😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $988 in Curitiba versus $790 in Duque de Caxias.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,578 in Curitiba versus $1,344 in Duque de Caxias.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Curitiba versus $1,898 in Duque de Caxias.
🌍Living in Curitiba is roughly 25% more expensive than in Duque de Caxias, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba28% lower, Duque de Caxias43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.77R$39.81
$6.82R$34.94
13.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.20R$196
$38.93R$200
-1.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42R$43.17
$7.57R$38.81
11.23%
Cappuccino
$2.65R$13.56
$2.21R$11.34
19.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17R$6.01
$1.49R$7.66
-21.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R$4.44
$0.99R$5.08
-12.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66R$13.65
$2.25R$11.54
18.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16R$21.34
$3.34R$17.11
24.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R$5.15
$1.14R$5.84
-12.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81R$9.30
$1.99R$10.21
-9.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31R$6.71
$1.10R$5.65
19.09%
Eggs
$2.34R$11.98
$2.25R$11.54
4.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.59R$49.14
$8.88R$45.50
8.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.85R$24.88
$4.23R$21.68
14.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.98R$51.1
$9.60R$49.22
3.96%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60R$8.21
$2.70R$13.83
-40.74%
Banana(1kg)
$0.99R$5.06
$1.81R$9.27
-45.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01R$5.15
$1.58R$8.12
-36.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.83
$1.76R$9.00
-35.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86R$4.43
$1.22R$6.26
-29.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74R$3.79
$0.99R$5.09
-25.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76R$3.92
$0.68R$3.49
11.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.43
$0.67R$3.43
28.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88R$14.74
$2.64R$13.54
9.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54R$38.64
$7.78R$39.88
-3.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37R$7.01
$1.11R$5.69
23.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57R$13.17
$2.52R$12.89
1.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15R$5.89
$0.91R$4.68
26.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.3R$350
$42.81R$219
59.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28R$6.58
$1.22R$6.27
4.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73R$3.76
$1.34R$6.86
-45.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91R$30.27
$8.90R$45.62
-33.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32R$6.78
$1.27R$6.49
3.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KR$117.8K
$22.8KR$116.6K
1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KR$162.9K
$32.2KR$165.2K
-1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.6R$506
$44.70R$229
120.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.65R$75.1
$10.89R$55.8
34.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53R$115
$18.20R$93.3
23.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.08R$139
$25.43R$130
6.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22R$88.2
$26.97R$138
-36.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68R$34.23
$7.68R$39.35
-13.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$368R$1,886
$417R$2,139
-11.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KR$55.1K
$7,525R$38.6K
42.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0R$287
$40.16R$206
39.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.73R$255
$46.75R$240
6.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.2R$462
$92.8R$476
-2.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1R$385
$81.0R$415
-7.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$479R$2,457
$287R$1,473
66.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$277R$1,421
$165R$846
67.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$782R$4,010
$756R$3,877
3.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$522R$2,675
$441R$2,261
18.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,375R$12.2K
$1,235R$6,327
92.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,744R$8,937
$553R$2,832
215.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Duque de Caxias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$650R$3,333
$294R$1,506
121.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.54
11.12
3.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: August 30, 2026
Last update for Duque de Caxias: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Curitiba and $287 in Duque de Caxias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 121% 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: $38.00 in Curitiba vs $39.00 in Duque de Caxias for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $203 per month, with Curitiba 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 Duque de Caxias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Duque de Caxias?
Duque de Caxias wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Curitiba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duque de Caxias the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or in Duque de Caxias?
Average pay runs 121% higher in Curitiba, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Curitiba compared to Duque de Caxias?
Rent for a central apartment: $479 in Curitiba versus $287 in Duque de Caxias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba compared to Duque de Caxias?
A monthly transit pass in Duque de Caxias runs roughly 60% less than in Curitiba. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Curitiba and in Duque de Caxias?
Childcare runs $368 in Curitiba versus $417 in Duque de Caxias. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Curitiba or in Duque de Caxias?
At $790 in Duque de Caxias versus $988 in Curitiba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Duque de Caxias but tight or insufficient in Curitiba. The gap between the two cities makes Duque de Caxias the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Curitiba or Duque de Caxias?
Both work as nomad bases, but Duque de Caxias delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $790 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Duque de Caxias hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Duque de Caxias gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.