.19R$5.95
-4.20%
Eggs
$2.05R$10.28
$1.69R$8.45
21.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.15R$40.77
$5.47R$27.39
48.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76R$18.81
$2.98R$14.89
26.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54R$37.72
$7.08R$35.43
6.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13R$10.68
$1.84R$9.21
15.76%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93R$4.66
$1.66R$8.33
-43.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.96R$4.81
$1.36R$6.81
-29.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21R$6.04
$1.72R$8.61
-29.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04R$5.18
$1.15R$5.77
-9.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87R$4.37
$0.69R$3.44
26.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59R$2.97
$0.66R$3.31
-10.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.31
$0.67R$3.37
-1.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11R$10.55
$1.78R$8.92
18.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92R$39.66
$7.09R$35.49
11.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18R$5.92
$1.37R$6.88
-13.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15R$10.77
$2.08R$10.41
3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07R$5.34
$0.93R$4.64
15.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.33R$237
$20.52R$103
130.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.52
$1.06R$5.31
3.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.46
$0.62R$3.08
11.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.38R$31.93
$3.25R$16.29
96.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22R$6.13
$1.06R$5.33
15.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KR$93.7K
$13.9KR$69.6K
34.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KR$131.1K
$27.1KR$135.7K
-3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.4R$362
$51.7R$259
39.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.52R$57.7
$11.52R$57.6
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.29R$107
$20.75R$104
2.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.34R$127
$19.48R$97.5
30.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.61R$83.1
$14.15R$70.8
17.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43R$32.16
$7.33R$36.70
-12.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286R$1,429
$198R$991
44.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,389R$32.0K
$3,829R$19.2K
66.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2R$271
$51.5R$258
5.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.55R$223
$56.2R$281
-20.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9R$415
$71.4R$357
16.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.5R$343
$52.6R$263
30.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$354R$1,773
$371R$1,857
-4.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246R$1,233
$207R$1,037
18.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$674R$3,375
$770R$3,853
-12.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495R$2,477
$476R$2,383
3.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,354R$11.8K
$1,575R$7,880
49.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,721R$8,615
$1,153R$5,770
49.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$656R$3,282
$330R$1,654
98.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
8.15
34.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: June 1, 2026
Last update for Caraguatatuba: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Curitiba and $371 in Caraguatatuba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 99% 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: $32.00 in Curitiba vs $26.00 in Caraguatatuba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $162 per month, with Caraguatatuba 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
Curitiba vs Caraguatatuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caraguatatuba cheaper than Curitiba?
Caraguatatuba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Curitiba or Caraguatatuba?
Curitiba pays 99% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Curitiba and Caraguatatuba?
Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Curitiba versus $371 in Caraguatatuba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Curitiba and Caraguatatuba?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Curitiba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Curitiba or Caraguatatuba?
Dining out is cheaper in Caraguatatuba – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $32.00 in Curitiba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Curitiba or Caraguatatuba?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Caraguatatuba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Curitiba or Caraguatatuba more family-friendly?
For families, Caraguatatuba is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Curitiba, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Caraguatatuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.