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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $245 per month in Mali vs $764 in Brazil, rent included.

A couple spends around $406 per month in Mali vs $1,221 in Brazil, rent included.

A family of three spends $566 per month in Mali vs $1,678 in Brazil, rent included.

Mali is roughly 68% cheaper than Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Mali and Brazil are more affordable than the global median – Mali 82% lower, Brazil 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.86 F CFA 3,900
$5.48 R$28.43
25.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.86 F CFA 21.5K
$28.29 R$147
33.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.39 F CFA 3,634
$6.16 R$31.96
3.73%
Cappuccino
$1.88 F CFA 1,067
$1.79 R$9.27
5.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 F CFA 454
$1.08 R$5.59
-25.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 F CFA 322
$0.70 R$3.66
-18.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 F CFA 1,342
$1.78 R$9.23
32.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$21.13 F CFA 12.0K
$2.74 R$14.24
671.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 F CFA 1,347
$0.99 R$5.15
139.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 F CFA 1,977
$1.53 R$7.93
127.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.22 R$6.34
-
Eggs
$4.53 F CFA 2,575
$2.10 R$10.89
115.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.54 F CFA 9,971
$8.72 R$45.25
101.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.16 F CFA 9,753
$3.83 R$19.86
348.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.31 F CFA 7,564
$7.51 R$38.97
77.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 F CFA 1,718
$2.03 R$10.55
48.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 F CFA 839
$1.34 R$6.94
10.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.84 F CFA 1,617
$1.14 R$5.93
149.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 F CFA 1,355
$1.48 R$7.66
60.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 F CFA 937
$1.12 R$5.80
47.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 F CFA 998
$1.09 R$5.66
61.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.09 F CFA 53.5
$0.76 R$3.94
-88.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 F CFA 1,306
$0.68 R$3.54
238.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.95 F CFA 538
$2.11 R$10.98
-54.98%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.58 R$39.34
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 F CFA 867
$1.23 R$6.40
24.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 F CFA 740
$2.22 R$11.51
-41.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Mali
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.58 F CFA 2,602
$0.93 R$4.82
392.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.40 R$215
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.09 R$5.67
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 F CFA 691
$0.84 R$4.36
45.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.40 R$38.43
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 F CFA 659
$1.08 R$5.61
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.8K R$113.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.2K R$141.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 F CFA 84.4K
$69.2 R$359
114.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.63 R$70.8
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4 F CFA 33.2K
$18.79 R$97.6
210.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.5 F CFA 38.9K
$22.85 R$119
199.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.17 F CFA 2,371
$22.76 R$118
-81.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 F CFA 3,284
$6.24 R$32.39
-7.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.7 F CFA 45.3K
$285 R$1,480
-72.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,497 R$38.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$48.45 R$252
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$43.12 R$224
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$74.8 R$388
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$62.0 R$322
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mali
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$175 F CFA 99.7K
$337 R$1,749
-47.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$79.4 F CFA 45.1K
$225 R$1,170
-64.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$413 F CFA 235.0K
$655 R$3,402
-36.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$305 F CFA 173.5K
$455 R$2,360
-32.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.3K F CFA 5.9M
$1,848 R$9,595
457.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$851 F CFA 484.0K
$1,200 R$6,232
-29.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mali
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$264 F CFA 150.2K
$512 R$2,661
-48.43%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Brazil: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $43.00 in Mali vs $305 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $173 in Bamako and $414 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $260 in Mali vs $479 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 609% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 170% more in Brazil.

Salaries are 84% higher in Brazil, giving Mali stronger purchasing power.

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 80% 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 80% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $1,200 go in Brazil vs 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 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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