Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Curitiba and Nova Iguacu

For one person, living is cheaper in Nova Iguacu: $736 a month against $1,055 in Curitiba, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Curitiba
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,055
/mo nomad
Nova Iguacu
🇧🇷 Brazil
$736
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Curitiba and in Nova Iguacu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Curitiba and in Nova Iguacu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,055 in Curitiba versus $736 in Nova Iguacu.

  • Curitiba $1,055
  • Nova Iguacu $736

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Curitiba versus $1,212 in Nova Iguacu.

  • Curitiba $1,641
  • Nova Iguacu $1,212

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,228 in Curitiba versus $1,687 in Nova Iguacu.

  • Curitiba $2,228
  • Nova Iguacu $1,687

Living in Curitiba is roughly 43% more expensive than in Nova Iguacu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Curitiba 22% lower, Nova Iguacu 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.08 R$40.95
$3.54 R$17.92
128.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.04 R$198
$30.13 R$153
29.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.72 R$44.21
$7.87 R$39.92
10.80%
Cappuccino
$2.64 R$13.40
$1.89 R$9.59
39.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 R$5.74
$1.20 R$6.11
-5.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 R$4.68
$0.58 R$2.94
58.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 R$13.84
$1.68 R$8.50
62.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 R$19.56
$1.61 R$8.15
139.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 R$5.36
$1.23 R$6.25
-13.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 R$9.24
$1.62 R$8.19
12.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.92
$1.13 R$5.71
21.24%
Eggs
$2.54 R$12.87
$1.97 R$9.96
28.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 R$51.1
$8.24 R$41.75
22.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.08 R$25.75
$2.82 R$14.31
80.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.49 R$53.2
$7.08 R$35.90
48.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 R$8.70
$1.37 R$6.95
25.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 R$5.32
$1.41 R$7.15
-25.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.20
$0.95 R$4.82
8.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 R$7.03
$1.74 R$8.84
-20.11%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 R$4.04
$1.02 R$5.19
-21.57%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 R$4.03
$1.03 R$5.22
-22.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 R$4.09
$0.41 R$2.08
97.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 R$4.17
$0.42 R$2.13
95.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 R$14.88
$1.82 R$9.25
61.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.12 R$36.10
$5.80 R$29.41
22.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 R$6.63
$0.97 R$4.92
35.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 R$12.89
$1.37 R$6.94
85.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 R$5.91
$1.48 R$7.51
-20.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.0 R$360
$50.1 R$254
41.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 R$6.40
$1.33 R$6.77
-5.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 R$3.87
$1.38 R$6.98
-44.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.96 R$30.23
$9.26 R$46.94
-35.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 R$6.60
$1.18 R$5.96
10.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K R$118.0K
$23.8K R$120.8K
-2.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K R$169.0K
$34.0K R$172.1K
-1.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 R$534
$42.49 R$215
148.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.51 R$73.6
$11.82 R$59.9
22.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.46 R$119
$17.90 R$90.7
31.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.95 R$147
$23.75 R$120
21.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.08 R$102
$39.25 R$199
-48.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 R$39.45
$6.08 R$30.80
27.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$383 R$1,943
$73.3 R$371
423.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K R$55.4K
$1,935 R$9,808
464.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 R$292
$54.2 R$275
6.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 R$280
$37.22 R$189
48.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.7 R$480
$65.2 R$331
45.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8 R$410
$58.4 R$296
38.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$515 R$2,612
$321 R$1,627
60.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 R$1,540
$214 R$1,086
41.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$851 R$4,316
$654 R$3,318
30.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$549 R$2,785
$444 R$2,250
23.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,472 R$12.5K
$972 R$4,926
154.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,745 R$8,847
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Curitiba
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$687 R$3,481
$244 R$1,238
181.26%
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: October 18, 2026

Last update for Nova Iguacu: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Curitiba
$304
Nova Iguacu
$214 29.5% $90
Groceries & Markets
Curitiba
$200
Nova Iguacu
$160 20.3% $41
Eating Out
Curitiba
$152
Nova Iguacu
$93 38.6% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Curitiba
$143
Nova Iguacu
$72 49.6% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Curitiba
$130
Nova Iguacu
$97 25.4% $33
Getting Around
Curitiba
$81
Nova Iguacu
$64 20.5% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Curitiba
$45
Nova Iguacu
$36 19.3% $8.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Curitiba and $321 in Nova Iguacu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Curitiba pays 181% 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 $30.00 in Nova Iguacu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $160 per month, with Nova Iguacu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Curitiba
🇧🇷 Nova Iguacu
🕒 Local time
07:20 7:20 AM
07:20 7:20 AM
Same time as Curitiba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,773,718
785,867
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Curitiba Nova Iguacu 660 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Curitiba
  • Nova Iguacu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nova Iguacu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Curitiba or Nova Iguacu?
Nova Iguacu wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Curitiba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nova Iguacu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Curitiba or in Nova Iguacu?
Average pay runs 181% 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 Nova Iguacu?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Curitiba versus $321 in Nova Iguacu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Curitiba compared to Nova Iguacu?
A monthly transit pass in Nova Iguacu runs roughly 42% 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 Nova Iguacu?
Childcare runs $383 in Curitiba versus $73.3 in Nova Iguacu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Curitiba or in Nova Iguacu?
At $736 in Nova Iguacu versus $1,055 in Curitiba, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nova Iguacu but tight or insufficient in Curitiba. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Iguacu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Curitiba or Nova Iguacu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nova Iguacu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $736 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nova Iguacu hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nova Iguacu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Curitiba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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