😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $832 in Curitiba versus $787 in Joinville.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Curitiba versus $1,295 in Joinville.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,842 in Curitiba versus $1,802 in Joinville.
😐Living in Curitiba is roughly 6% more expensive than Joinville, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba38% lower, Joinville41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.48R$27.32
$7.38R$36.80
-25.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.76R$163
$36.27R$181
-9.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.42R$32.02
$6.44R$32.12
-0.31%
Cappuccino
$2.03R$10.12
$1.41R$7.03
43.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R$5.45
$0.94R$4.67
15.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R$3.38
$0.65R$3.25
4.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13R$10.61
$2.76R$13.78
-22.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17R$15.84
$2.47R$12.32
28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.57
$0.88R$4.39
4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43R$7.15
$1.24R$6.20
15.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16R$5.78
$0.83R$4.14
39.76%
Eggs
$2.15R$10.74
$2.50R$12.46
-14.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18R$40.82
$7.05R$35.18
16.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85R$19.21
$3.08R$15.36
25.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.30R$36.41
$8.00R$39.93
-8.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03R$10.12
$1.30R$6.49
56.15%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92R$4.61
$1.12R$5.60
-17.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90R$4.47
$1.18R$5.89
-23.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26R$6.31
$1.38R$6.88
-8.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96R$4.78
$1.16R$5.79
-17.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88R$4.41
$0.88R$4.39
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60R$2.98
$1.02R$5.09
-41.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68R$3.39
$0.71R$3.53
-4.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12R$10.56
$2.85R$14.21
-25.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83R$39.05
$9.53R$47.57
-17.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17R$5.84
$0.99R$4.95
18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22R$11.10
$3.00R$14.99
-26.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05R$5.26
$1.02R$5.07
2.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.20R$231
$50.1R$250
-7.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14R$5.69
$1.85R$9.21
-38.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.56
$1.01R$5.04
-29.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12R$30.53
$8.58R$42.80
-28.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16R$5.81
$1.04R$5.18
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KR$94.0K
$24.1KR$120.2K
-21.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KR$132.6K
$29.0KR$145.0K
-8.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.2R$365
$52.9R$264
38.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.66R$58.2
$13.14R$65.6
-11.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.53R$102
$20.43R$102
0.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.23R$126
$22.81R$114
10.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.97R$84.7
$21.81R$109
-22.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17R$30.80
$7.43R$37.08
-16.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$280R$1,399
$274R$1,368
2.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,394R$31.9K
$5,583R$27.9K
14.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4R$271
$45.27R$226
20.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.74R$228
$73.3R$366
-37.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1R$415
$82.3R$410
1.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.9R$334
$59.5R$297
12.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$364R$1,815
$278R$1,387
30.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249R$1,240
$207R$1,032
20.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669R$3,339
$564R$2,812
18.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503R$2,509
$410R$2,044
22.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,131R$10.6K
$1,919R$9,576
11.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,583R$7,898
$1,283R$6,402
23.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Joinville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$660R$3,291
$682R$3,404
-3.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
10.2
7.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: April 28, 2026
Last update for Joinville: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $364 in Curitiba and $278 in Joinville. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Joinville pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Curitiba vs $36.00 in Joinville. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $168, with Joinville cheaper for home cooking.
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 Joinville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Joinville?
Joinville wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Curitiba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Joinville the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or Joinville?
On paper, Joinville earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Curitiba vs Joinville?
Rent for a central apartment: $364 in Curitiba versus $278 in Joinville. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba vs Joinville?
A monthly transit pass in Joinville runs roughly 8% 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 Joinville?
Childcare runs $280 in Curitiba versus $274 in Joinville. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Curitiba or Joinville?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Joinville gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Curitiba or Joinville?
Both work as nomad bases, but Joinville delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $787 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Joinville hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Joinville gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.