😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Curitiba versus $759 in Criciuma.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,597 in Curitiba versus $1,116 in Criciuma.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,182 in Curitiba versus $1,474 in Criciuma.
🌍Living in Curitiba is roughly 33% more expensive than in Criciuma, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba26% lower, Criciuma45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69R$39.56
$5.91R$30.37
30.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.55R$198
$20.98R$108
83.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.86R$45.56
$5.88R$30.21
50.68%
Cappuccino
$2.76R$14.18
$1.32R$6.77
109.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19R$6.11
$1.06R$5.47
12.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.42
$0.77R$3.98
11.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.69R$13.81
$1.58R$8.13
70.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15R$21.33
$1.91R$9.80
117.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01R$5.19
$0.95R$4.91
6.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90R$9.79
$1.51R$7.76
25.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34R$6.90
$1.06R$5.45
26.42%
Eggs
$2.39R$12.31
$1.96R$10.06
21.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.45R$48.59
$8.18R$42.07
15.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80R$24.68
$3.42R$17.60
40.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.99R$51.4
$8.35R$42.95
19.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61R$8.30
$2.01R$10.34
-19.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02R$5.26
$1.20R$6.18
-15.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97R$4.97
$0.94R$4.81
3.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20R$6.18
$1.58R$8.12
-24.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82R$4.22
$1.23R$6.34
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70R$3.61
$1.09R$5.62
-35.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70R$3.60
$0.83R$4.24
-15.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.44
$0.67R$3.46
28.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88R$14.83
$2.39R$12.29
20.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61R$39.11
$4.63R$23.80
64.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37R$7.02
$1.12R$5.78
22.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56R$13.14
$1.43R$7.34
79.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19R$6.12
$0.99R$5.07
20.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.9R$364
$38.42R$198
84.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29R$6.61
$0.49R$2.53
163.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81R$4.19
$0.83R$4.26
-2.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82R$29.95
$2.28R$11.71
155.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29R$6.64
$1.31R$6.71
-1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5KR$120.9K
$22.9KR$117.8K
2.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6KR$167.8K
$31.1KR$160.1K
4.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.8R$508
$71.8R$369
37.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76R$75.9
$12.08R$62.1
22.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.69R$117
$21.90R$113
3.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.98R$139
$28.86R$148
-6.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.30R$89.0
$39.35R$202
-56.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91R$35.55
$6.83R$35.14
1.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$364R$1,873
$163R$836
124.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KR$54.9K
$2,918R$15.0K
265.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4R$290
$49.65R$255
13.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.89R$257
$28.88R$149
72.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0R$483
$81.7R$420
15.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6R$389
$41.35R$213
82.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501R$2,576
$241R$1,237
108.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$280R$1,438
$207R$1,064
35.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$773R$3,972
$397R$2,039
94.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$524R$2,696
$259R$1,331
102.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,432R$12.5K
$1,191R$6,123
104.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,758R$9,040
$642R$3,303
173.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Criciuma
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$649R$3,338
$304R$1,561
113.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.54
10.74
7.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: September 12, 2026
Last update for Criciuma: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Curitiba and $241 in Criciuma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 114% 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: $39.00 in Curitiba vs $21.00 in Criciuma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $167 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Curitiba or Criciuma?
Average pay runs 114% 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: $501 in Curitiba versus $241 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 84% 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 $364 in Curitiba versus $163 in Criciuma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Curitiba or in Criciuma?
At $759 in Criciuma versus $1,011 in Curitiba, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Criciuma but tight or insufficient in Curitiba. The gap between the two cities makes Criciuma the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 33% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.