😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $842 in Curitiba versus $669 in Criciuma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,360 in Curitiba versus $1,005 in Criciuma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,878 in Curitiba versus $1,341 in Criciuma.
🌍Living in Curitiba is roughly 26% more expensive than in Criciuma, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba37% lower, Criciuma50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.46R$27.82
$5.05R$25.73
8.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.78R$162
$21.31R$109
49.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.25R$31.81
$5.16R$26.26
21.12%
Cappuccino
$2.02R$10.31
$1.21R$6.16
66.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.50
$0.89R$4.53
21.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R$3.44
$0.57R$2.89
19.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20R$11.19
$1.65R$8.38
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19R$16.25
$1.49R$7.57
114.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.67
$0.88R$4.48
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41R$7.17
$1.24R$6.30
13.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19R$6.07
$0.98R$5.00
21.43%
Eggs
$2.12R$10.77
$1.83R$9.34
15.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23R$41.88
$7.74R$39.43
6.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.78R$19.25
$3.16R$16.10
19.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.65R$38.96
$6.59R$33.55
16.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07R$10.52
$1.86R$9.45
11.29%
Banana(1kg)
$0.96R$4.87
$0.83R$4.25
15.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97R$4.93
$0.92R$4.68
5.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20R$6.13
$1.27R$6.49
-5.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01R$5.16
$1.00R$5.09
1.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93R$4.76
$0.99R$5.02
-6.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61R$3.09
$0.65R$3.33
-6.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.36
$0.62R$3.17
6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19R$11.14
$2.49R$12.69
-12.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.66R$38.99
$4.88R$24.82
56.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17R$5.96
$1.03R$5.24
13.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27R$11.53
$1.31R$6.66
73.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05R$5.36
$0.93R$4.72
12.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.01R$239
$32.24R$164
45.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.58
$0.41R$2.08
168.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.63
$1.06R$5.39
-33.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.40R$32.61
$2.13R$10.86
200.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17R$5.93
$1.04R$5.30
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4KR$93.9K
$19.8KR$100.7K
-6.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KR$133.6K
$25.4KR$129.5K
3.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.7R$370
$59.3R$302
22.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.43R$58.2
$13.86R$70.6
-17.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.22R$108
$20.47R$104
3.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.04R$133
$24.87R$127
4.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.67R$84.9
$21.28R$108
-21.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48R$33.01
$7.79R$39.65
-16.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286R$1,454
$128R$654
122.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,461R$32.9K
$1,502R$7,648
330.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6R$278
$23.97R$122
127.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98R$229
$30.11R$153
49.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.1R$418
$68.8R$350
19.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2R$352
$31.40R$160
120.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$359R$1,826
$218R$1,111
64.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247R$1,259
$195R$991
27.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$671R$3,414
$301R$1,532
122.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494R$2,514
$248R$1,260
99.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,373R$12.1K
$1,185R$6,032
100.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,736R$8,837
$626R$3,186
177.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$639R$3,252
$310R$1,576
106.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
8.4
30.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: July 12, 2026
Last update for Criciuma: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $359 in Curitiba and $218 in Criciuma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 106% 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 $21.00 in Criciuma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $148 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
Curitiba vs Criciuma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Criciuma cheaper than Curitiba?
Criciuma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Curitiba or Criciuma?
Average pay runs 106% higher in Curitiba, 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 Criciuma?
Rent for a central apartment: $359 in Curitiba versus $218 in Criciuma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Criciuma runs roughly 46% less than in Curitiba. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $286 in Curitiba versus $128 in Criciuma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 enough for either Curitiba or Criciuma?
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.
Is Curitiba or Criciuma more family-friendly?
For families, Criciuma 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 Criciuma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.