🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in Ilheus versus $880 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,100 in Ilheus versus $1,446 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Ilheus versus $2,011 in Brasilia.
🙂Living in Ilheus costs roughly 23% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ilheus50% lower, Brasilia34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90R$19.45
$7.19R$35.88
-45.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.45R$137
$39.72R$198
-30.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.32R$31.55
$6.24R$31.13
1.28%
Cappuccino
$1.77R$8.85
$1.88R$9.37
-5.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12R$5.60
$1.16R$5.81
-3.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.33
$0.87R$4.37
-22.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82R$9.09
$1.82R$9.10
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65R$13.23
$3.28R$16.38
-19.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01R$5.06
$0.93R$4.64
8.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46R$7.29
$1.62R$8.09
-9.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.64
$1.41R$7.02
-19.86%
Eggs
$2.02R$10.06
$2.10R$10.47
-3.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.42R$86.9
$9.29R$46.36
87.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.56R$17.77
$3.31R$16.51
7.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.40R$36.92
$6.85R$34.19
8.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08R$10.37
$2.00R$9.98
4.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31R$6.52
$1.34R$6.70
-2.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14R$5.71
$1.22R$6.06
-6.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44R$7.18
$1.67R$8.34
-13.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19R$5.96
$1.23R$6.12
-3.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05R$5.26
$1.30R$6.49
-19.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70R$3.51
$0.74R$3.71
-5.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.33
$0.61R$3.07
9.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07R$10.33
$2.18R$10.88
-5.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.47R$37.30
$10.10R$50.4
-26.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25R$6.26
$1.11R$5.55
12.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09R$10.42
$2.35R$11.74
-11.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.32
$1.03R$5.12
-15.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.55R$192
$43.64R$218
-11.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07R$5.33
$0.94R$4.71
13.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75R$3.75
$0.79R$3.94
-5.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.45R$32.21
$5.82R$29.03
10.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99R$4.95
$1.14R$5.67
-13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KR$104.5K
$25.4KR$126.6K
-17.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KR$136.9K
$28.2KR$140.9K
-2.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.9R$299
$69.9R$349
-14.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.29R$66.3
$13.04R$65.1
1.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.01R$94.8
$20.00R$99.8
-4.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.62R$113
$24.95R$124
-9.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.30R$106
$21.77R$109
-2.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21R$31.01
$7.00R$34.91
-11.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269R$1,344
$488R$2,435
-44.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,575R$32.8K
$15.0KR$74.6K
-56.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.57R$242
$58.1R$290
-16.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12R$210
$41.98R$209
0.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7R$383
$69.1R$345
10.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6R$322
$64.0R$320
0.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167R$831
$402R$2,007
-58.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115R$574
$263R$1,312
-56.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312R$1,557
$978R$4,881
-68.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$222R$1,106
$564R$2,813
-60.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,676R$8,362
$2,751R$13.7K
-39.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,178R$5,876
$1,816R$9,060
-35.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ilheus
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$762R$3,801
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.87
-8.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ilheus: April 26, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Ilheus and $402 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Ilheus vs $40.00 in Brasilia. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $183, with Brasilia 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
Ilheus vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ilheus and Brasilia?
Ilheus and Brasilia differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($675 vs $880 including rent). Ilheus is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ilheus compared to Brasilia?
You'd need roughly $1,013 in Ilheus and $1,320 in Brasilia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ilheus and Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $167 in Ilheus versus $402 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ilheus – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $40.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ilheus or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $675 per month in Ilheus versus $880 in Brasilia – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Ilheus vs Brasilia?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Ilheus gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Ilheus and Brasilia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Ilheus or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Ilheus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.