Cost of Living Comparison Between Mali and Brazil Cost of Living Comparison Between Mali and Brazil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $251 per month in Mali vs $765 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $416 per month in Mali vs $1,223 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $580 per month in Mali vs $1,680 in Brazil, rent included.

The cost of living in Mali is roughly 67% lower than in Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Mali and Brazil are more affordable than the global median – Mali 81% lower, Brazil 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.79 F CFA 3,881
$5.47 R$28.00
24.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.48 F CFA 21.4K
$28.37 R$145
32.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.57 F CFA 3,755
$6.46 R$33.08
1.70%
Cappuccino
$1.92 F CFA 1,097
$1.76 R$9.03
9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 F CFA 457
$1.12 R$5.75
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 F CFA 338
$0.66 R$3.37
-10.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 F CFA 1,381
$1.76 R$8.99
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$20.70 F CFA 11.8K
$2.72 R$13.91
661.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.38 F CFA 1,358
$0.97 R$4.95
145.36%
White Bread (500g)
$3.34 F CFA 1,907
$1.49 R$7.63
124.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.18 R$6.02
-
Eggs
$4.49 F CFA 2,564
$2.11 R$10.79
112.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.53 F CFA 10.0K
$8.66 R$44.32
102.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.25 F CFA 9,861
$3.83 R$19.60
350.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.14 F CFA 7,509
$7.44 R$38.05
76.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 F CFA 1,793
$2.07 R$10.60
51.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 F CFA 835
$1.32 R$6.75
10.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 F CFA 1,586
$1.17 R$6.00
136.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 F CFA 1,299
$1.43 R$7.31
58.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 F CFA 898
$1.17 R$5.99
34.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 F CFA 1,063
$1.05 R$5.40
77.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.09 F CFA 51.5
$0.75 R$3.86
-88.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 F CFA 1,282
$0.64 R$3.29
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.95 F CFA 543
$2.11 R$10.79
-54.98%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.94 R$40.62
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 F CFA 864
$1.22 R$6.25
23.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 F CFA 736
$2.23 R$11.42
-42.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Mali
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.61 F CFA 2,632
$0.86 R$4.39
436.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.49 R$207
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.05 R$5.38
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 F CFA 717
$0.83 R$4.27
50.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.00 R$35.85
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 F CFA 650
$1.04 R$5.32
9.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.8K R$111.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.3K R$139.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 F CFA 86.3K
$70.3 R$360
114.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.04 R$71.8
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5 F CFA 32.3K
$18.81 R$96.3
200.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.5 F CFA 38.0K
$23.15 R$118
187.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.04 F CFA 2,308
$22.38 R$115
-81.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.62 F CFA 3,212
$6.18 R$31.60
-9.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.9 F CFA 45.7K
$289 R$1,479
-72.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,356 R$37.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$48.26 R$247
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$42.55 R$218
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$75.8 R$388
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$63.1 R$323
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mali
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 F CFA 101.7K
$339 R$1,733
-47.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$79.8 F CFA 45.6K
$224 R$1,146
-64.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$410 F CFA 234.2K
$639 R$3,269
-35.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 F CFA 173.9K
$443 R$2,266
-31.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.0K F CFA 5.7M
$1,835 R$9,389
446.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$850 F CFA 485.6K
$1,239 R$6,338
-31.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$257 F CFA 147.1K
$517 R$2,648
-50.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.16
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mali: July 26, 2026

Last update for Brazil: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $43.00 in Mali vs $304 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $173 in Bamako and $400 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $261 in Mali vs $486 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 607% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 200% more in Brazil.

Salaries are 86% higher in Brazil, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Mali.

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
Mali vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Mali compare in cost of living?
Mali is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 76% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Mali?
Housing costs more in Brazil, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Brazil consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Mali?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Mali, contributing to the overall 76% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $1,200 go in Brazil compared to Mali?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Mali, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Mali?
Mali is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Mali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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