Cost of Living Comparison Between Montes Claros and Brasilia Cost of Living Comparison Between Montes Claros and Brasilia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $746 in Montes Claros versus $863 in Brasilia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Montes Claros versus $1,429 in Brasilia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,655 in Montes Claros versus $1,995 in Brasilia.

Living in Montes Claros costs roughly 14% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montes Claros 44% lower, Brasilia 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.22 R$16.32

$7.42 R$37.67

-56.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.88 R$136

$38.98 R$198

-31.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.32 R$32.07

$6.14 R$31.14

2.93%

Cappuccino

$1.80 R$9.15

$1.92 R$9.75

-6.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 R$5.73

$1.18 R$5.97

-4.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 R$3.31

$0.83 R$4.20

-21.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 R$6.52

$1.78 R$9.04

-28.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 R$13.76

$3.33 R$16.91

-18.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 R$4.71

$0.95 R$4.83

-2.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 R$7.64

$1.63 R$8.27

-7.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 R$5.83

$1.46 R$7.41

-21.23%

Eggs

$2.03 R$10.29

$2.08 R$10.56

-2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.37 R$42.45

$9.40 R$47.71

-10.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 R$18.06

$3.39 R$17.20

5.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 R$37.56

$6.71 R$34.05

10.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 R$10.41

$1.93 R$9.77

6.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 R$6.37

$1.36 R$6.93

-8.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 R$5.81

$1.16 R$5.88

-0.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 R$7.65

$1.67 R$8.49

-9.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 R$6.02

$1.24 R$6.31

-4.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 R$5.41

$1.31 R$6.62

-18.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 R$3.50

$0.73 R$3.73

-5.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 R$3.33

$0.67 R$3.40

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 R$10.62

$2.17 R$11.03

-3.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.89 R$40.04

$8.06 R$40.91

-2.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 R$6.24

$1.10 R$5.60

11.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 R$10.52

$2.28 R$11.59

-9.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 R$3.54

$0.97 R$4.93

-27.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.48 R$195

$43.32 R$220

-11.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.61

$0.95 R$4.82

16.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 R$3.79

$0.79 R$4.03

-5.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.55 R$33.24

$5.83 R$29.59

12.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 R$4.77

$1.14 R$5.78

-17.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.7K R$105.0K

$25.2K R$127.9K

-17.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K R$138.6K

$29.2K R$148.0K

-6.32%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.0 R$310

$71.8 R$364

-14.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.34 R$67.7

$13.11 R$66.5

1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.24 R$92.6

$20.49 R$104

-10.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.43 R$98.6

$24.96 R$127

-22.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 R$109

Cinema Ticket

$6.44 R$32.66

$7.34 R$37.27

-12.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$266 R$1,348

$485 R$2,462

-45.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,484 R$32.9K

$15.2K R$77.1K

-57.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.94 R$248

$58.1 R$295

-15.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.48 R$216

$42.02 R$213

1.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 R$390

$67.7 R$344

13.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 R$329

$64.3 R$326

0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$319 R$1,616

$400 R$2,031

-20.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 R$1,116

$262 R$1,330

-16.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 R$2,989

$944 R$4,788

-37.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$422 R$2,140

$557 R$2,825

-24.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,782 R$9,043

$2,466 R$12.5K

-27.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,280 R$6,494

$1,727 R$8,762

-25.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$397 R$2,016

$919 R$4,665

-56.78%

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 Montes Claros: July 26, 2026

Last update for Brasilia: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Montes Claros and $400 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 131% 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: $27.00 in Montes Claros vs $39.00 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $180 per month, with Montes Claros cheaper across the board.

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

Montes Claros vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montes Claros and Brasilia differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($746 vs $863 including rent). Montes Claros is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 131% lower in Brasilia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $319 in Montes Claros versus $400 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Montes Claros – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $746 per month in Montes Claros versus $863 in Brasilia – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Montes Claros gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.