Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Curitiba and Caraguatatuba

For one person, living is cheaper in Caraguatatuba: $778 a month against $1,005 in Curitiba, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Curitiba, Brazil
Caraguatatuba, Brazil
Curitiba
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,005
/mo nomad
Caraguatatuba
🇧🇷 Brazil
$778
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Curitiba and in Caraguatatuba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Curitiba and in Caraguatatuba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Curitiba versus $778 in Caraguatatuba.

  • Curitiba $1,005
  • Caraguatatuba $778

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,555 in Curitiba versus $1,259 in Caraguatatuba.

  • Curitiba $1,555
  • Caraguatatuba $1,259

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,105 in Curitiba versus $1,739 in Caraguatatuba.

  • Curitiba $2,105
  • Caraguatatuba $1,739

Living in Curitiba is roughly 29% more expensive than in Caraguatatuba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba 26% lower, Caraguatatuba 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58 R$40.81
$6.94 R$37.36
9.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.75 R$198
$26.88 R$145
36.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 R$45.30
$8.24 R$44.37
2.18%
Cappuccino
$2.61 R$14.07
$2.15 R$11.58
21.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04 R$5.57
$1.10 R$5.91
-5.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 R$4.71
$0.86 R$4.65
1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 R$13.83
$2.25 R$12.11
14.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 R$20.45
$2.94 R$15.81
29.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 R$5.43
$1.00 R$5.38
1.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 R$9.22
$1.50 R$8.07
14.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.63
$1.23 R$6.60
-
Eggs
$2.41 R$12.99
$1.83 R$9.84
31.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.71 R$52.3
$5.62 R$30.24
72.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.62 R$24.86
$2.96 R$15.92
56.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.70 R$52.2
$7.28 R$39.20
33.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 R$9.00
$1.94 R$10.43
-13.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.00 R$5.37
$1.58 R$8.50
-36.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 R$5.27
$1.39 R$7.48
-29.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.92
$1.26 R$6.78
2.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 R$4.10
$1.24 R$6.65
-38.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 R$3.99
$0.77 R$4.14
-3.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 R$3.74
$0.67 R$3.60
2.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 R$4.42
$0.77 R$4.16
6.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 R$15.28
$2.00 R$10.78
42.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.60 R$35.54
$6.33 R$34.08
4.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$6.34
$1.46 R$7.84
-19.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 R$12.64
$2.36 R$12.70
-0.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 R$5.94
$0.96 R$5.16
14.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.2 R$362
$21.53 R$116
212.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 R$6.43
$1.08 R$5.84
10.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 R$3.90
$0.66 R$3.56
9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.52 R$29.73
$3.30 R$17.77
67.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 R$6.81
$1.21 R$6.52
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K R$121.4K
$14.3K R$77.0K
57.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K R$169.5K
$27.6K R$148.7K
13.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.2 R$529
$62.2 R$335
57.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.78 R$74.2
$12.19 R$65.6
13.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.88 R$118
$21.17 R$114
3.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.83 R$139
$20.15 R$108
28.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.57 R$100.0
$15.02 R$80.9
23.64%
Cinema Ticket
$7.49 R$40.32
$7.41 R$39.89
1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$358 R$1,927
$207 R$1,111
73.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K R$56.4K
$3,944 R$21.2K
165.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 R$281
$53.3 R$287
-2.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7 R$278
$52.1 R$280
-0.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 R$475
$72.4 R$390
22.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5 R$401
$55.4 R$298
34.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$464 R$2,495
$396 R$2,132
17.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$301 R$1,617
$218 R$1,175
37.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$779 R$4,195
$790 R$4,254
-1.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$529 R$2,845
$484 R$2,606
9.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,306 R$12.4K
$1,610 R$8,666
43.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,708 R$9,189
$1,166 R$6,277
46.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Caraguatatuba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$650 R$3,501
$308 R$1,658
111.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.54
8.15
41.60%

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

Last update for Curitiba: October 26, 2026

Last update for Caraguatatuba: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
$301
Caraguatatuba
$218 27.4% $82
Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
$188
Caraguatatuba
$164 13% $24
Eating Out
Curitiba
$145
Caraguatatuba
$131 9.9% $14
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
$134
Caraguatatuba
$96 28.6% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
$120
Caraguatatuba
$105 12.5% $15
Getting Around
Curitiba
$76
Caraguatatuba
$30 61.1% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
$41
Caraguatatuba
$35 14.3% $5.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $464 in Curitiba and $396 in Caraguatatuba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Curitiba pays about 2.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $37 in Curitiba vs $27 in Caraguatatuba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $164 per month, with Caraguatatuba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Curitiba
🇧🇷 Caraguatatuba
🕒 Local time
10:12 10:12 AM
10:12 10:12 AM
Same time as Curitiba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,773,718
134,873
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 5.38 BRL (1 BRL = 0.186 USD). 1 EUR = 6.01 BRL (1 BRL = 0.167 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Curitiba Caraguatatuba 440 km
From you
  • Curitiba
  • Caraguatatuba

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
Curitiba vs Caraguatatuba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caraguatatuba cheaper than Curitiba?
Caraguatatuba is about 23% cheaper overall, especially in transport, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Curitiba or Caraguatatuba?
Average pay in Curitiba is about 2.1 times higher, 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: $464 in Curitiba versus $396 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 in Caraguatatuba?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Curitiba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Curitiba or in Caraguatatuba?
Dining out is cheaper in Caraguatatuba – a meal for two runs $27 versus $37 in Curitiba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Curitiba or in Caraguatatuba?
At $778 in Caraguatatuba versus $1,005 in Curitiba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Caraguatatuba but tight or insufficient in Curitiba. The gap between the two cities makes Caraguatatuba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Curitiba or in Caraguatatuba?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Caraguatatuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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