😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $832 in Curitiba versus $735 in Montes Claros.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Curitiba versus $1,194 in Montes Claros.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,842 in Curitiba versus $1,653 in Montes Claros.
😐Living in Curitiba is roughly 13% more expensive than Montes Claros, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba38% lower, Montes Claros45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.48R$27.32
$3.18R$15.89
72.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.76R$163
$27.16R$136
20.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.42R$32.02
$6.35R$31.69
1.10%
Cappuccino
$2.03R$10.12
$1.78R$8.89
14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R$5.45
$1.11R$5.55
-1.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R$3.38
$0.66R$3.28
3.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13R$10.61
$1.29R$6.46
65.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17R$15.84
$2.73R$13.61
16.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.57
$1.02R$5.08
-9.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43R$7.15
$1.49R$7.44
-4.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16R$5.78
$1.13R$5.64
2.65%
Eggs
$2.15R$10.74
$2.02R$10.09
6.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.18R$40.82
$8.36R$41.72
-2.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.85R$19.21
$3.74R$18.64
2.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.30R$36.41
$7.10R$35.43
2.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03R$10.12
$2.12R$10.57
-4.25%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92R$4.61
$1.30R$6.50
-29.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90R$4.47
$1.14R$5.66
-21.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26R$6.31
$1.44R$7.18
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96R$4.78
$1.16R$5.78
-17.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88R$4.41
$1.06R$5.30
-16.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60R$2.98
$0.73R$3.67
-17.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68R$3.39
$0.62R$3.10
9.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12R$10.56
$2.15R$10.71
-1.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83R$39.05
$8.03R$40.06
-2.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17R$5.84
$1.23R$6.14
-4.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22R$11.10
$1.98R$9.88
12.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05R$5.26
$0.73R$3.65
43.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.20R$231
$38.45R$192
20.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14R$5.69
$1.06R$5.29
7.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.56
$0.75R$3.73
-5.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12R$30.53
$6.29R$31.38
-2.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16R$5.81
$0.99R$4.92
17.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KR$94.0K
$20.6KR$102.9K
-8.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KR$132.6K
$27.7KR$138.2K
-4.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.2R$365
$59.8R$298
22.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.66R$58.2
$13.63R$68.0
-14.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.53R$102
$18.09R$90.3
13.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.23R$126
$19.79R$98.7
27.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.97R$84.7
$22.05R$110
-23.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17R$30.80
$6.34R$31.61
-2.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$280R$1,399
$273R$1,362
2.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,394R$31.9K
$6,581R$32.8K
-2.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4R$271
$48.26R$241
12.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.74R$228
$42.61R$213
7.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1R$415
$75.6R$377
9.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.9R$334
$63.8R$319
4.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$364R$1,815
$320R$1,598
13.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249R$1,240
$212R$1,058
17.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669R$3,339
$572R$2,855
16.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503R$2,509
$426R$2,124
18.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,131R$10.6K
$1,665R$8,309
27.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,583R$7,898
$1,186R$5,917
33.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Montes Claros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$660R$3,291
$398R$1,988
65.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
10.92
0.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Curitiba: April 28, 2026
Last update for Montes Claros: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $364 in Curitiba and $320 in Montes Claros. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Curitiba pays 66% 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: $33.00 in Curitiba vs $27.00 in Montes Claros. Groceries flip the comparison at $169 vs $175, with Curitiba 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 Montes Claros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Montes Claros?
Montes Claros wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Curitiba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Montes Claros the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or Montes Claros?
Curitiba pays 66% more on average, 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 vs Montes Claros?
Rent for a central apartment: $364 in Curitiba versus $320 in Montes Claros. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba vs Montes Claros?
A monthly transit pass in Montes Claros runs roughly 20% 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 Montes Claros?
Childcare runs $280 in Curitiba versus $273 in Montes Claros. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Curitiba or Montes Claros?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Montes Claros 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 Montes Claros?
Both work as nomad bases, but Montes Claros delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $735 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Montes Claros hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Montes Claros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.